Page 77 of The Misfit Mage and His Devilish Desires

He sat down, all three heads smacking their jowls as the Cerberus’ mouth watered.

“No treats yet.” I nudged a persistent Sunny away. “Rollover.”

Weather obeyed.

“Play dead.”

Sunny dramatically let his tongue roll out; Cloudy closed his eyes and slept; Stormy glared, growled, and then let his head rest with his eyes wide and lifeless. He was such a drama queen. A real acting flair held back by subpar co-stars.

“Okay, almost there. Now, play killer.”

Weather leapt to his feet and snarled, biting at the air and pretending to tear apart a corpse. Brilliant. Lethal. Such a collaborative strike from each head.

“Now, do it properly.” I dragged a tail across my throat, gesturing death. “No witnesses!”

Fire swelled between each of Weather’s jaws, and he breathed red, blue, and purple flames. Fire, which I snatched up and crushed into my black flames, creating the perfect crispy, crunchy cindered rock embers for the Cerberus to snack on. Heloved this almost as much as the molten pup cups I’d prepare for him. Much better than the coffee shop Wally would take him to. Still couldn’t believe how many corporations Mora invited into her private city.

By the time Weather finished his snacks, Wally sent a text letter indicating they’d finished retrieving intel from Remington. I should’ve left the second I proposed the idea of summoning that foul fool, yet I deluded myself into believing it’d offer some type of closure. Him in shambles and rotten, a specter suffering an afterlife of anguish; me, a distinguished, successful, happy, and sexy demon living his true self. Fantasies were better left as possible daydreams. Reality sucked. And not half as good as Wally’s sucking.

“Come along, hound.” I slapped my thigh and beckoned Weather to trot close by as we went back to the store.

When we arrived at the Well of Wonders, everyone had left except for Wally.

“Mora took Kell home,” Wally said, cleaning up the summoning circle. “The necromancy spell really took it outta her, which wouldn’t have happened if she performed it accordingly. I have a ton of research explaining…”

I played with Weather while Wally had his tangent, poking the hound with my tails and provoking him into a little chase.

“You’ll be happy to know we found some useful information.”

“Ecstatic.” I sighed.

“To think Kell had all that intel this whole time.” Wally shook his head. “Just know, once we don’t have devils breathing down our necks, I’ll be making Kell clean out all of her hats so I can do a proper inventory of everything she’scollectedover the centuries.”

“Good luck with that,” I muttered, attention fixed on Weather, who snapped his teeth and nearly grazed my tail.

“Honestly, it’d probably be easier facing off against devils. Multiple.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Are you even listening to me?” Wally asked as a fireball whirled between my tails and captured all of Weather’s attention.

Wally tossed a second fireball down the hall and sent his familiar fluttering on a small gust to join the Cerberus in the back of the store.

“I know that was difficult for you, seeing Magus Remington.”

“Annoying is all.” I shrugged. “Dead prick really got off easy.”

“You did good, rising above.”

“I rise above all the time, Walter.” I glared. “I’m on the top, always rising above. Very top like.”

“I didn’t realize you were so glorious. I’m oh so humbled.” Wally’s sass wasn’t lost on me, and the dramatic sway of his hands called into question my glory. “I assumed you’d be a little down.”

“You know what they say about assuming things. It makes you an ass for me.”

“That’s not the expression.”

“It should be.” I winked.

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