Page 40 of Not Your Ex's Hexes
“Oh, will you? I don’t know what I did to deserve such a favor, but I wish I would’ve done it a lot sooner.”
This time, Damian couldn’t withhold the small chuckle. The blonde, with a shifter-like growl, turned back to the garbage-covered Bisset and plucked a banana peel from his coiffed hair.
Rose turned to Julius. “Thank you for the help, Representative Kontos.”
“None of that, Miss Maxwell. It’s Julius.” He bowed his head, making the witch’s cheeks pink.
“Then you have to call me Rose. But again, thank you. He’shonestly the last person I expected to see here tonight considering everything that’s happened.”
“It’s not a problem. I’m afraid my Compulsion is a little rusty from disuse, and his tiger was surprisingly strong. But then again, my Compulsion wasn’t always the most robust growing up. That honor went to my brother.”
Rose blinked. “I didn’t know you have a brother. Have I met him?”
The instant Julius swung his gaze to Damian, he knew exactly what was coming, and that there was no stopping him. “If I were any less of a demon my feelings would be hurt that you haven’t mentioned me.”
Damian shrugged. “Never had reason to.”
Rose’s head snapped toward Damian and back, her mouth opening and closing. It would’ve been comical if Damian wasn’t so pissed.
“See. Hurt feelings.” His half-brother faux-pouted before turning toward Rose. “If you and your sisters lived apart for years without a single call, text, or Google search, and one of them suddenly moved back to town without telling you, how would you feel, Rose?”
“I… don’t know.” She shot Damian an apologetic look. “We wouldn’t go that long without seeing or hearing from one another. If we go an entire day, the others would form a search party.”
Julius flashed her the mega-smile that used to get his brother anything he wanted growing up. “That must be nice. Doesn’t that sound nice, Damian?”
“Only if I had a sibling other than you.”
Rose frowned.
Julius chuckled. “Glad to see you haven’t changed much, brother.”
“Actually, I’ve changed a lot. Thanks for the assist with Alpha Asshole, but don’t feel like you have to stick around.”
“Trying to get rid of me already?”
“Noticed that, did you?” Damian’s arm slid around Rose’s waist, and surprisingly, she let him guide her back to the bowling alley’s entrance.
They didn’t get far before Julius’s voice followed. “You realize you can’t run away from me forever, right? Orhim.”
Damian shot his half-brother a warning glare. “I’ve done fine for the last few years. I imagine I’ll do fine for a few dozen more.”
“But are you really doingfine?” Julius looked casual, his hands tucked deep into his suit pockets. “From what I hear, that little project of yours is seconds away from shutting its doors due to a lack of funds.”
“Then I guess you better get all of that ear wax removed because you’re not hearing very well, or accurately,” Damian lied.
“If you played nice, I could find you work that’s more suitable to your talents. Imagine all the dog biscuits and hay bales you could buy with one of your regular payouts.”
Damian didn’t want to think about it because when he did, he reluctantly admitted that his brother was right. One Hunting assignment would take care of the most pressing things that needed to be done around the sanctuary, things like making sure the water and heat weren’t shut off. A second Hunt would put them very close to breaking even, if not slightly ahead.
But he wasn’t sure if he was willing to pay the price. “I’m really not in the mood to sell my soul to the devil—or you, so I’ll pass.”
“Always so dramatic, little brother,” Julius called when Damian reached out to open the door for Rose. “What you’re doing isn’t natural, Damian. Suppressing him will only lead to more trouble down the line.”
Him.
Damian’s inner demon.
“Natural or not, I’ll deal with it,” Damian retorted.
