Page 48 of Not Your Ex's Hexes
Rose blinked, startled at the gold flashing in his eyes… and did his face change? Morph? She blinked and whatever she thought she’d seen had disappeared, and the demon backed off, stumbling over himself to get away.
She was equal parts intrigued, turned on, and scared shitless.
“Stay close.” Damian entwined their fingers and barreled through the back exit. The second the emergency door closed behind them, he spun toward her. “What the hell were you thinking coming here?”
“I’m allowed to speak now?”
His eyes, flickering between gray and gold, narrowed. “This isn’t funny, Rose. The Supes who frequent the Blood Moon aren’t big fans of witches… and you, little witch, had been seconds away from being the Head Witch in Charge.”
When he put it that way her inner steam diminished. “It’s not like I sought this place out. I followed you, and then I lost you, and thenIwas lost, and then these two… you know what? Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
“You followed me? Why?”
“I didn’tfollowyou.”
“You just said you followed me. In those exact words.” Damian shot her a disbelieving look.
She sighed. “So maybe it started with me following you, but only because I wanted to tell you about things picking up on the sanctuary’s donation page. Bella and the pups are a hit. Tomorrow, I’ll put up pony cams for Butternut and Squash, and maybe even Jasper.”
“That’s great.” Damian’s head swung left and right, looking around the dark alley.
He wasn’t even paying attention.
“I get it. You’re not a particularly excitable person, but could you at least manage a small tonal inflection? If you’re up for the challenge, maybe even a softly cooed ‘ooh.’”
He finally looked at her. “You want a pat on the back? Fine. Good job.Ooh. Now let’s get you a ride home.”
He tugged her away from where his motorcycle sat parked beneath the only working streetlamp. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask what the rush was when a large shadowy figure dropped in front of them, blocking their path.
Damian cursed, and with a sharp tug, dragged her behind him. “Donotmove until I tell you.”
“Why would I—” The shadow stepped into a streak of moonlight, and Rose’s eyes transformed into dinner plates. “Sweet mother Goddess.”
Bat-like wings stretched out from the broad-shouldered man’s back, the apexes adorned with sharp, curved talons nearly as big and thick as her forearm. Locking his lizard-like gaze on Damian, the demon snarled to reveal ultra-long canines dripping with saliva.
The liquid hit the pavement and instantly sizzled.
Okay, definitely not regular saliva.
“Heard rumors you’re searching for me, Hunter.” The winged demon’s deep voice hissed eachs. “Well… here I am.”
Damian shook his head. “Don’t know where you heard that. The only thing I’m looking for is the meaning of life, and a maybe a urinal. And the name’s not Hunter. You must be looking for someone else. Maybe he’s inside.”
Behind him, Rose rolled her eyes. He’d get them killed yet.
“It’s definitely you.” The demon sniffed, his nostrils flaring. “The stench of the Underworld’s Scourge is impossible to miss.”
You’re not exactly bathing in essential body oils, my friend.
Both Damian and the winged demon-man stiffened.
Rose cursed. “Hurl a hex… Did I say that aloud?”
Damian sighed. “Yeah, little witch, you did. Run.”
“What?”
He didn’t have time to repeat himself before another winged demon dropped, and then a third. Unlike the original, they’d shed their humanoid façade and stood there inalltheir gray leather-skinned glory.
