Page 23 of Higher Demon

I turn my head and let my gaze slide around the room. A few people pale. Others hurriedly look away. Someone coughs. And finally, one brave soul restarts his own conversation, shattering the awkward silence and spurring the others to resume their meals.

“That was fun,” Ian mutters. “Uncle, youcan’ttell Connor about this.”

Pfft. Connor again. Ian needs to care less about what his annoying brother thinks.

Norval scoffs. “Of course not. But I’ll need to give some reason for not being there, won’t I?”

“I doubt they’ll press too hard,” I murmur. He rudely ignores me.

“And I should tell Gabe and the others. They can help run interference, keep Connor from accidentally finding out. You boys have never been all that good with secrets.”

The “boys” exchange a glance that speaks volumes.

“You know,” Matt ventures, “the best way to keep Connor from finding out would be if you told nobody and were there to keep an eye on him yourself.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Norval’s a dead human, so his intelligence is in question, but he’s also a thousand years old. He won’t fall for that ploy.

“I know,” he says, nodding and lowering my opinion of him even further, “I thought of that. But I just can’t leave you here alone withhim. Not anymore.” He jerks his head toward me.

“I’d be insulted if I cared what you thought.” I adjust my collar and wonder if anyone would notice if I went to change clothes. I may have made this outfit a challenge that surpassed all my expectations, but it’s still far too casual for my liking.

I eye Matt’s threadbare hoodie and curl my lip. Vestia would be so disappointed if she saw how the common human dressed.

“Whatever’s going to happen, we need to leave here. We’ve attracted enough attention for tonight, and I don’t want anyone to get curious enough to try to eavesdrop,” Ian says. “Let’s go home.”

“Noooo,” Matt whines. “If I go back to the compound, they’ll see me and give me another assignment. I just want one night off. Is that too much to ask?”

I tip my head to the side and study him. These are the great hunters that destroyed so many demons? I’m so ashamed of my own people.

Norval cuffs the back of Matt’s head. “You’re a disgrace to the family.”

“Ow. And also, I’m not in your family.” He ducks to avoid another slap.

“Have I ever treated you different from Ian? Shame on you for saying such a thing.” Norval’s bushy brows are drawn together in a fierce scowl, and I’m certain he has more to say, but I’m getting bored.

“As charming as family bonding time is,” I interject, “were we about to leave?”

“Where do you want to go?” Ian asks Matt. “If we can’t go back to our place, it’s a hotel or—” He stops sharply, then slowly turns to look at me. “We could go to Marc’s house.”

What?

Oh no.

“Absolutely not. It’s bad enough you know where I live and insist on visiting with your dirty shoes. I don’t need his grubby fingers”—I gesture to Matt—“and a ghost infestation. It took me long enough to get rid of the last one.”

Three jaws drop.

“What does that mean?” Norval snaps. “Get rid of? You better not be hurting poor innocent ghosts that have?—”

“That have no right to squat inmyhome.” Not that I hurt it. But it didn’t leave fast enough for my liking—I was in the house for a full thirty seconds before I sensed its departure. It seems even the ghosts can tell I’m going soft, living in this cesspit.

“Let’s not get into this here.” Ian sounds like he’s very close to going on a homicidal rampage. There’s an edge to his voice and a wild gleam in his eyes that I find disturbingly attractive… as far as humans go. “Marc, we’re coming to your place because that’s what friends do. They visit each other’s houses. Once we’ve worked out how to tackle this, you can… come to my house.”

Matt gags and tries to hide it. “Dude, don’t I get a say? It’s my house too.”

I narrow my eyes. “That’s not a nice thing to say about your friend.” I might not know all the intricacies of friendship—although I’m convinced Matt was making some of them up—but I know how to recognize an insult.

“I swear to god,” Ian hisses, “you better all get out of this booth and go to Marc’s house or you willnot.Like. The consequences.”

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