Page 30 of Court of Heathens

She sighs. “I suppose.”

“Little witch,” I murmur.

She shakes it off and turns to me, smiling, but it’s tight. “We have bigger issues to deal with, I guess, like the thing I unleashed or that hand and the mask.”

I nod, but instead of getting into any of that, I head her way and wrap my arms around her. “I’m sorry you’re sad.” No matter howannoying he was, she was growing attached to him, and yes, I’m selfish and happy he’s gone, but not at the cost of her happiness.

I would do anything to keep her from ever feeling a drop of pain ever again.

She softens in my arms, and I kiss her head. “He’ll be back.”

“You think?” she asks, sounding so lost and unsure.

“Nobody can resist you, little witch, trust me on that. In the meantime, how about we save the world from evil? Hmm? Does that sound fun?” I lean back as she chuckles, her eyes lighting up once more, and I can finally take a full breath as her sadness retreats.

She nods. “Let’s do it.”

“First,” I say seriously, “we need superhero names.”

Her laugh fills my heart, and I know if Phrixius comes back, I’m going to kick his ass for making her sad.

CHAPTER 18

“Really? This isn’t some practical joke or some weird demon shit, is it?” I ask, my hands propped on my hips as I stare at the very old, abandoned, creepy church. The place looks like serial killer heaven or a demon’s lair.

“Hey, I have more style than this,” he mutters at my side.

“Hmm. You prefer soft blankets and large TVs. Who knew demons were so lazy?”

“Exactly—hey, I am just a demon with particular tastes, okay? I like to be comfortable and warm,” he protests at my side, “but this is where I found the hand.”

“The one currently in my underwear drawer,” I remind him. It had been a whole argument, but we might need it, so the hand stays.

I was sad Phrixius left, or more accurately, that I freed him. I mean, he didn’t even stick around to say goodbye. We have more pressing matters, however, as my demon reminded me, like hunting down the mask and then stopping the creature I might have accidentally summoned and released, which is why we are here, at the church. I can be annoyed at the god later. We’re not dumb though. We waited until morning. I don’t know why, but it feels safer. After all, dark magic works best at night, or I’m presuming. I don’t actually know,but that feels correct. It’s totally not because we were both scared of what could hide in the dark.

Not at all.

“Then let’s do this.” Rolling my shoulders back, I head towards the church, demon in tow. I don’t hesitate at the door, knowing if I do I will run away like a chicken.

I remind myself I’m a badass witch with a demon sidekick.

I stop on the next step, turning my head to find him so close our cheeks touch. His hands are on my shoulders as he dogs my steps behind me. “Are you using me as a human shield?”

“Well, better you than me, little witch,” he mutters.

“You are a demon.”

“That doesn’t mean this place doesn’t give me the heebie-jeebies,” he mutters.

“Heebie-jeebies? That’s not very demonian.”

The huff he lets out makes me smile, but he straightens and moves to my side. “How would you know? You only know one demon, which is me. Maybe we all say stuff like that.”

“Sure, sure. Are they all such scaredy cats?” I ask.

“Woman, look at this place and tell me you’re not creeped out. Like I said, even demons have standards. I mean, have they ever heard of a housekeeper? And the blood sacrifice? All wrong. Where’s the screaming virgin and the?—”

“Okay, okay, enough.” I slash my hand through the air, plunging us back into silence as we head to the altar at the end. “I mean, would it kill them to have some curtains and soft lighting?” I say nervously.

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