Page 84 of The Darkest Night

Her eyes snapped open. She twisted around.

Tarang sat by her bed. The tiger blew a friendly huff in her face, his blue gaze warm and his tail swinging languidly across the parquet floor. Brimstone was perched on the windowsill, eyes closed to slits as he basked in the sunlight.

Vlad was watching her from the chair opposite the bed.

Mae bolted upright, the covers sliding to her waist.

He didn’t even blink when he caught the cushion she instinctively hurled at him. His gaze dropped to her nightshirt. His lips twitched.

She flushed.

“I wouldn’t have put you down as a bunny girl,” the incubus drawled.

Mae was acutely conscious of the pink rabbits gamboling merrily all over her chest. She tugged the nightshirt down her thighs.

“How did you get in? And it was a Christmas gift from my sister.”

“Through the window.”

The bedroom door slammed open. Nikolai stood on the threshold, two white orbs spinning above his palms.

He scowled when he saw Vlad. “Alastair felt something.”

Mae noted that he didn’t retract his magic for several seconds. Violet and Miles appeared behind Nikolai.

“What’s going on?” Violet rubbed her eyes sleepily.

Miles yawned so wide he nearly dislocated his jaw.

Their familiars sauntered into the room and started exploring. Alastair fluttered down onto the bed and eyed Tarang beadily. The tiger sniffed the crow before giving him a careful lick. The bird ruffled his feathers and hesitated before bumping heads with him. Brimstone jumped down from the window and joined them, his tail brushing across their bodies as if to mark them.

Mae frowned. “What is this, aDisneymovie?” She pointed to the door. “Everyone, out.Now!”

They all turned and headed out of the room, humans grumbling and familiars huffing. She narrowed her eyes.

Vlad was still sitting in the chair.

“As your boyfriend, I’m allowed to stay,” the incubus said. His eyes flared as her magic levitated him out of the room and plopped him down unceremoniously in the corridor. “Don’t be shy.”

The door slammed shut in his grinning face.

Should I eat them?

Mae looked at Hellreaver. “Is eating the only thing ever on your mind?”

Hmm. Sexual intercourse used to be my other principal preoccupation, back in the day.Hellreaver perked up.If you like, I can switch my interest to—

“I’ll buy you a steak dinner if you stop talking right now,” Mae said hurriedly.

She walked out into the living area a short while later, her hair still damp from the shower.

“Something smells nice. What’s cooking—?”

She froze when she came in view of her kitchen.

Vlad stood at her range, the bunny apron Ryu had given her tied fetchingly around his waist while he fried bacon and eggs. Nikolai, Violet, and Miles sat at the dining table stuffing their faces with the breakfast sandwiches he’d made.

“Isn’t it a bit late for brunch?” Mae said.

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