I lock my eyes on the horizon. “Sounds like a you problem.”
“Yeah what else is new,” he scoffs. “Can I at least give you my number? If you ever want to talk?”
“Talk about what, exactly?” I have no idea why he wants to act like we mean anything to each other.
“Magic? Books? How much we hate our dad.”
That gets me to stop walking. “Ourdad? I don’t know him.”
“And I wish I didn’t know him. See?” An over the top smile spreads across his face. “We’re already bonding.” His expression settles into something less clownish. “I think, when you’re ready, we could actually talk about a lot of things. But I’m not going to force you.”
The revelation that my life will be cut short due to no fault of my own had completely blasted away my anger towards the le Fays, but the rubble remains. I sigh, crossing my arms over my chest. “It was really messed up for you to just show up at my house.”
“The first time? Or the second time?”
“Give me your number.” Lancelot perks up like I’ve offered him a little treat. I hand him my phone and let him type in his number. Holding my phone, I notice the name he’s listed his number under. “Lance?”
“What? You think I want to be called Lance-a-fucking-lot?”
I snort. “It’s pretty corny.”
“It’s terrible. Better than being named after dad, but…”
The mention of Arthur le Fay takes the wind out of our sails. Not to mention I’m still cursed. Which I will absolutely wallow about for at least the rest of the day. I still owe myself a new book. Maybe I’ll get a nice pastry, too.
“I’ll text you,” I tell Lance. I’m not sure if I mean it, but he nods. “I need some time.”
“We’ve got time.”
“You’vegot time,” I correct him. “Me? I’ve got half a life to live. So I’m going to be selfish with that time.”
A half smile pulls at Lance’s lips, and with that, he turns around and leaves.
Lancelot le Fay. What an absolutely atrocious name.
CHAPTERNINE
ROSIER
Reading isa lot harder with a little hellcat always biting at my fingers. I’m about a hundred pages into another one of Minnie’s books when Leaf decides to bite my hand. It doesn’t hurt, at first, then it starts to feel like dirks being shoved between my knuckle bones.
“Enough,” I say, grabbing him by the scruff. He lets out a littlemurpas I place him back down on the floor… only for him to hop right back onto my chest and attempt to bite my wrist. “Quit it, foul beast!”
There’s a knock at the door, followed by Kas’ voice. “Rosie!” he sings. “I hear you in there. Come out, come out.”
Two obnoxious little creatures. Must be a special kind of morning.
I get up off the couch and go to the door. Kas is standing there with a smirk. “I have something–okay, wow, you’re still naked.”
“Do I need to be dressed when in my own home?”
“No, no.” He shakes his head. “Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve spent time with devils. I sort of forgot the customs.”
I raise a brow but motion with my head for Kas to come inside. He follows, Leaf running up to greet him with a battle cry.
“Explain to me how you can forget customs.” I start to riffle through the bags of clothes Kas bought me yesterday, trying to find the undergarments that are supposed to be put on first.
“Well, I wasn’t born in Hells, you know. Most succubi aren’t. And to be honest, I’ve spent very little time in the Hells. I prefer this plane.”
