Page 92 of Of Flames and Crows

Brimstone’s face was an inch from hers.

She bolted upright, the bedspread flying into the air. Brimstone straightened from where he’d been crouching next to her pillow.

Mae pressed a hand to her chest and glowered at the fox. “Like, seriously,stop doing that!”

Hellreaver snorted in his sleep.

What’s happening?he mumbled drowsily against her chest.

There is a man in Mae’s mother’s bedroom,Brimstone growled.

Hellreaver quivered, alarmed.

Mae jumped out of bed and castNullifybefore scanning the house, her pulse racing. Bar Noah’s core, she couldn’t detect any other magic user in her mother’s home. She frowned and started briskly for the door.

“Do you know who it is, Brim?!”

It’s that Fusanaga guy,Brimstone replied, outraged.

Mae froze. Her gaze dropped to the fox where he padded beside her. “Huh?”

Brimstone stopped and sat on his haunches.

Mae blinked, confused. “By Fusanaga, you mean…?”

Itou Fusanaga. Your new funeral director.

Mae’s eyes bulged. Her racing mind rapidly connected the dots when she recalled what Ryu had told her about Mr. Fusanaga frequently visiting their home for dinner.

Wait. Could it be—?!

She swallowed. “I—I think I know what’s going on.”

Brimstone looked suitably impressed.You do?

Mae nodded jerkily. She sneaked out of her room, tip-toed past her grandmother’s bedroom, and rapped her knuckles softly on Ryu’s door.

Her gaze darted to the master suite at the end of the corridor.

A loaded silence echoed from inside Ryu’s room. Mae scowled. She pressed her cheek to the door.

“I know you’re both in there!” she whispered fiercely.

There was a thud, followed by a muffled curse. The door opened a fraction a few seconds later.

“Hmm, hi Mae,” Ryu warbled, tugging her nightshirt down over her thighs.

“Keep it down!” Mae hushed her. She looked past Ryu’s shoulder to where Noah was hastily stepping into his jeans by her bed and narrowed her eyes at the sorcerer. “Seriously, dude, you’re an animal. It’s a miracle my sister can even walk.”

Ryu flushed. Noah looked appropriately guilty.

“Anyway, why is Mr. Fusanaga in Mom’s room?” Mae muttered.

Ryu blanched. “Wait, what?!”

“Oh.” Noah grimaced at Ryu. “You didn’t know?”

“No!” Ryu yelped.

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