Page 66 of Hell on Wheels

“Six. He’s passable at eleven, but he really hates learning them. I had to spoon feed him the last couple by refusing to speak in English at home until he got it down.” Winking at my new mates, I turn back to their snooty mother with an innocent look. “I hope that’s acceptable,SignoraGemini.”

The demoness pulls back from her son, straightening so she’s looking at me more closely. “The Society educates its soldierswell, I see. Is there a reason you chose not to pursue a higher level? Income, perhaps?”

Oh, please. As if I care that we’re not loaded like the Geminis.

“I could have, I suppose. My grades were excellent and my references solid. But my passion is the derby and my duties to my future charge. I didn’t feel it was necessary to get a piece of paper to prove I’d learned shit. Seemed like a waste of money to me.” I lean back a little, lengthening my neck until I’m mirroring the weird stance she’s in. I don’t know if it means something to demons, but being a Guardian’s taught me that physical poses often convey specific meanings to other supes.

“Hmmph,” Lola scoffs dismissively. “Well, breeding always tells its own story.”

“Mother.” Angelo’s eyes flash and I reach out to take his arm again before he loses his shit. I knew he’d forget his own advice about her when she got salty.

“Not to worry, Angelo. It’s hard for those who had their futures planned by their parents with little to no input on the outcome of their lives to understand generations who are not beholden to such constricting practices.”

Take that, you old bat.

The silence hangs for a moment, then the matriarch of their court laughs softly. “Yes, the ignorance of youth is always a cause for amusement. Go enjoy your evening with yourfriend, boys. I’ll send the potential candidates over after cocktail hour.”

My eyes narrow and I have to clench my fist at my side so I don’t let loose. Her arrow found its mark and I don’t know if she realizes we’re mated or she just wanted to stoke jealousy. Eitherway, promising to send ‘acceptable women’ over to the twins for inspection makes my magic want to burst free with a roar of fury. I can’t do that, though, or she’ll know she’s won. This dance of attrition is a test and I have to pass with flying colors before the guys make their announcement.

“I don’t think that will be necessary, Lola.” Her eyes flash at the familiarity, but I simply smile sweetly. “Angelo and Damon will be plenty entertained in my company with no outside interference. After all, you wouldn’t want it to appear that you were mistreating a guest of your family in your home, would you?”

The guys watch as we stare at one another, each waiting for the other to fold. I refuse, and since Reb was an idiot wholovedto play the staring game as kids, I’m not going to lose. It’s because I permanently spelled my damn eyes with Fae magic, but this bitch doesn’t need to know that. Lola Gemini needs to think it’s because I’m a much bigger badass than she realizes, so we don’t have to fend off slutty demons looking for husbands tonight.

And so I don’t get dragged off by security when I bash their damn heads in.

“As you wish, Rogue Kelly. However, don’t assume that my generosity tonight extends to you forever.” She smiles at the twins, blowing another kiss at them. “Have fun, my sons, and watch your back. You never know who will show up at a Gemini party.”

Once she walks away, I turn to them and whisper, “Did your mother justthreatenyou?”

Angelo shrugs. “Not the first time and won’t be the last. Mercurial is an understatement with Ma.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Damon says as he rolls his eyes. “Ma likes to test us, but it's to make sure we can run the family someday.”

“I disagree, little D.” My eyes track the ginger woman as she floats through the crowd, smacking random hot guys’ asses with her tail. “She’s concerned with image, status, and money. If you’re not giving her one of those, you lose value and she’ll cut you loose.”

The question with that kind of person is when… not ‘if.’

Suck It

The flood of women sent to Damon and me by our loving mother has been nothing short of an insult. We made it clear to her that we weren’t interested, but she and my father headed to their meeting with the other, plotting ‘rebels’ with a dismissive wave. I know Luca wanted my twin and me to attend, but Lola made sure we were so inundated with potential ‘wives’ that we couldn’t pry ourselves away even if we wanted to.

Demon women, even hybrids, get vicious when they feel threatened.

Rogue would have held her own without a doubt. But there’s nothing on this planet or in the Underworld that matters to me as much as my mate’s safety. While she could take on the glut of smoldering females, the punishment she’d face for using her powers offensively would be severe. There’s no doubt in mymind everyone in this room outside of our family would swear on a stack of skulls she started fights rather than finishing them. It would be a fucking mess we’d be fighting for months.

“Angelo!Mi cara,” a husky voice coos in my ear.

Whirling around, I glare at the succubi pressing herself against my back. “Cheshmak, get the fuck off of me.”

My irritated growl draws attention from our girl and the rest of my crew. Rogue’s eyes narrow dangerously as she stalks over to me purposefully. I recognize that gleam in her gaze; she’s going to decimate the golden skinned demoness. “Princess…”

Her hand comes up, stopping my words as a smirk curls her lips. “Don’t worry, Ang. I can take care of myself—especially when it’s telling some Cadbury demon to back the hell off.”

Cheshmak growls, pulling away from me to square off with the angry Fae. “You’re going to let thisputtana, this Fae trash… talk to me like that? Angelo Gemini, your father would be ashamed of you.”

Bringing Luca into it was the wrong move—which shows how little this bitch knows about Damon and I.

“Slut shaming issopre-2000s,” Rogue says with an eye roll. “Tearing down other women out of jealousy is the mark of a self-esteem issue. Do better—you’re a demon, for fuck’s sake. You have power, beauty, and lust powers; why would you need to attackmysexuality?”

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