Page 28 of Accidentally Summoned an Incubus

To his side was a young warlock. While warlocks were common in most covens, he was the first one I’d seen since being summoned here. Which made sense as the witches born to the Briar Coven were clones of their mothers, except for a small amount from their fathers. He did look almost identical to his sister—if Lex were a ripped, six-foot-some-odd male. His russet hair, the exact same shade as Lex and their father, was artfully disheveled. His face wore a scowl of pure and utter hatred, and I felt shadows swirl in my veins, ready to strike.

I urged the shadows to settle once more. I was taller and broader than the three males in front of me. If they wanted a show of dominance, they’d have one.

Lex’s brother snorted a laugh, his scowl dropping from his face, replaced by a wide grin. “Sorry guys,” he said, nearlychoking on his laugh. “I can’t keep it up.”

The two other males rolled their eyes at the youngest one. “Seriously, Jake?” Lex’s grandfather said in an irritated grumble. “I managed to keep your father on edge for a full evening when I first met him.”

“One of the most uncomfortable nights of my life, Sid,” Lex’s dad huffed before turning to me. “I was hoping to torture you a little longer, but I guess you can help with the mashed potatoes instead.” He held out a hand across the kitchen island. “You can call me Arch.”

“As in Archibald?” I said, accepting his outstretched hand.

The next thing I knew, I was gliding across the island countertop, Arch’s free hand grasping around my neck. “As in archnemesis if you hurt my daughter.”

Don’t kill your mate’s dad. Don’t kill your mate’s dad. Don’t kill your mate’s dad.

Despite my best effort, shadows erupted around me, coiling around Arch’s arms and squeezing. His wrist bent with a sickeningsnap, and he let go of my neck. I threw myself off the island. The moment my feet touched the ground, my membranous shadow wings materialized behind me, spreading as far as they could in a threatening pose, the black iridescent scales flashing in warning. Obsidian talons grew from my fingers, and my bodkin-tipped tail coiled behind my shoulder, ready to strike. An unearthly hiss emanated through my gritted teeth as I stared down at my mate’s father.

Arch’s shadows had settled into a contrasting form. He didn’t have wings or a tail. Instead, a pair of dangerously sharp horns coiled out from his hairline,piercing through his sculpted hair. His canines had grown like daggers, catching his bottom lip... which was pulled into a pleased grin as he eyed me up and down.

“Impressive,” he mused. “I think you’ll do nicely.”

I glared at him, my talons flexing, itching to tear into something.

“Need some help in there, sweetie?” Ms. Cole called from the living room, breaking my murderous gaze.

“No thanks, dear,” Lex’s father replied sheepishly.

“Then kindly recall your shadows!”

The shadows instantly dropped from Arch’s form at his mate’s command. I remained still apart from my tail, the pointed tip trained on Arch’s heart.

“You too, Lochran!” Lex bellowed.

My shadows slid from me, pooling on the floor at my feet before disappearing into the nooks and crannies of the kitchen.

Sid broke into a glittering smile, so at odds with his ominous look, as he slapped me on the back, declaring, “Ah! You’ll make a fine match for our Alexis!”

“Sorry. Couldn’t help myself,” Arch said, his canines retracting back to their normal size. He clicked his broken wrist back into place. I should feel bad for breaking my mate’s father’s wrist, but I just couldn’t seem to muster the sympathy. Besides, it’d probably be healed by the time he made it to the dining table. “That was the final bit of torture, I promise.”

“Welcome to the family!” Jake grinned as he slung his arm over my shoulder.

Chapter 14. Lex

After Lochran’s hazing, my family accepted him with open arms. I hadn’t expected to feel so... pleased. But when we all finally sat down, it was like Lochran had always been part of the family. Aside from Lochran taking a few cautious glances at my father, the conversation flowed seamlessly, both Dad and Granda eager to hear news of what had changed in the shadow realm since they’d been summoned.

As it turned out, not a lot.

It sounded like a rather dreary place, and, without saying it outright, Lochran seemed incredibly happy to have finally been summoned away from it permanently.

The topic of the upcoming trial was skirted around. Jake mentioned it once, and the room immediately swirled with shadows from all three incubus demons.

It wasn’t until Grandma clacked her cane on the floor that the shadows finally dissipated. The subject was only touched upon after that. Grandmacoaxed out of me that I’d managed to complete twenty of the pages. Technically forty, I guessed, as it was front and back.

She asked how I was faring without my magic, and I realized I hadn’t really missed it at all. The house—devious though it might be—had catered for pretty much everything I’d needed. And Lochran had done the rest.

It was quite a blissful set up, truth be told.

I wondered if I could keep the house permanently after the trial. I thought back to my apartment in Sacramento. It was just walls and a view. But my crooked house here felt like home. I didn’t want to go back to that life. Aside from Billy, there was nothing for me in Sacramento.

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