Page 94 of The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon

Without his essence, the thrum of each of our hearts were off by a fraction of a beat.

I cocked my head. How’d I hear his heartbeat with such ease? Hear but not feel. I steadied my pulse, willing it, controlling it, forcing it to match the beat of the demon who held the entirety of it in his hands. Bez held every piece of me, and I’d gladly give him more.

Everything whirled, twisted, and my head dropped as grogginess hit me.

“Careful.” Bez cradled me against his chest. “You’re still healing. It’ll take time before you can properly control your essence.”

“Mine?”

“Don’t overexert yourself. Rest. Let the devil heal your riddled flesh.”

My eyelids grew too heavy to keep them open.

“Rest.” Bez stroked my hair, probably fixing my knotted curls. “We’ll talk soon.”

“That’s right. I was in oblivion, and you found me,” I whispered. “I met another demon there, too. It was wild. Then I saw you and everything you…”

Bez lifted me off the ground, unveiling his wings and wrapping us together like he’d covered me in a blanket. The tickle of feathers was soothing as sleep took hold.

28

Beelzebub

I stepped into the library, approaching Antoninus’ tank. He’d taken to hiding in the sand of his aquarium, resentful of the relocation, and clearly concerned for Wally’s wellbeing. It’d been a week and a half since I tore the devil essence away, untethering it from my being, and using it to fuel my boyfriend’s recovery. During that time, Wally slept, essence working to mend his many fatalities, and attacking any and everything that approached him. The devil essence considered all a threat, so I had no choice but to move the scorpion familiar someplace else.

“It’s time for you to eat.” I dropped a cricket into the enclosure.

Antoninus scuttled away, ignoring the feast I’d acquired for him.

“Do you realize how hard it is to find your particular dietary delights?” I asked. “We’re in the middle of fucking nowhere surrounded by snow and ice.”

I laid it on a little thick, and Antoninus probably knew I had no difficulty acquiring his meal since Wally had researched several stores not too far out of the way for someone like myself with Diabolic speed and flight. After Kell dropped us in the Alaskan wilderness, Wally did what he did best—research, plan, and prepare for everything. I ground my teeth, hoping none of that would be lost when he awoke.

When.

He would wake soon, recovered, and ready for whatever came next. I’d make sure of it.

In the meantime, I had to contend with the worst familiar ever. Using telekinesis, I lifted the scorpion back over to his prey. “Eat the damn bug or I’ll eat you.”

Antoninus hissed.

“Fine, you’re right. Eating you is barbaric. I’ll squish you, instead. Step on you until your cheap buggy armor cracks and breaks. Then I’ll tell Walter one of the Diabolics must’ve stomped you to death.” I grinned, menacingly and hiding all the sadness which came from speaking Wally’s name. “Not a lie, either, because I will stomp you to death.”

Antoninus clacked his claws, hissing as he snatched up the pathetic cricket who’d dropped his guard near the morose scorpion. Antoninus had not enjoyed a second of Wally’s absence, and I could hardly blame him.

As the scorpion slowly slaughtered his meal, I trudged out of the library in search of my next distracting chore to fill my day.

Paws scratched at the bedroom door, and I zipped through the villa until I arrived beside a gloomy Sunny, a somber Cloudy, and a stoic Stormy. All three personas of the Cerberus pup had lost their spark without Wally, wishing to cuddle next to him as he slept.

“Let’s go.” I snapped my fingers.

Weather whimpered, giving me sappy wide eyes as the flames of his irises dimmed.

“That bullshit doesn’t work on me, hound. If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times—Wally cannot be disturbed.” I conjured a small black flame in my palm. “And you are a bed hog that would get all three of your heads lopped off by essence if you took one clomping step into that room.”

Stormy huffed; the fire in his eyes locked onto mine. Sunny perked up, cocking his head as I bounced the fireball between my hands. Even Cloudy blinked a few times, curiously studying the tasty treat of Diabolic flames.

“Sit.”

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