Page 51 of Spit

Sev did a double take. “You want to come?”

“Yes.” Arlo pushed at the bridge of his nose, adjusting his glasses though he didn’t need to. “What’s wrong with that?”

Sev looked like he wanted to argue before deciding against it. “Fine.”

“Now that I have your permission,” Arlo tipped his head. “I’ll meet you out front. I have some equipment I need to bring.” And with a pop, he folded into thin air.

I was startled at the demon’s sudden disappearance, placing my hand on my chest. “I’ll never get used to that.”

“What? Lacing?” Sev gestured for me to keep walking.

I nodded. “Yeah. It gives me the hoo-has.”

“T.S Eliot?” Sev guessed. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a poetry lover.”

“Eh.” I shrugged. “If you go to school in the south, you’re gonna learn about TS Eliot.”

Once we reached the front door to the mansion, Arlo was already on the porch at the top of the outdoor steps leading to the drive. He held a large suitcase in his hands, and though it must have been heavy, it seemed almost no effort to lift it.

“Should we call for the driver?” I wondered, eying the empty drive.

Sev’s eyes sparkled. “I think we should drive ourselves, don’t you?”

Arlo groaned as we walked down the steps to the garage.

Sev must have expected ooh’s and ahh’s as he unlocked the ebony black Evogue in the garage, but I wasn’t that impressed. For one thing, they were known to slide. Something that I had reminded more than one client that had asked for a security consult.

I hadn’t thought much about what I would do once outside the house, only that I needed some air.

I didn’t entirely understand my motivation for leaving Legion’s estate. However, I suspected my fight or flight response had been activated by Legion getting intimate with another woman.

I hadn’t wanted to admit that the demon made my heart flutter and my lips burn as if I needed to be kissed—but I didn’t like feeling powerless. I didn’t like that I had to deny those feelings and kill the part of me that wantedmore.

I was running away again, I knew I was, but I had a reason. I told myself. I needed to continue with the investigation. To find those missing demons—even if Legion was too busy getting sucked off to care.

Oof. Even I winced at my internal monologue as that thought fluttered by. It didn’t matter. Legion was a fully grown demon. He could do what he wanted.

The opposite of me.

I clenched my fists on my thighs, trying to think of something else, but failing miserably.

Arlo adjusted the briefcase to sit on his lap. “We’re going to the Fourth Sector first. Mars’s home is closest to Legion’s estate.”

“Does he live in one of the fancy mansions too?” I wondered.

Sev hid a laugh behind his hand. “Gods no.” He shook his head. “Pride is all about appearances, so Legion demanded that he receive the city's largest and most opulent residence. Mars tends to emulate his brother Quinn. Greed and Envy go hand in hand more than most sins. Greed desires everything, and Envy desires what others have. They have a rivalry of sorts.”

“That doesn’t answer my question about where he lives,” I mumbled.

“We’re almost there,” Arlo said, shooting me a sympathetic look. “You’ll see.”

Sev’s driving was erratic as we wove through the city streets. The night was much more alive than the day had been.

I lived in NOLA, so I was no stranger to Mardi Gras and people doing stupid shit in the street, but even I was impressed by the antics on the sidewalk. The shops were lit up, glowing with designer clothing, jewelry, and whatever shiny thing the windows could shop off to grab a demon’s attention. The humans on the street were scantily dressed, and some of them were going from demon to demon, handing out cards and showing the branding on their wrists. I could only guess what they were doing.

Sev made a point to drive through the purple and mirrored streets of pride, and into the city center, before choosing the green glow of envy.

I tried to think of what threats we could encounter and decided that theft was most likely. Though Arlo’s briefcase might not have been the best idea, I had nothing worth stealing. Not that he couldn’t defend himself if someone tried to take it; he was a wrath demon.

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