Page 3 of Of Flames and Crows

Hodge brightened a little. Guilt darted through her as she observed the dark circles under his eyes and his sallow skin.

Brimstone jumped down from where he’d curled up on her chair and followed as she headed for the exit with the director.We’re gonna be late.

We’ll make it. Besides, I should help out more around here.Mae shot a sharp look at the fox.Also, don’t pretend like you actually care about being on time for the High Council. We both know what you’re really interested in is the steak the coven will have prepared for you and Hellreaver.

Hellreaver snorted himself awake where he nestled against her breastbone in his medallion form.Who’s having steak?

Brimstone ignored the weapon and flashed a sour look her way.Your driving gets more reckless by the day. And you still haven’t paid the speeding tickets you got last month. You should just use the SUV the coven gave you. At least we’d all rest easier.

Mae narrowed her eyes. Brimstone was starting to sound like Violet Nolan and Bryony Cross.

Where’d that come from all of a sudden? Besides, Jared said he’d take care of those.

Jared Dickson was an Immortal currently working as an NYPD detective out the 17th Precinct. His true role was to act as a liaison between the Immortal societies and the Special Affairs Bureau of the U.S. government tasked with handling otherworldly matters.

The SUV is big and clunky. I don’t like it.She curled a lip.It’s like driving inside a goddamn cage!

Better a cage than that foolhardy contraption you like to ride.Brimstone huffed.You and that Vespa are a menace.

Leave Betsy out of this.

Hodge walked alongside her with a preoccupied expression, oblivious to the fox scampering between them and the silent exchange taking place. Considering she hadn’t even known magic existed up till eight weeks ago, it was scary how quickly she’d become accustomed to possessing it and having Brimstone and Hellreaver at her side.

It’s a good thing we can converse telepathically.Mae wrinkled her nose.Although, there are days when I seriously wish I couldn’t hear their thoughts.

The time Brimstone and Hellreaver had spent in Hell and the company they’d kept meant they had no filters when it came to most topics of conversation.

Brimstone’s eyes turned flinty.You know we heard that too, right?

I am deeply offended by your baseless accusation, my witch,Hellreaver grumbled.

“Baseless my ass,” Mae muttered.

Hodge blinked. “Did you say something?”

“Sorry, I was just thinking out loud,” she said, contrite.

Hodge nodded distractedly.

Mae shot him a puzzled look.I wonder what’s got him so worried.Her mood sobered as she recalled the events that had led to her powers awakening.Has it really been that long since Rose died?

Brimstone’s tail brushed her legs when he sensed her grief.

Mae knew Rose Blake would have liked the fox had she gotten to know him. Her gut twisted at the thought of the demon who now possessed her best friend’s body.

At least we kicked his butt the last time we saw him, huh?

Brimstone exposed his fangs.Yeah, it sure was satisfying watching that rat run away with his tail between his legs.

Mae swallowed a sigh. Vedran Borojevic, the Sorcerer King, had made it all too clear that he wanted Mae and Nikolai to join the Dark Council and serve him when he’d turned up in Philadelphia to save Barquiel and his heir, Oscar Beneventi.

A frown furrowed her brow.

She could still taste Vedran’s dark magic at the back of her throat. He’d been powerful. More powerful than she’d imagined him to be.

An echo of a memory danced through her mind. It came from Na Ri’s recollection of the war that had seen the first Sorcerer King betray Azazel, her father and the demon who had gifted the Sorcerer King and Ran Soyun with magic.

Vedran might actually be more powerful than the first Sorcerer King.

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