Page 29 of How to Entice a Fiend

“I’m pretty sure I heard him say that he hopes you put the heater so close to your clothes that they all burn up so you can get a new normal wardrobe,” Marcus says.

Alexei smirks. “I didn’t say that but now I’m questioning why I didn’t.”

“But my zebra striped jogging suit! I thought you said it was sexy!”

“I’ve never seen you jog, but you’re right, I love you in anything you wear so we must protect them. Butsolnyshko, I really do think they can brave the weather. Let’s go. The quicker we get to their house, the better chance of snagging optimal sleeping positions.”

“Ooh, you’re right,” Claude says and off they go, leaving us alone in their house.

Marcus looks around before eyeing me. “Youpositiveyou don’t want to stay here?”

“I would freeze to death! You can stay, I really don’t mind being spooned by Alexei and Claude,” I tell him with an evil grin.

Marcus’s eyebrows lift as he stares at me, so I lean forward and give him a kiss, which makes him immediately forget what I said.

By the time we get back to our house, Claude is already popping popcorn and Alexei is finding a movie.

“I want something with blood in it,” Alexei decides.

“Like… in the popcorn? You want to suck the blood out of it?”

“In the movie.”

“Ahhh, makes more sense. Alexei, my dear, do you want to sit on my lap, and I’ll sit on Marcus’s lap so we all fit on the couch?” Claude asks since Artie has made himself a spot on the couch next to Alexei.

“Nothing would make me happier,” Alexei deadpans.

“Where do I go?” I ask as I think about this arrangement of stacked vampires.

“You’re like the little angel on top,” Claude says. “Come now, Marcus. We need you first.”

Marcus simply picks up Artie and deposits him on the dog bed that the dog is reluctant to use and then drags the recliner over so it’s facing the TV. Honestly, it’s quite boring compared to what it could have been.

The beeping of multiple phones wakes me up. I groggily reach over to grab mine so I can see what it is, and instead, smackClaude in the face. True to his word, he managed to cram us all in the bed, leaving no room for Marcus who slept on the couch. After Marcus was gone, Claude confided in me that he’d done all of it to pester him… except that when Marcus easily caved, he realized this bed was quite comfortable and immediately fell asleep.

I smack around on Claude long enough that he wakes up enough to hand me my phone as Alexei goes, “It’s Brooks.”

“What’s he want?” I mumble as I read it myself. He only put an address and a “Now.”

The lights go on and I cry out in despair at the assault my eyes are going through.

“Marcus,why?” I whine as I shield my eyes.

“Did you not read the text or were you too busy spooning my brother?”

“Does it look like any of us are comfortable?” I ask as I glance at the dogs piled on us.

Marcus grins and gives Artie a belly rub, which results in Artie kicking Claude. Claude just grunts.

I sit up and reach for my prostheses that I’d talked myself into removing last night. Not that long ago, I would have refused to do so, but between Marcus and being stuck without them for extended periods of time, I’ve learned that I don’thaveto have them on to feel complete. And that I’m safe surrounded by the people I love who I know would protect me no matter what. “Just borrow clothes from us to save time,” I tell them.

Claude’s eyes go wide. “Oh… honey… no.”

“You will survive,” Alexei says.

“But…” Claude opens the closet and looks at Marcus’s clothes. “I will look hideous.”

“Excuse me?” Marcus growls. “You will look hideous because you’re wearingmyclothes?”

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