Page 54 of Hooked on a Demon
At Lach’s right now, picking up some sleeping potion from Petra.
Alright, well, let me know if you need anything.
Will do.
Thanks.
No prob.
Oh! Are you coming to this showcase thing for Ellie? Mom wanted to know.
Apparently we need to get tickets or some shit and she wants to make sure we have enough seats together.
Sure. Count me in.
Really?
Yeah?
I mean, I did help build the set
I’d like to see how it all comes together.
Alright
I’ll let her know.
Anyway, feel better, big daddy.
Despite lying to his best friend—again—he laughs as he slides his phone back in his pocket and steps into the checkout line. He knows he needs to tell Everest what’s going on between him and Eliana, but frankly, he doesn’t know how. Everest has always been protective of her, though he doesn’t always show it, masking it as the older brother teasing and general pain-in-the-ass shenanigans. But he cares, and he cares deeply. So, telling Everest that Declan’s dating his sister won’t go over well.
As his mind wanders to Eliana and the anticipation that builds in his stomach knowing he’s about to go see her, he knows that she’s worth it. She’s worth whatever Everest wants to say to him. All he can hope is that Everest sees how much Declan cares for her.
Digging out his wallet from his back pocket, the last voice he wants to hear right now calls his name.
“Well, if it isn’t Declan Grace,” Charlie says, her tone laced with venom. Or at least it would be if she could actually spit it. Thankfully, that’s not a power she possesses.
“Hi, Charlie,” Declan responds, flatly.
“Are those flowers I see? Surely, you, the master of sneaking out of a woman’s bed, can’t be getting flowers for someone?”
His jaw clenches. This is not what he needs right now. “Yes, these are flowers. And no, they are not for you. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get going.”
Her voice rises. “I do mind. I minda lot. I mind that you slept with me and left me while I was still sleeping, like some dirty deed you wanted to forget about.” People around them start to look on, watching as this unfolds. Anger starts to bubble under his skin, twisting and turning, needing to release. He tries to step away and get in line, but she follows. “I also mind that you then treated me like dirt when I attempted to see you again. Like I was worth less than the scuff on your boot. Yes. I fucking mind.”
She continues to yell at him as he steps up to pay for the flowers. Flowers, which he was excited to give Eliana, that are now tainted with the memory of Charlie screaming at him. Not that he’ll tell Eliana about any of this.
“What? Am I not even good enough for you to acknowledge me now? Does the person you’re getting those for know how much of a dickbag you are? How you only want to fuck someone? That you don’t have the ability to actually engage with them like a human being?”
Without warning, smoke fills the space, enveloping them in a thick fog. His demon growls in his head, as anger floods his system. The demon inside wants to shift. To show the perceived threat what she is really dealing with, but he manages to keep it at bay. He fights the urges pulsing through him and the pain searing at his temples. The last thing he needs right now is a video of him shifting to presumably attack some upset woman in the grocery store going viral.
Charlie quickly silences as he steps toward her, menace lacing every movement of his body. His vision flickers gold as he rolls his head, cracking his neck in the process, in an effort to keep the vitriol he wants to spill under control.
His voice is tight, restrained, as he says, “That’s the funny thing. I left you so that you wouldn’t get hurt. Instead, you stand here making a fool of yourself, for what? In hopes that I’ll give you the attention you so desperately desire, but which I can’t fulfill? You don’t deserve that, and I don’t deserve to be locked into something I don’t want to be a part of. Let. This. Go. Charlie. It was one night.”
She squeaks as he retreats. The view around them clears, and the other patrons around them remain silent, unsure of how to proceed.
“And stop spreading rumors about me. Everyone knows you’re lying.” Declan looks up at the till and tosses more than enough money on the counter to cover the flowers and hopefully, the cashier’s discomfort. Without saying another word, he picks up the flowers and steps back into the night.
