Page 23 of Dead End

“I was too tired to clean them.”

“We’ve all been there.” Gunther enveloped me in a hug. “You left us without a word,” he murmured.

“Not on purpose. I’m sorry.”

Camryn elbowed him aside for her turn. She squeezed me like a vise. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

“Tea is brewing,” Nana Pratt announced as we entered the kitchen.

“Thank you.”

“Do you know about the curfew?” Gun asked.

“The one you’re currently breaking? Yes,” I said, guiding them to the kitchen. “How bad is the demon infestation?”

“Not terrible,” Cam admitted. “They’re more into mischief than murder.”

Gun’s jaw dropped. “It’s horrific. What are you talking about?” Light illuminated his dark eyes. “Oh, I know what this is. Love in the Time of Demons.”

I glanced from Gun to Cam, confused.

“Leo and I had our first date,” Camryn announced with a megawatt smile. “We went for coffee.” She paused. “Well, technically we grabbed the coffees and ran because he received a report of a demon attack in Destiny Woods.”

“Did you go with him?”

“Sure did. I got to impress him with my magic.”

I was glad someone was benefitting from the demon invasion aside from the actual demons.

“Will there be a second date?”

“Definitely, as soon as we clean up the town.” She pinchedmy cheek. “Now that you’re back, I hope that happens sooner rather than later.”

“No promises. Has the Assassins Guild held a meeting to discuss a plan?”

“Yes, but we had to meet at Vaughn’s place,” Cam said, lips drawn tight. “Didn’t love that.”

“Lucifer has taken over the Devil’s Playground,” Gun added, “which arguably is appropriate.”

“I’ve heard. What about Kane?”

“He’s in there, but that’s all we know,” Gunther said. “We sent a couple mages to gather intel, but the club is well guarded.”

“What about Josie and the others?”

I heard the sound of the front door open and close, and Goran’s voice rang out, “I’m back, ghosties.”

Ray sighed. “He insists on talking to us even though he can’t hear us.”

“I think it’s sweet,” Nana Pratt said.

In the kitchen doorway, Goran’s mouth formed a circle. “I can’t believe it.”

“Hi, friend.”

The former water spirit set the shopping bag on the floor and greeted me with a warm hug. With all this physical contact, it was a good thing I was now able to manage touching others without repercussions.

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