Page 35 of Found In Destruction

Desmond slid off my back, crouching next to me to check my pulse.You’ll get better with more practice, dollface. Keep trying.He stroked my cheek with his thumb, giving me an oddly uncomfortable look.I’m going to head out.He left me there on the floor to go to a meeting.

Ares lifted me in his arms and sat me on his lap. His giant hand rubbed my back. “You held your own, LG. You’re getting better every day and I know one day you’ll have him cornered.”

“You’re powerful and cunning, you just need more experience. Once you’re seasoned, I won’t stand a chance,” Oisín said as he took the seat next to us.

Eventually, the spell wore off, and I was able to train again. Each of the guys took some time with me to help me with a different area of magic. Zaz stopped by for a half hour and we flew through the compound. The soldiers I passed seemed happy, albeit surprised, to see me. I understood why Lucifer thought we needed a ball tomorrow. Morale wasn’t a constant–it was hard won, and seeing me alive and well in action would put their worries to rest.

Aside from ourpost breakfast inner circle meeting, Lucifer gave me the day off to prepare for the ball.So generous, my father.I spent most of the day in bed with Ares and Mal, buddy readingTwisted In Obsession,a new book by our favorite author Aly Beck. Ares started reading later than Mal and I, so we heard all of his dramatic gasps and comments. By the time my alarm went off, we were deep into the plot, getting lost in the pages.

“I love mafia romance, do we have to stop?” Ares whined.

“Yes, we do.” I sighed, trying to wriggle out from his bear cuddle. I have to get my hair and makeup done.

Despite how tender our situation was, I couldn’t help but forgive Ares, little by little. He wore me down with his constant presence and support. He wrapped his arms and legs around me, and Mal scooched in on my other side, trapping me in the bed.

“But you could magic it on…” Mal suggested.

“Oh! You’d save so much time doing that,” Ares agreed. “Then you can use some of the time to cuddle with us more!

“As much as I’d love to stay in bed with you both and keep reading, I promised Angie and Charlie I’d get ready with them. Family bonding is important,” I explained. They both pouted, but Ares let me get out of bed.

“Is Charlie still ignoring Oisín?” Mal asked as he took my place in Ares’ arms. He tucked the blanket over them all the way up to his chin.

“I don’t talk to him about it. Oisín is my brother by blood, and Charlie has been there for me since we’ve been in diapers. He’s beyond my best friend, as far as I’m concerned. I’m staying out of it.”

They knew when to let things go, and after I packed a tote with all the essentials, I was ready to fade to Angie’s barrack.

“I’ll see you two later,” I said, expecting a kiss. Instead, I found the two of them snuggling, reading without me.

“You’re only getting goodbye kisses if you come back into bed to get them,” Mal sing-songed.

“It’s a trap…you’re going to fall into our trap,” Ares said in a hypnotically smooth, deep voice.

“In that case, I’ll get them later at the ball. Bye gentlemen.”

As I closed my bedroom door, I heard Ares tell Mal, “I’m about to do some ungentlemanly things to you, Maleficent. Put the book down.”

Ugh, why did I make plans again?

15

DESMOND

After you’ve attended hundreds of years’ worth of parties, they all blended together. The elbow rubbing and general niceties had become second nature to me, with every conversation taking the same fake, boring tone.

Do you know so-and-so? Lovely dress. Have you heard about the new magical law the Precipes passed? Ah yes, I am familiar with the Costa Coven’s new blood harvesting system—so cutting edge.

The vampire in front of me—I forgot her name, so I’d mentally dubbed her as turquoise dress—droned on and on, about nothing particularly interesting. She just liked the sound of her own nasally, high pitched voice. The night was a broken record, and all I wanted it to do was skip to the good part, when Diana would walk through those double doors and dazzle everyone.

She hadn’t come around like I thought she would. I stuck to my cat-plan, giving her space so she could come to me when she was ready. But she never did. At her training yesterday, she didn’t react when her brother beat the magical crap out of me. She seemed bored. I thought maybe she’d warmed up to mefinally when she tried to channel my magic, but she seemed so defeated and angry when she lost. I wished her well and left because I didn’t think she wanted me there.

“Judas’ inner circle must be insane–I heard his parties are legendary,” Turquoise droned on, talking up a storm as I stood here and waited for the evening to actually begin.

“Oh yes, they’re ragers for sure,” I tossed at her, trying my best to not be rude.

Acting like I cared about conversations and social norms may have become an auto-pilot response by now, but this conversation was wearing thin. I only stayed here because this spot gave me a good view of the room, the door in particular, and didn’t want to disrespect Judas’ coven. They were strong allies and welcomed us into their home–made our fight their fight. Judas had been a close friend of mine for centuries, an undead brother.

Little Goddess is on FIRE tonight. This dress… I’m going to slip and fall in my own drool. Fucking contraception spell better work for her sake, because you best believe I’m gonna try to get her pregnant again,Ares’ voice rumbled through my mindlink. He elected himself as her personal security guru and followed her everywhere.

---