Page 37 of Spit

Ichi Legion nodded slowly.

Sev cursed again. “You’ve checked in with Trey and Arlo?”

“Arlo is at the house, and if Trey doesn’t come in by sundown, I’ll send the Kiko for him.” Legion crossed his arms over his chest.

“You need me to come in?” Sev wondered.

Legion held his palms up. “We are stronger together.”

“Together?” Sev said the word sharply as if it had a different meaning.

Legion didn’t respond to the question in his words. “This is Alexis Boudaire. She’s on loan from the Sixth Circle of Gluttony to help find our missing colleagues.”

I lifted my hand in a limp wave. “Hello.”

Sev nodded in understanding that was beyond my reach.

Sev gave me a languid smile, allowing his eyes to roam over my face as if only just noticing that I was a woman. “Are you a Purger, pinkie pie?” He asked.

I frowned. “Huh?”

“A Gluttony demon that collects food for Beelzebub. If you don’t know what they are, I take it you're not one.” Sev grinned.

“Witch,” I said, lifting my chin.

“Huh.” Sev cocked his head to the side. “You don’t smell like a witch.”

“She’s a null,” Legion growled. “Will you stop flirting for a moment and give me an answer? Can I expect you at Hemlock House this evening?”

“I’ll do you one better.” Sev winked at me before turning to Legion. “I’ll hitch a ride if that’s all right?”

Chapter Seven

Ihadn’t noticed how many people had been at the club when we arrived, but they were all gone now. The circular tables were devoid of people as the music wove towards an empty dance floor.

Sev quickly handed a set of keys to a man behind the bar before he escorted us out as the sun was setting.

Fishbowls filled with condoms and lube sachets sat proudly on every table. I kept my eyes averted to avoid the risk of someone thinking I was interested in that sort of thing.

I’d come to terms with my celibacy a long time ago, but every so often, it chafed. A scar that itched when I thought about it.

We stepped out onto the street. I studied the way that the buildings had changed in the darkness. The pink curb painted to signify lust looked gray once the sun had set, but the street lights bathed the sidewalk in a deep blush pink that looked slightly orange.

Impulse was the most innocent-looking building on the street with its floral garden. I hadn’t noticed in the daylight, but there was a snake woven out of lights in between the flowers—garden of Eden symbolism, I realized.

The night had brought a more sordid filter to the city. Further down the street, horned women stood in doorways without much clothing, crooking their fingers at the people walking past. Some were hidden behind glass windows, leaning seductively.

A group of men, laughing and pushing each other, giving the air of being part of a bachelor party, stopped to study the window.

I felt Sev draw level with my shoulder.

“You don’t have much experience with my Sin, do you, Pinkie Pie?” Sev asked, his voice tinted with a British accent and mixing into something new.

I hummed but didn’t confirm or deny. I was unable to hide my discomfort as my cheeks burned.

“Or perhaps you know my Sin and deny yourself.” Sev tapped his chin. “I can’t seem to read you, little null witch.”

“You’re good at reading people then, are you?” I quirked a brow.