Page 32 of Higher Demon

“I’m just saying that it would be rude of us to refuse Marc’s hospitality and take his money.” Weak. That’s so weak.

Matt must agree, but he doesn’t call me on it. “I mean, I’d be okay with just going back to the compound,” he suggests. “Even if it means being reassigned first thing in the morning.”

It’s another out, but my runaway mouth refuses to take it. “Also rude. C’mon, we’re better than that.”

“Are we, though?” he mutters.

Marc, who’s been watching our byplay impassively, says, “I don’t have extra pillows or blankets.”

Everyone silently looks at me, waiting to see what cockamamie crap I come out with next.

“I guess you’ll have to share the ones on your bed,” I challenge.

“What’s wrong with him?” Uncle whispers loudly. “Is the demon doing this?”

Marc looks past me to where he’s standing. “Believe me, I am not.”

“Of course he’s not,” I snap. “We decided we’d all be friends, right? Well, this is what friends do.”

“Invite themselves over and make themselves at home?” Marc asks silkily.

Matt sighs. “Dammit, we do. Though sometimes we also take the hint that we should fuck off.”

“We’re not doing that this time, because Marc needs to learn how to tolerate friends when he doesn’t want them around.”

Marc wrinkles his nose. “You humans do friendship very poorly.”

“Excuse you, werockat friendship,” Matt declares. “And we’re going to prove it. You got popcorn? Let’s have a movie night.”

Even I think that might be pushing things.

The demon looks down his nose at my bestie. “Popcorn? What, exactly, would I do with popcorn?”

Matt and I look at each other. “Uhhhh… eat it? You do eat. We’ve seen you do it.”

“Popcorn has very little nutritional value.”

“Neither does the margarita you drank with dinner,” I point out. “And anyway, you said your body was what you wanted it to be. So, want it to be hungry for popcorn.” I try to think of something we can watch that he’ll absolutely hate. Not horror movies—he likes gore, even when it’s fake. Something about humans ruthlessly killing other humans makes him happy.

The smile that slowly stretches across my face feels evil. “Matt, I think we need to introduce our new friend toLegally Blonde.”

Matt blinks a few times. That’s a movie we usually only watch when we’re drunk. Or playing a drinking game. It’s awesome, but too… pink. He must realize my intentions, though, because he grins.

“Definitely. You’ll love it,” he assures Marc. “It’s very… cutthroat. Betrayals and all that. And there’s a murder in it.”

A murder trial, anyway.

We’re not good enough actors to fool Marc. His suspicious gaze bounces between us before he finally sighs. “You’re not changing your mind, are you?” he asks me.

I shake my head. “Nope. Friends don’t give up on friends.”

“I’m almost positive you’re making these rules up as you go,” he mutters, then, with a sarcastic little smirk, he lifts his hand and makes a big show of snapping his fingers.

The sound that comes from Uncle Norval is… terrifying. I whirl around to see him bug-eyed and gesturing madly into the “guest” bedroom.

Which… is now fully furnished.

“Fuck me,” Matt breathes.

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