Page 23 of Commanding Chaos

Ember tossed him the remote. “Enjoy some pop culture. Maybe you’ll learn a thing or two about empathy.”

I walked like a zombie to my bedroom while my sister activated the wards she’d set up in the hall doorway last night. I should’ve helped her, but I didn’t have an ounce of vim left in me, so I crashed onto my mattress and slept like the dead.

9

CHAOS

“Your cold box is nearly empty. We need fuel.” I closed the door and went to the food pantry. It didn’t offer much in the way of sustenance either. “We cannot battle another creature on deviled eggs and Lucky Charms alone.”

“It’s called a refrigerator.” Ash sat on a stool at the counter, her tone indicating a foul mood. “And we haven’t had time to restock, thanks to you.”

Ember paced behind her sister, her posture stiff, her expression sour, but she didn’t speak.

I ignored the blame Ash tried to cast at me. She was still tired and extremely hungry, and if I had learned anything from watching their television all night, it was that people lost themselves when faced with both extremes at the same time. Also, those who went to bed angry always woke up that way.

They had both slept half the day, but their fragile mortal bodies had been taxed beyond anything a mundane could withstand. Their magic was the only thing that kept them going thus far. They could not exist on their power alone.

“We should go to a restaurant.” I closed the pantry door. “We will all think more clearly on full stomachs.”

“Are you crazy?” Ash slapped her palm on the countertop. “We can’t take you anywhere. Someone died yesterday.”

“You know as well as I do who is responsible for your friend’s demise.”

Ember stopped and frowned at me before continuing her pacing.

Ash rolled her eyes. “I’m not talking about Ginger. We witnessed a human murder that never would have happened if you hadn’t played with their minds.”

A growl rumbled in my chest. Bound by my mark or not, I would not allow her to attribute a human’s free will to my magic. “I told you I was not using my power at the time. You can’t blame me for that.”

“The hell I can’t.”

“Stop it.” Ember grabbed a jacket from the wall rack. “While I despise agreeing with a demon, Chaos is right. We need food.”

Ash moved her mouth as if she were chewing the inside of her cheek before she sighed. “Fine.” She wagged a finger at me. “I’d make you promise not to cause trouble, but I doubt you’d keep your word.”

How many times did I have to explain to this witch that as long as she bore my mark, I could not betray her? The panic I caused at the park was to help her, not cause her pain. “I will promise anyway.”

“Like that means something.” She rose and brushed past me before descending the stairs.

Ember arched a brow. “She’s finally come to her senses.”

Anger rarely came from sense, but before I could tell her that, she followed her sister outside. We exited the building, and the witches crossed their arms, tucking their hands beneath them as we walked two blocks to an establishment called Gloria’s. Chilling air whipped down the street, the buildings on either side of us creating a wind tunnel.

Ash’s hair blew into my face, wafting her intoxicating scent to my senses, reminding me why I’d had carnal thoughts about her from the moment I saw her through her own eyes. I was drawn to her on a primal level. Everything about her, including her infernal attitude, called to something deep inside me, making me want to raze this entire town and carry her to the depths of Hell to be by my side forever.

My brothers would call on Lucifer to lock me in the deepest cell of his most abhorrent prison for all of eternity if they discovered the way I felt for this witch.

I fisted my hands. The sooner we could end this and I could get away from her, the better.

We found a secluded table in the back of the restaurant. The server handed us menus, and as she walked away, Ember pointed at me and then Ash. “Not a word until you’ve eaten at least half of your lunch. Hangry talk is never productive.”

“Hangry?” I inquired.

Ash opened her menu, not looking at me. “It’s a combination of hungry and angry.”

“I see.”

“Uh-uh. Zip it.” Ember cut her gaze between us.

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