Page 38 of Raising Hell

“It’s okay,” I whisper, but he only stares. The nerves in my throat are a tangled ball, but I force a swallow and work past them. “It’s okay to let your guard down sometimes… to turn it off. That must be so exhausting, always being in control. Never allowing yourself to let go.” His chest rises in a deep inhale, still silent. “You can, you know. Let go. It’s okay to let yourself feel with me.”

A hint of anguish crosses his face, and he nods—a single, abrupt jerk of his head. His body relaxes as he snuggles against my back, a long exhale blowing across my neck. He never speaks, but that’s alright.

The gentle kiss he plants on my shoulder says more than words could, anyway.

Chapter 16

Rory

Days fade into a week, and I’ve grown far too comfortable with my current situation. I can’t get enough of them—Cas’s endearing goofiness or Amon’s closed-off intensity. They’re two puzzle pieces, one vibrant and colorful, the other subtle and muted, but when they come together, they somehow create a masterpiece.

It’s as beautiful as it is terrifying.

My human life has come to a screeching halt, and I know I need to get it back on track. Look for a job, revert to a normal lifestyle…

Find a way to send them home.

The thought hurts more than it should.

Whenever Cas dips his head and snags me with that flirty grin, or when Amon allows me a tiny glimpse past his barriers, I lose another piece of myself.

Bit by tiny bit, I’m giving myself away.

Giving myself tothem.

Goodbye is inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

And so, for now, I choose to ignore the dark cloud of the end that looms over me. Pretend that it’s not sand in my palms, silently slipping through my fingers.

Tell myself that it’s not going to come crashing down around me before I’m ready.

A loud bang and a shout erupt from somewhere in the house, and I jump to my feet, pulled out of my head in an instant. As I charge through the hallway, the acrid smell of smoke burns my nostrils. Wisps drift from the attic door, cascading down the stairs like a fog.

“Guys!” I yell, climbing the steps as fast as my short legs will carry me, and as I reach for the handle, a foreign noise explodes from the room.

Rich and warm, it’s a ray of sunshine that rolls over my skin, and I crack the door open by a sliver. Amon clutches his stomach, head thrown back, as he laughs with pure joy. It takes my breath away as I take in his crinkled eyes and giant smile. Laughter causes his whole body to shake, and his long, silky hair ripples in sync.

It’s the most amazing sound I’ve ever heard.

An amused huff of air leaves my mouth as I shake my head, grinning despite myself, until a loud shriek pulls me out of my reverie. “You ass, don’t just fucking stand there!Help mebefore Rory sees!”

Torn between curiosity and walking away to pretend this never happened, I push the door open. Cas’s eyes are wider than I’ve ever seen them as they meet mine, and my mouth drops in pure shock.

He stares.

I stare.

“Too late!” Amon absolutely howls as he doubles over, clutching his sides. Shadow sits at Amon’s side, tail flickering. If cats could laugh, I’m pretty sure she would be.

“Wha… wha… Cas!” He jumps as I shout his name, grimacing. “Whathappened?!”

“I can explain…” he starts, pushing his fingers through his hair and cringing when he touches it. Usually, his hair is raven black with a bluish hue to it, long on top with the sides short. But now? It’s past his shoulders and standing on end like he stuck his finger in an electrical socket.

Oh, and did I mention it’spink?

Neon, blinding, unicorn-vomit-pink.

It’s at this moment that I notice that he’s hunched forward, hands cupping his crotch, and my eyebrows climb even higher on my face. Honestly, at this point, they’ll probably just take flight.

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