Page 99 of Viper

He made a dismissive sound. “Semantics.”

The harpy blinked at him. “I’m starting to think that that word doesn’t mean what you think it does.”

The couple bickered all the way to the door, though Teague seemed to be riling his mate on purpose. It generally wasn’tadvisable to piss off a harpy—especially one whose entity had an ugly reputation. But hellhorses weren’t exactly the most sensible demonic breed.

“More of those Black Saints are outside again,” commented Melodie, staring out of the window.

Following her gaze, Ella noticed a bunch of the Fallen gathered outside the dive bar.

“I’m thinking of starting a petition,” Melodie announced.

Mia cocked her head. “To what?”

“Make them stop coming to the bar,” their mother replied.

Ella frowned, pointing out, “They own it.”

“That doesn’t mean they need to be there.” With a sniff, Melodie retreated to the workshop.

Wincing, Ella exchanged an awkward look with Mia. If their mother was irritated merely seeing the Black Saints close to the store, she would lose her mind on hearing Ella’s news.

“I’ll have to tell her about Viper and I at some point,” said Ella. “I wasn’t sure it’d be necessary. But last night, he made it clear that he hopes this will go the distance.”

“Are you hoping for the same?”

“Yes. I feel comfortable with him in a way I never have with anyone else.” All her life, Ella had felt like something was missing. It was much the same feeling that you got when you walked into a room and realized that something had been moved or taken. There was an absence that she couldn’t explain. Now, with him around, it was gone.

“Do you care for him?”

“Yes, I do. I actually think I’m in serious danger of falling hard for this dude.” It would be a first for Ella. She’d done a whole lot of liking. There’d also been plenty of lusting. A time or two, she’d thought she might well grow to feel the big L for someone. But it had just never happened.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a little miffed that he hasn’t yet told me all there is to know about him,” Ella continued. “But I do understand the Black Saints’ need for caution. And I don’t really have much room to judge someone for keeping things from people anyway, considering I’ve kept my involvement with him a secret.”

“Yeah, we’d be hypocrites to judge them.”

“I thought my demon might fight me on agreeing to a relationship with Viper, but it isn’t actually opposed to keeping him. Why? Simple and selfish: It’s possessive enough of him not to want another woman to have him.”

Mia snickered. “Typical.”

Ella puffed out a breath. “I guess I better rehearse exactly how I’ll break it to our family.”

As she later drove them home from work, it was exactly what she did. But no matter what way she approached the matter, no matter what angle she took, she never found a way to voice the news that would make their loved ones take it well.

“I think I’m going to have to accept that there is no way to make them take it well,” said Ella, turning onto a single lane. This short-cut to their apartment building didn’t see much traffic, instead it was surrounded by grassland. “I’ll just have to bite the bullet and tell them anyway.”

“I think Mom and Jocelyn will eventually come round, once they see that Viper makes you happy. Luka? He might hold it against Viper until the end of time.”

“I wish I could say you’re wrong, but—”

Something landed on her car and rolled off it.

Ella slammed her foot on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt.

Ghost. It was Ghost who’d hit the car. He was now pushing himself up off the ground … and glaring at the two strix loomingover him. One strix lashed him with a whip of—whoa—black fire while the other blasted him with flaming orbs.

And then … everything happened superfast.

Several members of the Black Saints appeared,sansViper.

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