Page 6 of Not Your Ex's Hexes
Rose pushed a hopeful smile to her face as she faced the two cops. “Why does anyone have to ring up anyone else, let alone fill out paperwork? It’s late and people are sleeping, and not enough rest has been linked to a whole host of medical problems. You could just let us mosey on our way. Spare someone the co-pay.”
Both officers turned back to them, matching blank expressions on their faces.
Any hope she had that they’d look the other way was dashed when the taller of the two clicked on his radio. “We’ve apprehended the culprits, and are on our way in.”
Operation Equine Freedom was officially dead in the water.
2
Non-Boo
Half-demon veterinarian Damian Adams needed a night out more than most people required air to breathe, so when his two old college roommates called him up with the promise of free drinks, pool, and generalized stress-relief, he’d dropped his paperwork and his responsibilities at the Marisol Animal Sanctuary and Clinic and met the shifters at Potion’s Up.
So maybe he hadn’t dropped the paperwork so much as his mentor and grandfather figure had ripped it from his hands and shoved him out the door with a threat not to return for at least four hours. Even Miguel, the retired Norm veterinarian, had sensed Damian’s restlessness the last few days.
Or more accurately, his demon’s restlessness.
Despite the night being exactly what the vet ordered, it didn’t stop Damian from checking his phone six times in the last hour, and four in the thirty minutes before that.
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder.
Lincoln Thorne, his college buddy and the North American Pack Alpha, flashed a crooked smirk. “Are we not entertaining enough for you? Adrian’s had an extra beer or two. I might be able to Alpha order him into doing the chicken dance on the pool table if it keeps you here with us a bit longer.”
Adrian Collins, the lion shifter and the third in their college trio, chuckled as he leaned over the billiards table to take his shot. “I told you… that was a onetime thing.”
“That happened twice.” Bax Donovan, Guardian Angel extraordinaire, snorted.
They all laughed.
Damian tucked his phone away. “Nah, I’m good. It’s just been so long since I had a night away. I don’t know what to do with myself.”
“Miguel’s watching the animal menagerie, right?”
“Yeah. The clinic will be fine, but you know…”
Linc nodded knowingly, and Damian knew he got it. In their college days, it had been Lincoln who’d been the serious, career-focused one of the group. As the Alpha of the North American Pack, he’d had no choice but to walk the straight and narrow while Damian and Adrian had their fun.
Especially Damian… because as Linc’s Second-in-Command, there was a limit to how much debauchery Adrian could get mixed up in. That left Damian to claim the troublemaker title in their friendship, and it had been a moniker the half–demon spawn of one of the most notorious princes of Hell wore like a badge of honor.
It also helped he’d once been the Underworld’s most notorious teenage Hunter, trained by Ezeil himself from the time he could barely walk. Damian and his half-brother both. While some kids played dodgeball on the playground, they sparred. When others visited the local swimming hole, they hung out in dark alleys waiting for their next mark to make an appearance. Considering the only approval Damian got from the demon bastard he called Father was when he embraced his darker side, he’d dove headfirst into the Hunt.
He trained. He Hunted. He trained more, pushing his Norm side further away with each haul-in.
At least until his tunnel vision and desire for his father’s approval bought himself a nasty hex from a very pissed teenage witch.Thatwas a wake-up call, and incidentally was right around the timeMiguel came into his life, tugging him off the streets and away from Hunting.
The older man had showed him there was a whole other world besides the one filled with bounties and Supernatural nasties. He’d taught him ways to keep his demon in check that didn’t involve Hunting. He taught him what it was to have arealfather’s approval.
Sometimes Miguel’s meditation tactics worked. Sometimes they didn’t. When Damian’s demon got extra randy, a quick naked romp usually—though temporarily—put the bastard back to rights. Although, the last time he’d indulged, it hadn’t been so easy to get his partner out of his head afterward. Or his dreams. Or during his morning rub-outs.
Rose Maxwell—Linc’s almost sister-in-law—haunted Damian’s head months after their backroom romp in this very bar.
He’d been minding his damn business, thinking how overdue he was for a little fun, when she’d nearly taken him off his feet and plastered her body against his. And what a body…
Used to breaking his neck when he looked down at his female companions, he’d barely had to dip his chin to lock eyes with her gorgeous caramel-hued ones. Add in the full breasts that were more than two palm-sized handfuls and hips that were designed to be gripped, and he hadn’t had a chance of denying either of them what they’d both craved in the moment.
Having just gotten into town, he hadn’t known who she was at the time, but he wasn’t so sure it would’ve changed anything. There’d been a draw he couldn’t resist, and one he still felt months after.
Linc’s cell rang at nearly the exact moment Damian’s notified him of an incoming text. While the shifter handed his pool cue to Bax to take his call, Damian glanced at Miguel’s message:
