“That’s what I’m talking about, Cherry,” Colt teased. “Maybe the hippies are onto something. Got Cal looking fine as hell.”
“Can it, Colt,” his brother snapped.
A grimace twisted my lips as I carried on with the instructions. “Spread your fingers wide for support…”
This time, Colt gave an audible snort. “Brace yourselves, boys. This is a fuckboy workout. Get on all fours and spread ’em.”
He popped up from the floor and wandered around to sit on Callum’s back, where he kicked one booted foot over the other. “Feels sturdy to me.” He wiggled his hips before grinning at me. “Nice job, teach.”
I wanted to tell him to go back to his spot, but Elliot beat me to it.
“Move your ass, cowboy,” he grunted, his tail thrashing angrily. “I can’t fucking see.”
Colt stood and whirled around. “Move my ass?” he echoed. “You want me to shake it too? Try not to get jealous, since we all know you’re stuck on that stick up yours.” He raised his arms and set his feet for a dramatic dip and draw up, flexing muscles hidden by the folds of his PJ pants.
“Gentlemen,” Darby cut in sharply. “Zephyr has some skills here, and he is taking a moment of his day to share them with you. So shut up and sit down. And not on your fucking brother’s back, Colt.”
The hornless twin scuffed his boot heels across the floor as he returned to his place and sat. Not in the position he should have been, but instead cross-legged with his elbow on one knee and his chin in his hand. That was fine, though. I could deal with a single dissenter.
“Okay, um… hands and knees,” I reminded myself as much as everyone else. “On your inhale, drop your belly, lift your chest, and look forward… this is Cow Pose. As you exhale, round your spine, tuck your chin, and push the ground away… this is Cat Pose.”
“You guys see this shit, right?” Colt’s green eyes gained a devilish glint as they flicked toward me. “Is this yoga for bottoms? Because you oughta know, Cherry, Ionlytop.” He snaked his tongue across his lips, and I cringed.
Darby sat up and glared at the troublemaking twin. “Colt, go.” He stabbed a finger toward the dressing room entrance. “Take your obnoxious ass elsewhere.”
Colt flashed a cocky smirk. “It was a joke, princess. And it was funny.”
Darby’s tail writhed. “Then why is no one laughing?”
The two men lingered in a stare-down until Colt lurched to his feet. “Whatever. You bitches have funprepping to get mounted. I got better shit to do.” He spun, not looking before taking a step directly into Elliot, who was fixed in a flawless Cat Pose. The two demons collided in a tangle that had Elliot spitting curse words as he shoved Colt away.
“Get the fuck off me, rodeo clown,” Elliot hissed. His hood had slid back in the scuffle, revealing his curved gray horns.
His crimson eyes flashed a warning that should have put an end to the scuffle, but I got the feeling Colt was seeing red all his own as he threw himself at Elliot.
Shouts of“Break it up!”and“Knock it off!”failed to stop the tussle as the two of them combined again. Their roll across the stage floor sounded like a peal of thunder. Fists flew, and tails thrashed. It might have alarmed me if this had been the first time I’d witnessed a fight between my roommates, but half the people here were begging for a reason to punch Colt in the mouth, and Elliot didn’t tolerate anybody invading his personal space.
I tumbled back while the other guys closed in on the commotion. Elliot got Colt pinned with his fist poised to deliver a bone-cracking punch and his tail looped around Colt’s neck.
Colt grinned, showing teeth filmed with blood from one of the hits Elliot had landed. His cowboy hat had been lost in the scuffle, leaving his brown hair mussed and sticking up in every direction.
“You gonna actually hit me, Scary Spice, or just keep on tickling?” Colt taunted.
Elliot bared his teeth in a snarl. He looked ready to cut loose with not one blow, but a full-on barrage, when Oz hooked his arm around the smaller man’s middle and hoisted him into the air. Elliot thrashed,and his tail cinched around Colt’s throat as Oz dragged him backward.
“Boys!” Maslow’s voice rang out, and my body went rigid.
The wraith stood near the entrance, where the double doors were just beginning to swing shut. I hadn’t heard them open or noticed the flash of daylight—but I saw it now, shrinking to a narrow sliver that cast a long shadow around the frame of a second man.
Someone vaguely familiar.
The interruption gave a start to more than just me. Elliot hung limp in Oz’s grasp, and his tail slithered loose, allowing Colt to roll onto his belly to peer at the new arrival.
Maslow motioned to the newcomer and announced, “We have a guest.”
As the sun was shut out, my eyes adjusted rapidly, searching from the stranger’s feet to his tapered waist, up past his strong shoulders to his face. The sight of his visage—chiseled jaw dotted with stubble and yellow eyes bright in the shadow of his brow—made my heart stutter.
He came back.
