Page 90 of What The Hex (The Family Spells)
Demons were, in my opinion, the cruelest and most disturbed of all the Numinous. Humans were pretty bad, too, actually. Worse even than demons and fae combined. But that was somebody else’s problem. I could crush a human’s skull with my bare hands; they didn’t pose a threat.
Monster did.
“Busy with what?” he inquired, but not as if he cared, more like he was annoyed. “I expected to see Grace at the shop today, but she didn’t come. Nor is she answering her phone.”
“Maybe take a hint?” Hex asked from behind me, drawing Monster’s attention over to him.
“Little brother,” Monster tsked with a slight shake of his head. “Of all people, I didn’t expect you to treat me with such disrespect.”
“Don’t fucking call me that.” Hex moved up to stand beside me, wearing another set of my clothes seeing as he didn’t have any. He just better keep his cum to himself while he was wearing this particular set of sweatpants; they were my second favorite ones. “How do I even know you’re telling the truth about that shit?”
“Haven’t you ever wondered what happened to your poor mother?” Monster teased, and I glanced over to see that Hex had gone completely and utterly still. Shit, spiders, and spell books, I thought, preparing myself to intervene in this if necessary.
Figures.
This was my role in the family: peacekeeper.
Anyone who’d met me pre-Grace would never believe I was capable. I was still proving to myself that I could do this, act as a mediator, control my own feelings, put others first. I placed a hand on Hex’s arm, and he shivered, gaze sliding over to mine.
We locked eyes, but that soulmate ‘zing’ only really happens the first time around (or after a long time apart). Still, I could feel a tug on my pinky finger, the red thread of fate drawing me closer to Hex Sorciere with the power of the universe behind it.
I wonder what his blood tastes like? I thought, running my tongue across my lower lip, and turning back to Monster. He was wearing an expression of crystal-clear cruelty on his pretty face.
I sighed heavily.
What a pain in the ass.
Demon politics. Worse even—brother politics. Worse-worse even … ex-boyfriend versus new boyfriend. Boo and blood and bullshit. How could this end prettily, huh? It wasn’t going to. It was going to end in tears and bruised hearts and fractured souls.
“What do you mean what happened to her?” Hex clarified, putting his hand up on the column to his right. He’d lost quite a few tattoos since we’d last seen him. I imagine he’d used them in his escape attempt at the sanctum.
Mm, I’m undeniably better looking now, eh?
“Why she lost her mind and went crazy.” Monster moved forward, up the steps to stand more or less between us on the front porch, forcing my hand down from Hex’s arm lest I accidentally touch his carnal poison. “Our father—the Maoi, or demon king—well, he got to her.” Monster lifted up a hand so that we could both see the silver lines crisscrossing his skin; he had them everywhere, according to Graceley. His back, his chest, his dick.
I hated that she’d seen his dick.
I wanted to believe that mine was bigger, but the man was fucking huge. I rubbed at the side of my face, observing the brothers’ interactions with one another. If this devolved into a physical fight, I’d grab my scythe and use the melee as an excuse to cut off Monster’s family jewels.
“Our father …” Hex began, eyes widening as Monster moved past him. Hex turned as he went, his gaze following the demon prince into the house. “Shit.” He moved over to one of the rocking chairs on the porch and slumped into it. “Holy shit.”
“I take it this is all a surprise to you?” I asked, moving over to lean against the porch railing. I was wearing black jeans, and a low-cut tank top that certainly didn’t do much to ward off the cold. People think vampires don’t get cold—not true. I was freezing my ass off out there. Once I died and became undead, I wouldn’t get cold anymore. It was sort of a depressing thought.
“My mother …” Hex began, and then he worked his jaw like he was solving a problem in his head. “She … I always thought she was a drug addict.” He stood up suddenly and stormed into the house after Monster.
I cursed under my breath and swiped a hand down my face, pausing just briefly to look at myself in the reflection of the front window. Dark hair, lavender eyes, pale face.
A drawn and tired expression that said this was all going to get so much worse before it got any better.
With a sigh, I stood up straight and moved inside to find Grace in the living room with Argent, Hex, and Monster. I could hear Caine distracting the kids in the kitchen.
