Page 97 of Malice
“It’s a metaphor, you absolute nincompoop.”
“You don’t have to be mean about it,” Kingston muttered.
“Guys, did he say he was opening a portal?” Alek asked, his voice betraying the apprehension he always tried to hide. “The last time he did that, there was a... ghost.”
“Christ on a bike, here we go again,” Caleb muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Before anyone could respond, Hades stepped forward and opened a shimmering portal at one end of the circle of chairs.
“Bossman! Fuckin’ finally. Do you know how long Keeks and I were waiting out here? I peed on every fuckin’ bush just to pass the time.”
That little dog was talking again. It was almost like watching a cartoon come to life. I couldn’t decide if I was fascinated or horrified. Not because I was afraid of tiny dogs, but because I’d watched a fuckton of cartoons, and the cute animals were usually always in the middle of serious shit.
“Oh, I love a super serious secret society. This is right up my alley. Saving the world, having a cool code name. Can I be The Editrix? You know, because I was an editor before I bit it?” Kiki,the most energetic ghost I’d ever seen, stood at the mouth of the portal, staying in her realm but fully in view of us all.
“No code names,” Hades grumbled.
“Aw, c’mon, boss. You named the group after yourself. The least you could do is let us have cool names.”
“Is she staying on her side the whole time?” Alek asked tightly.
“I don’t have to. Want me to come over there and braid your beard, Viking?”
Alek jumped out of his seat and backed away until he stood in the corner, his index fingers held up in the sign of the cross.
“You’ve got to be fecking kidding me,” Caleb groaned. “She’s not a bleeding demon, Alek. Also, fingers offer no protection. You need a crucifix, not to mention genuine belief in the item.”
“This is the guy they selected to represent the big bad Vikings?” Kai asked, both his brows lifted toward his hairline. “Are they sure he’s the best choice?”
“Fuck you,” Alek spat. “Ghosts are a hard line for me. I’ve been very clear about that.”
“And we were clear on why we need her, Nordson,” Hades reminded him. “If you can’t play nice with Keeks, then we’ll get your brother in here to take your place.”
Kiki blew Alek a kiss from her side of the portal. “I don’t bite. I promise. Well, sometimes I do, but only with consent! I’m decent like that.”
“Pixie, how much longer are you gonna be?” a deep voice called from out of view.
Kiki looked to her left, her expression turning from irritated to absolutely twitterpated. “Not long. I’ll be there soon, babe.”
“Kiki and Bear, sittin’ in a tree, F-U-C-K-I—” The dog was interrupted before he could finish his song. “Quiet, everybody. Mommy is here.”
Everyone’s attention snapped to the door where Lilith finally made her grand entrance, a man I’d never seen before one step behind her.
“Lovely, we’re all here. Now we can begin.” Lilith slinked into the room, her stilettos clicking seductively with every step. “Allow me to introduce our final member. This is Evander. He will be representing the celestial realm since Gabriel has not responded to any of my summons.”
“He’s an angel?” I asked, my own angelic blood humming in my veins. My contact with angels had been limited to Gabriel, and I’d seen him only once, under extreme circumstances.
“Yes,” Evander said, pinning me with a startlingly emerald gaze.
“How’s the ear?” Kingston said, pulling the angel’s attention to him.
“I’m sorry?”
Thorne elbowed Kingston.
“Oof. C’mon man, it was low-hanging fruit.”
Evander’s brows pulled together as he assessed Kingston. “I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re talking about. My ear, as you can see, is fine.”
