Page 27 of Demon Hunter

“My nose thought so.” I turn expectantly to Marc and hold out one arm. “So…?”

“When, precisely, did I become your lackey?”

“Please?” Ian steps up close to him and puts a hand on Marc’s chest. “The sooner Matt’s safely on his way, the sooner we can go home and have some alone time. It’s been awhole week, you know.”

My casts thud to the dirt, and Dylan and I stare down at them. “That was…” I can’t think of the right word.

“Are they still whole?” Dylan asks, crouching down for a better look. “Oh my god, they’re all still in one piece. How did he do this?”

“Do I need to ask what’s going on here?” Connor demands. “Ian, get the fuck away from him. Isn’t it bad enough that Iknowwhat you do without actually having to see it?”

“They’re just standing there, Con,” Gabe points out patiently, but he doesn’t look all that thrilled about it either. As hard as I’ve found it to get used to Marc being part of Ian’s life, our brothers have struggled a whole heap more. “Matty, how are you feeling?”

“Fine,” I answer honestly as Ian shoots Connor a defiant glare and takes Marc’s hand. “Never better. Marc even refilled my energy tanks. I feel like I’ve just had a weeklong vacation napping in a hammock.” I consider what happened the last time I took a long nap in a hammock. “Without the sunburn.”

My big bro smiles and nods. “Good. Marc, everything went smoothly with the helicopter crew?”

Marc looks offended. “Of course.”

“Thank you. Dylan, are things covered from your end?”

“Yeah, some stuff’s already deleted and the rest is scrambled, but… how does nobody care about this? These are stillfully intact.” He pokes at one of the casts, and it rolls over in the dirt.

“We’d rather not know,” Gabe says honestly. “Con and I will get rid of them before we take our car back to the rental company. Our flight’s in four hours, so if you’re sure you’re okay…?” He looks back at me, and I give him a monster hug.

“I’m fine, Gabe,” I whisper. “Thank you.”

His arms squeeze me. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. Come and visit soon—bring Dylan. Tom wants to get to know him better.”

“Will do,” I promise as I step back. Connor swoops in for a hug next, while Gabe and Dylan start collecting the discarded casts.

“Rest up,” my adopted big bro orders. “I know you feel great, but take it easy for a while anyway.”

“That’s the plan.” Well, I’ll do some training still. I don’t want to get rusty. And I plan to have a whole lot of sex with Dylan, but that relaxes me, so it’s the same thing as resting, really.

He lets me go with a final squeeze, and then he and Gabe give Ian and Dylan the same treatment. Dyl looks startled at first, then happy. He’ll get used to being part of a family again.

Marc gets wary nods before they get into their rental car and head back toward Reno with a final wave.

“Fuck, I miss them already,” I admit as I watch the dust plume up behind them.

“Me too. We should plan to visit. Soon. Hey, did Dylan tell you he traveled via demon?”

What the hell is he?—

A whole lot of loose puzzle pieces slot into place. “Oh mygod. That’s how you got to me that first night?” I round on my boyfriend. “You let him disintegrate you?”

“I did no such thing,” Marc snaps.

“I needed to get to you,” Dyl says over the top of him. “It was going to take me four hours in the car, Matt. That was too long, so when I realized that Ian was coming… that way, I told them to pick me up.”

“Pick you up?Like he’s a fucking bus?” I don’t know why I’m so mad. Dylan’s clearly fine, and I know Ian lets Marc teleport him or whatever it is all the time. Though I try not to think about it.

“Thank you!” Marc sounds mollified. “I amnota bus.”

Dylan rolls his eyes. “Chill. Also, that reminds me; we need to pick up my car, if it hasn’t been stolen or towed.”

“I don’t think you’re taking this seriously,” I persist stubbornly. “You let ahigher demonuse his magic on you.” The words are fully out of my mouth before I realize how epically stupid they are.

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