Page 98 of Malice
“Never mind. You ruined the joke.”
Asshole laughed from his place at the portal. “I got it. I really thought you were too young to remember Mike Tyson’s cannibal days. Good to see I was wrong. Maybe this generation isn’t a lost cause.”
Kingston pointed to the pup through the portal’s shimmering surface. “You get all the dog treats, big guy.”
Asshole puffed up his little chest. “Big dog energy, baby. Right, bossman?”
Hades winked. “Damn straight.”
Lilith heaved a sigh before settling in a chair and crossing her legs. “Is everyone quite finished with the comedy hour? We do have a world to save, after all.”
I couldn’t stop my smirk. Lilith losing her cool was rare, but always entertaining. Unless I was the focus of her ire. Usually it was Remi, but then he made everyone lose their cool.
A soft growl of thunder rolled through the room, setting the hair on my arm standing on end. “The fuck?”
“That’s quite enough, Drystan. They got the point.”
Crombie’s eyes were such a bright silver they almost appeared mirror-like. “Just reminding them of their place.”
Kai glared at him from his seat in the circle. “Remind me why he’s here? You don’t exactly represent a court anymore, unless the rumors of your exile are false. And unless I’m mistaken, you’re still top of the Hunt’s most wanted list. So what is it exactly, Nightshade, you think you’re bringing to the table here? Besides a whole host of trouble we do not fuckin’ need.”
Literal thunder crashed overhead, but it died down when Lilith put her palm out and Crombie took her hand.
“The Night Court is its own realm. Thus, it needs representation.”
“I’ll ask you the same question I asked Hook. Where’s your contingent? I don’t exactly see members of the Night Court coming to our aid.”
Crombie’s answering grin was pure evil. “I’m more than fae enough to get the job done alone.”
“Is this how it’s going to be? A bunch of posturing alphas volleying insults back and forth? If so, I can return to heaven and find more of the same,” Evander muttered.
“We need more feminine energy. This is absurdly male.” Lilith leveled a steely gaze at Hades.
Moira Belladonna, my favorite witch—which wasn’t saying much since I fucking despised witches—cleared her throat.“Excuse me, I count for at least a dozen vagina-card-carrying members.” She held up a finger. “One, I’m a witch. That’s like ten points on its own. Two, I’m married to a woman, so like girl power.”
“You tell ’em, sister,” Kiki said, giving an approving nod.
“But where are the others?” Lilith asked, glancing around. “Surely after all they’ve done, they wanted a seat at the table where decisions were being made.”
“None of them wanted the job,” Caleb answered.
“I think Rosie’s exact response was, ‘I’m growing tiny humans, find someone else to do your dirty work,’” Pan said, smug annoyance stamped all over his handsome face. My brother had been sulking in the corner since we’d entered the room. He did not want to be here, but he’d been roped into it because he was the only one with any knowledge of demonkind and what we might be up against. Well, he and Lilith.
“Sunny said the same, plus ‘I’ve done more than my fair share.’” Alek shrugged. “She’s not wrong. And carrying Kingston’s spawn has to be exhausting.”
“Hey,” Kingston said. “Well, yeah, you’re probably right. We Farrells make big babies.”
Lilith glanced at Kai and Hades. “I’m assuming it was the same for Dahlia?”
“Aye. She’s worn down to the bone.”
Kiki snorted. “The bone. That’s what we’re calling it now? You guys need to let my girl rest while she’s growing your little parasite.”
“Can we move this along? I have things to do,” Evander asked, impatience written all over him.
“Yes, we should. There’s no telling what the masses are up to without us in there,” Hades agreed.
“All right,” I said, slapping my hands together and rubbing them back and forth. “I call this first meeting of the Hades Society to order.”
