Page 72 of The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon

“Mora,” Kell whispered, staring at the vampire. “Love the host you picked. Always fun.”

The vampire—Mora—turned back, pointing a finger at Kell. “I have a scolding prepared for you, but first.” She returned tothe feathered demon, desperately trying to break Bez and Mora’s hold over him.

“I had the misfortune of accompanying Bael to a banquet hosted by your mommy, Lilith,” Mora said, disdain pouring off her tongue in equal measure to the blood flowing out of the demon’s mouth. “She talked down to all those in attendance from lesser Hells, as she so eloquently put it, and made it quite clear nothing outside her world mattered. Not even her demons who abandoned it.”

“You don’t know her,” the demon begged. “She’ll…she’ll do anything for her children, her progeny, her essence incarnate, even—”

“I’m tired of your voice. It’s obnoxious and whiny.” Bez dug his claws deep into the demon’s flesh, shredding meat and bone, spilling blood everywhere.

Mora’s fingers grew long and sharp, blackened with essence, and she tore into the demon’s stomach. Bez’s grip remained strong as black essence continued pooling out of him, forming into sharp spikes that stabbed into the demon.

The demon wailed, expelling his own essence to fight back, but waves of black flew from Mora and Bez simultaneously, lapping round and round. A sapphire hue laced in the black held a vibrance, sizzling and crackling against the darkness surrounding the three of them, then the blue flickered in and out like an erratic pulse. I gulped from the essence merging around the three demons, making it impossible to distinguish a single one in the tarlike blob filling the corridor.

Bones crunched, blood splattered, chunks of meat broke loose and spilled onto the floor like ground beef. I gagged.

Bez and Mora’s essence intertwined, suffocating the sapphire light with emerald and crimson hues casting a brightening pulse after each muffled scream from the demon fully encased by Diabolic essence.

Kell took off her witch’s hat, probably needing something to block the view like me. Instead, she rifled through the insides and pulled out a phone to snap a photo.

“Why?” I cocked my head.

“I never realized the awesome Christmas vibes those two give off.” Kell tossed her phone into the hat and put it back on. “I’m gonna use this for my next holiday card.”

“Why do I even ask?” I questioned aloud, shaking my head with silent judgment.

“This is how Diabolics contend with conflict,” Mora said, adjusting the flounced frill of her dress shirt. The ensemble looked like something out of the twelfth-century Renaissance except for the tacky not-so-fashionable updates Mora must’ve added because they didn’t have bell-bottom styled pantaloons during that period. Yeesh. I bit my lip to keep from commenting. She usually had better taste in her outfits.

“Get rid of the judgy face, Walter.” Bez pointed a claw.

“I’m not judging her clothes,” I blurted.

Mora frowned and planted her hand on a popped hip. “I fucking hate Maurice’s wardrobe.”

“I think you look dazzling, babe.” Kell practically swooped toward Mora and kissed her. The two locked lips like we weren’t being stalked and hunted by demons. Why was everyone kissing to say hello?

We’re in literal life-or-death danger.

“I meant the judgy face on how we dealt with that demon,” Bez said, zipping in front of me in a blur so quickly it snapped the air around my body before my eyes registered the movement.

I released a breath of relief, grateful to see his essence continuing to grow stronger again.

“Devouring demons is just how things work for Diabolics in Hells and other realms. Plus, with his shattered essence coursing through us, it’s quite the pick me up.”

“I see.” I half-smiled, which Bez took as an invitation, running his knuckles along my tattered shirt as the essence coating his hand retreated inward.

His fingertips tugged at the bloody fabric, running his thumb over the dried flecks of blood while squinting at the fresh, soaked stains. Then, without any permission whatsoever, he yanked my shirt up, examining my stomach in front of Mora and Kell. “Those incantations are solid, stellar, in fact.”

“That was all me, pure genius.” Kell broke away from Mora’s lips just in time to humble brag.

“Shut up.” Mora snatched the back of Kell’s neck, locking eyes with her. “I’m scolding you.”

They returned to their kiss.

I tilted my head. “Are they like having a telepathic argument while making out?”

“Ignore them. That’s what I usually do.” Bez waved a dismissive hand. “As I was saying, those incantations are solid, but you’ll need my essence if you want to fully recover.”

“No.”

---