Page 88 of The Demigod

“We could stop for brunch!” Nova said, not even trying to keep from smiling.

“Yes!” Jo agreed.

“Maybe some manis and pedis,” Dale joined. “My nails are looking rough.”

“Absolutely not,” Minos said.

“You gonna join in the fun?” Daemon whispered to me, fingers tickling my side.

“Depends.”

“On?”

“Are you gonna get all grumbly and protective too?”

“We’ll go to the fuckin’ plant store,” Drex declared, getting a little laugh out of Nova.

“What? On your motorcycle?” she shot back. “How do you expect to bring a monstera back on a bike?”

“The fuck is a monstera?” Drex asked, getting head shakes from the other demons.

“I’ll go with the girls,” Lucy declared.

“Your penis-mobile isn’t going to work either,” Dale said, making a snort escape me.

“Lucy… commandeered a red sports car,” Ace explained.

“If anyone here objects to theft, the owner was dead inside of it,” Lucy declared, making the women let out a mix of groans and laughs.

“Sometimes, having a full soul around you all is… interesting,” Charlotte said, shaking her head at the lot of them.

“Well, if it helps at all, even losing a tiny piece of your soul to become immortal,” Nova piped in, “still makes this whole thing,” she went on, gesturing vaguely, “interesting.”

“You lived among vampires, and these guys are shocking?” Dale asked.

“Different vibes, I guess,” Nova said with a shrug.

“They do dress quite nicely,” Dale said, getting another low grumble from Minos. “But you have much nicer hair,” she said, petting his head while giving the girls all a look.

We all immediately understood it. It said:For creatures of hell, they sure are sensitive.

“Anyway,” Jo said. “We’re going to drop off plants to Arick. And Aggy, if she’s still there. And Iguessyou guys can come if you want.”

My gaze slid around the room, finding a certain affection for everyone gathered around. I’d known them for almost no time at all. Yet I felt a kinship with them, a connection I hadn’t anticipated.

They were going to be my family, I realized with a swelling sensation in my chest.

I’d been so alone after my father’s passing. And aside from my mother, I didn’t have anything nice to say about my actual blood family.

It was nice to know I was no longer alone, that I had community, family.

All thanks to Daemon.

I leaned close to Daemon’s ear. “I really love your people,” I told him, meaning it.

“Even Lucy?” he whispered back.

“A bit begrudgingly, but yes,” I admitted.

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