Page 8 of Mastering Mayhem

“Damn right, it is.” I sent another wave of heat into the bonfire of Balor as they rushed out to save Shade.

My flames, bright orange with a base of blue, swirled and spun through Mayhem’s white ones. He cut his gaze to me, one corner of his mouth lifting in a grin as he took a deep breath and added to the inferno.

His fire morphed from white to blue to indigo, the tips turning a vibrant purple as it flickered and consumed. The combination of colors shifted and blended, pirouetting and swaying together in a mesmerizing dance of magic.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The way our colors blend.” He slid an arm around my waist. “We are good together.”

“When we’re not trying to kill each other, yeah.”

He dropped his hand to his side, stepping away from me and focusing on the flames.

It took a minute. Okay, more like ten, but finally the crystals smoked, smoldered, and turned into ashes. I called back my flames and heaved a breath. That was enough physical exertion for one day.Whew.

“Are your boots fireproof?” he asked.

“Everything I wear is. Why?”

“Lift your foot.”

“Why?” I raised a knee, and he sighed.

“The other one.” He grabbed my pants at the ankle and raised the sole of my boot toward him. “Even this small amount of the Formorian’s eye on your shoe is enough for him to reform.” He lit the tip of his finger ablaze. “Unless you want to take him to New York?”

“Fire away.” If I ever saw one of these revolting creatures again, it would be way too soon.

With my boot cleansed in flames, I curled my lip at what was left of our captors and followed Mayhem to the front of the store. Shade lay on the floor, a washcloth over his eyes, his stomach exposed.

My heart sank. “Is he okay?”

“He’ll be fine.” Ash swiped a magical salve across the stitches. “This will speed the healing, but you’ll have a massive scar.”

“That’s okay.” Shade pulled the cloth from his eyes. “Chicks dig scars.”

Miles shot his gaze to the floor before rising to his feet, and I had to wonder if Shade had any clue about his feelings for him. It wasn’t my place to ask, so I went shopping in what was left of the store.

Mayhem had torn through his new, ridiculously expensive clothes when he let his demon loose, so I grabbed him another pair of starched jeans and a black button-up. He dressed and put on his new boots while I grabbed myself a slinky little black number from the women’s section. Since I couldn’t take weapons into the auction house, I might as well dress the part of the trophy wife, right?

“We aren’t going to pay, and we don’t have to stay.” I gave the cash register the middle finger and turned toward the door. “Let’s roll.”

Chaos helped Miles support Shade, and we allfinallyleft the building. Well, all of us except Mayhem. He stood in the doorway, his expression livid.

“Come on,” I said.

He held up his arm, showing me the ouroboros on his wrist. “I can’t.”

I sighed, my posture deflating. “Well, shit.”

3

EMBER

“Hey, Ash. Bring your bag. We’ve got a problem.” I stomped back into the store, silently swearing to the gods before narrowing my eyes at Mayhem. “I told you not to try on the bracelet.”

“And I heeded your warning.” He crossed his arms. “If you remember, you told me to change into my normal clothes. Donal put the ouroboros on me when I reached for them.”

I clutched his forearm and rotated the bracelet on his wrist, making the snake shiver and chomp its tail harder. “I remember.”

“Then why are you angry with me?”

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