Page 11 of House of Demons and Bones

“We need a plan going forward,” Rowan said. “Regular meetings, the four of us, so there’ll be no fucking misunderstandings.”

I perked up, loving the sound of the four of us, like some exclusive club. I didn’t sob in joy though, as Barbie had banned my happy tears.

“Future meetings are on the menu, but now I need some alone time with my mate.” Killian waved Rowan off. “You head back to the academy and explain the duel to the heirs. Those assholes are probably tearing my properties apart looking for us.”

“You started this fucking mess,” Rowan said. “You deal with it. I’m staying here with Sy.”

“This is my place,” Killian said. “And you’ve worn out your welcome.”

“Who wants to stay in this fucking cold place?” Rowan snorted and gave me a nod while talking to Sy. “Let’s go, little monster.”

Let’s depart with my sugar,I urged, but Barbie didn’t move her butt an inch.

“I’m not leaving these cakes.” She eyed the cheesecake. “Wonder why they call it New York cheesecake. Did New Yorkers invent it? Or is it the original recipe?” She took a huge bite and hummed. “Would you look up the history while I finish this?”

“Come feast at my house,” Rowan coaxed, and Killian’s eyes narrowed.

The chaos prince was ready to pounce if Barbie moved. I could grab control while they fought.

“Here’s the thing,” Barbie said, flashing Rowan a smirk. “One feast in front of me beats two promised elsewhere. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away if I wanted to stay.” She shot Killian a cocky look. “No dragon can keep me if I want to leave. Right now, I want to eat cakes.”

And I wanted to go with my sugar. Without a warning, I surged forward. So much for my promise not to usurp her—not that it mattered when she was such a bully. But Barbie shoved me back right away. She’d been waiting for it. We grappled for control, a mental tug-of-war that ended with me backing down, because what else could I do when she went full psycho?

I want my turn!I hissed in frustration.You can’t keep treating me like your damn sidekick. Those days are over!

You’ll have your turn. Just not now.She flicked her pinkie at me like I was an annoying bug.Killian and I have unfinished business. We need to hash things out, especially after he dropped that bomb about me being his…whatever. We’ll have to fix our broken trust, right here.Before I could protest, she waved a hand with a flourish.Look, Sy, if we don’t sort this mess out first, the four of us are going nowhere fast. You’ll be just as stuck as me.

Promise you’ll make it quick,I growled, giving her another shove. She retaliated with enough force to nearly knock me on my butt—because apparently, she couldn’t do anything without being extra about it.

Both heirs watched us intently as Barbie’s face tensed and her eyes flickered—sapphire and green to gold and back again—telltale signs of our power struggle.

“Were you two fighting just now?” Rowan’s concern warmed my blood.

“Don’t worry about it,” Barbie said with a shrug. “Sy wanted to leave with Prince Rowan, but I’m not going anywhere until I finish all the cakes.”

Killian grinned. “That’s my girl.”

“You shouldn’t bully Sy, Barbie!” Rowan seethed. “If cakes are the holdup, let me help you finish them.”

Rowan snatched a cake and devoured it in two bites. As he reached for another, Killian threw up a wall of darkness between him and the table.

“Those are for my mate,” the chaos prince said. “You don’t take food from her.”

Rowan called for his magic, and this time, it managed to push through in the dragon realm. His vines shot through the barrier, grabbed a cake, and hurled it straight into Killian’s face. The cake dropped, leaving his nose smeared with icing.

“Eat it then, asshole,” Rowan said.

Barbie stopped mid-bite to stare at Killian before bursting into laughter.

“Looking for another fight, Rowan?” Killian growled, not amused as he wiped his face with a napkin.

“Anytime,” Rowan said. “And make sure we finish it this time.”

Both heirs rose, squaring off for battle.

Barbie jumped up. “If you two fight again, you’ll trash everything Sy and I risked by sharing our dangerous secret.” She gave my sugar the evil eye. “Let me eat in peace. Sy gets her strength from what I consume too.”

Rowan and Killian sank back into their seats but kept glaring at each other.

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