Page 47 of The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon

“They are aware,” I said. “And they don’t like your essence. It’s like they’re trying to back away from it. From you.”

“Likely in awe of the devil essence radiating from him,” Mora said.

Right. Bez wasn’t a devil, but he’d taken part of Beelzebub’s essence into himself before abandoning the realm and subsequently sealing it off entirely.

“Not that any of that matters,” Bez said.

“It all matters when trying to untangle and understand how this works,” I said. “Which could take weeks. Months. Years.”

Bez groaned.

“They’re aware,” I said. “Don’t you feel bad for them?”

“Ifeelannoyed by the headache they’ve given me,” Bez said. “It’d be easiest for all of us if we simply snuffed them out.”

“Don’t be impetuous, Bezzy,” Mora said. “Not every demon is an enemy.”

“Plus, removing them from the equation of how this villa functions could very likely cause it to break down, explode, implode, cease to exist, or a hundred other things. All of which I’d rather not be here to experience,” I muttered aloud, jotting some notes on the symbols for further study.

Between chasing Kell through the library, studying unknown Diabolic-Fae technology, running laps with Weather around the villa, and keeping Tony entertained since his jealousy hadn’t dissipated, all I wanted to do was pass out. The shower I took did absolutely nothing to wake me after so much research. I returned to my bedroom, sighing at the stack of books I’d piled around the bed. This was supposed to make research comfy and isolated, but now they all stood in my way of sprawling out onto the bed.

I sulked, adjusting my glasses. It was fine. I didn’t need tosleepsleep anyway. Just a quick power nap, then I’d figure out how the secret engine room worked, hopefully before Kell broke something else during her not-so-helpful renovations. I crawledonto the bed and sank deep into the mattress between the stack of books.

Sunny barked, climbing onto the bed and inviting himself next to me, much to Tony’s snapping-clawed protest. Tony was much lighter and quieter than Weather, which I preferred, but the way Sunny rubbed his head on my chest, his snout pressed against my sternum and released heavy huffs that turned into happy breaths was soothing. Cloudy adjusted his paw so the heavy-footed Cerberus didn’t put all his weight on my bladder. I knew it was Cloudy because he was the most considerate of the three. Sunny only considered cuddles and playing, Stormy only wanted food, exercise, and to be left the hell alone, and Cloudy wanted to make sure he wasn’t, quite literally, overstepping.

I scratched Cloudy’s ear, letting him nuzzle against my hip while petting Sunny to lull him into sleep. Tony remained perched atop my head, digging his claws into my curls and nestling.

“Bedtime, guys.” I yawned. “Just a real quick nap.”

…

Someone jostled me. I sprang up, eyes wide and alert, studying the room.

“Wakey, wakey, got something far better than eggs and bakey.” Bez nudged me.

I looked around the room. No Tony knocked onto a pillow from the movement of my head, no Weather disturbed by me lunging upright. “Where are—”

“Being besties in the playroom.” Bez had a full smile practically reaching his eyes as he ran his hands along my sides, easing me back onto the bed.

“Our place doesn’t have a playroom.” I couldn’t help but smile back because I loved calling this villa home, even if it wasn’t. I loved having a place with Bez.

“Mora’s shoe room is quite entertaining to the hellhound. All three of them are enthralled by the textures.”

“You didn’t.”

“I most certainly did. Besides, Antoninus enjoys scuttling through her luggage in whatever hidey holes he finds.” Bez slinked onto the bed, laying his head on my crotch, his hands rubbing up my thighs. “All rested up?”

“How long was I asleep?”

“Mortal standards? Not nearly long enough.” Bez tugged at my pants. “By my standards, far too long.”

“I was just napping.”

“Said pretty princess Sleeping Beauty.” He used his teeth to unloop my belt.

“Aw, you called me pretty.” I chuckled, running my fingers through his shaggy hair, which smelled of the same berry-blended shampoo I used. It was still slightly damp, the black and orange glistening. “I am actually tired, though.”

Bez’s tongue grazed my hip bone as he unfastened my belt with eager hands. “How tired?”

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