Page 105 of The Darkest Night

Mae patted her flushed cheeks and crossed the foyer. She looked through the peephole, tensed, and opened the door with a frown. “What do you guys want?”

Calvarro smiled. “Good morning, sunshine.”

Dickson arched an eyebrow, his expression hurt. “Can’t a friend drop by for a coffee?” The detective looked past Mae and sniffed the air. “Besides, one of my informants told me he spotted a couple ofBlack Devilsdropping off a boxful ofVetriano’s breakfast pastries at your address. There’s a waiting list for those things.”

“He has a weakness for their cinnamon roll,” Calvarro explained at Mae’s blank look.

A Lincoln and three SUVs pulled up behind Dickson and Calvarro’s Chevy. Abraham got out and opened the rear door of the town car. Bryony emerged from the vehicle, looking regal in her custom-tailored outfit.

Mae chewed her lip and eyed the curtains twitching along the street. “Shit. This is going to be all over Mrs. Son-Ha’s network and Koreatown by nightfall.”

Dickson stared. “Who’s Mrs. Son-Ha?”

“Just shut up and get inside.” Mae motioned to Bryony and Abraham. “You two, in,now!”

Everyone crowded inside the hallway.

Yoo-Mi popped her head out of the kitchen. Her eyebrows rose. “Oh. We have extra guests. Should I make more tea?”

“No,” Mae said darkly. “They won’t be long.”

“Tea would be lovely,” Bryony said graciously.

Dickson perked up. “I would love a cinnamon roll with mine.”

“I’m afraid we’re all out of cinnamon rolls. Miles just had the last one.”

Dickson deflated.

“But we still have someHoeddeokleft,” Yoo-Mi proposed.

“It has cinnamon in it,” Mae told Dickson.

He brightened. She ushered them into the living room and bumped into Calvarro when the reaper stopped abruptly.

“What happened in here?”

“What do you—?” Mae started, looking past her.

She stopped and sucked in air.

Chapter 47

Tarang and Brimstonefroze guiltily where they’d been playfighting on a sofa, cushion filling drifting lazily around them. An equally sheepish Trixie, Millie, and Alastair observed her innocently from where they’d frozen in their mad dash all over the furniture, knocking over knick-knacks and family photos.

The only one who was behaving was Hellreaver, who lay on the coffee table. A snore rumbled from the weapon.

“Why you little—!” Mae turned to Abraham, her jaw tight. “Help me fix this place before my mom gets here!”

The aide bristled. “You want me to use my magic to—”

“I swear to God, I will hex you if you don’t!” Mae snapped.

By the time Yoo-Mi brought in a tray of drinks and pastries, the living room was back to normal.

She paused and looked at Mae. “Are you okay? You look a bit flushed.”

Mae blew a strand of stray hair off her face. “I’m fine.”

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