Page 20 of Demonic Affliction

I hide my smile. I still can't quite believe someone this lovely would care about someone like me. It's not a feeling I know what to do with—someone worrying about me, for once, instead of the other way around. So I just nod and let her have her relief without needing to name mine.

Kevin trots up and bumps my leg with his forehead, his way of saying hello. "Good to see you too, Kevin." I reach down and scratch his head. “You take care of her?”

He bleats indignantly, as if to say, Obviously—someone had to.

The corner of my mouth twitches, close to a laugh. I straighten up, noticing that Nyx and Rhune are already back on the bed, pulling Willow down between them into the furs. I sit on the edge, one leg still braced against the floor.

The air beside Rhune shimmers, and Sasu blinks into existence, landing squarely in the center of the furs. He tips his twitching nose into the air, lets out a little chirrup, then wedges himself between Rhune and Willow.

Circe appears a moment later, low to the ground near the foot of the bed. Her cunning eyes hover over the edge of the bed, and she blinks lazily before hopping onto the bed like Sasu. She climbs straight into the pile, laying her head on Nyx’s chest while hers rumbles with a powerful purr.

Willow props herself up on one elbow, looking between all of them. "Why do you think they all decided to show up tonight?"

Rhune shrugs, one hand absently stroking Sasu's back. "I do not know, pup. But I am glad for the company." He's quiet for a second, thoughtful. "Perhaps it is because of everything we have been through."

Willow tilts her head toward me. "Where's your familiar, Dravik? I don't think I've met him yet."

A bellowing moo cuts off what I was about to say.

Turning slowly, I take in the two-ton orange bull standing near the tunnel exit. Puffs of smoke plume from his two massive nostrils as he angrily paws at the ground. His eyes glow a bright orange as he opens his mouth wide, letting out another bellow before lowering his head and aiming his horns straight at me.

Rufus.

Rufus is my familiar, and he hates us. He only tolerates us when we give him treats—and even then, it's only for a moment. As long as I’ve been bound to him, Rufus has been a violent, angry bastard, and we have all done our best to avoid him.

And now he’s here.

Nyx and I look at each other, our faces paling.

“Gods help us.”

“What’s wrong?” Willow asks, stepping forward.

“No!” we both yell, hauling her back before she gets too close.

Intrigued, Rufus raises his head, taking Willow in with large, wary eyes.

“Who is that?” Willow asks. “He’s so cute!”

“That’s Rufus. My familiar,” I say. “He fucking hates me.”

“Not just you,” Nyx points out. “He hates us all. He lives to torment us. Unless we’re giving him treats. He likes the honey buns from your world best.”

“Aw. That’s kind of cute,” Willow says.

“Yeah. Except we don’t have honey buns.” Nyx’s expression is grave.

“Okay. Here’s the plan…” I look around the space for an exit. “Nyx, I’m going to distract his big, dumb ass, and you take Willow and run.”

“Deal.” Nyx is already reaching for her. “I will remember your sacrifice, brother.”

“Oh my God, would you two stop being so dramatic!” Willow says. “He looks friendly!”

“That’s how he tricks you.” Rhune shivers. “He’s a vicious, grumpy bastard. He will gore you if you so much as look at him wrong. He’s a bad bull. A very bad bull.”

As if offended by this statement, Rufus lets out an angry bellow, and Rhune spreads his wings in front of Willow. “I’ll protect you with my life, my Willow.”

He comes at us fast for something his size. Head down, he shoves against my shoulder, hard enough that I stumble back into the wall. I catch myself, already bracing to grab him by the horns if I have to, but he's not paying attention to me anymore. He's looking at Willow.