Page 19 of Mayhem and Ember

I blinked and shook my head, chasing away the naughty thoughts that had taken up residence in my brain. One Holland sister getting down with a demon was enough. Mayhem was a means to an end. Nothing more.

Ash handed me the clothes, dark jeans and a t-shirt. No underwear. Did Chaos go commando? I shook my head again and chunked the garments at Mayhem’s head. He caught them before they reached their target…demon reflexes and whatnot.

“Put those on, and I’ll break the circle.” My eyes finally obeyed the command from my brain, and my gaze remained on his face as he bent down to step into the jeans. When he pulled on the shirt, the tension in my jaw loosened, but it would take a cold shower to rid myself of the unwanted hormones coursing through my veins.

I eyed the salt ring surrounding him and glanced at Chaos, who nodded. Ash rested a hand on my shoulder and said, “It’s time.”

My stomach tightened, my insides tying into nauseating knots. Once he’d gotten his hissy fit out of the way, he’d become compliant with all my requests. I had to hold up my end of the bargain.

Locking my gaze on his eyes, I stepped toward the circle. “Do not make me regret this.”

8

MAYHEM

The moment the witch swiped her boot through the salt circle, my senses came alive. The high vibrations of their light magic raised the hairs on my skin, and the scents of herbs and chemicals assaulted my nostrils. My nose twitched at the stench.

My brother kept a protective arm wrapped around his witch, but the one they called Ember and the two males stood tense, ready to draw their weapons at the first sign of my malice. I held in a laugh.

If Chaos weren’t here, I could take the four of them out before they had a chance to call on their magic or swing a sword. Instead, I would bide my time, make them believe they could command me like they did my brother, and when his guard was down…then I would strike with a force they couldn’t begin to imagine.

I stepped out of the circle and inhaled deeply, my face contorting as the pungent odor burned my nasal passages and throat. “What is that sharp, offending stench?”

Ash and Ember looked at each other, the former shaking her head before the latter said, “What stench?”

“I believe he means the smells of bleach and the other products you use in your home,” Chaos said. “The scent is one that didn’t exist when we last visited this realm.”

Ember made an uncouth snorting sound through her nose. “You’re offended by the smell of clean? Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

Her boldness of speech and coarse mannerisms would have caused her imprisonment when last I was here, yet something about her brashness intrigued me. She seemed wild, untamed, and I wondered how many men had tried to put her in her place and failed.

I raked my gaze down her form, taking in her slender curves, imagining the feel of her skin beneath my fingertips. If she were any being other than a witch, she would be mine by the end of the day. Taming this shrew would be easier than teaching Cerberus to sit. She would do my bidding whenever and wherever I chose.

But witches were the vilest of creatures, and the mere thought of bedding one made my stomach turn. I would never make that mistake again.

“My eyes are up here, sweetheart,” she said, and I flicked my gaze to hers.

“I haven’t seen a woman’s bosom in centuries. It’s unfortunate my first had to be yours.” I started toward the door, but Chaos blocked my exit. The male witches flanked him as if they stood a chance of keeping me from my destination.

“First of all…” Ember’s voice drew my attention, and I turned to her as she continued, “Nobody says bosom anymore. You need to watch a few hours of television to get up to speed on modern vernacular.”

I had no clue what she was talking about, but I didn’t dare admit my ignorance to a witch. Instead, I simply crossed my arms. “Noted.”

Her nostrils expanded, and she angled her head while clenching her jaw until the tendons in her neck protruded. Fisting her hands, she tipped her head toward the ceiling and paced a short distance before returning and pacing again.

“And second?” I asked.

She stilled and faced me. “What second?”

“Generally, when someone precedes a statement with the phrase ‘first of all,’ there is something else they intend to say.”

She scoffed. “Are you kidding me right now?”

I arched a brow, happy to goad her, though I couldn’t fathom why she questioned my seriousness. “Not in the slightest.”

She splayed her fingers, her gaze cutting to the sword lying on the table next to her. “Chaos…” she said through clenched teeth. “Get a handle on your brother before I do something I shouldn’t. I need some air.” She grasped her sword and marched past me, her shoulder purposely hitting my arm on her way to the door.

“Give us a minute.” My brother pressed his lips to Ash’s forehead, and she nodded before gesturing for the males to join her outside.

---