Page 118 of Halfblood Deceived

“Then how can you guys afford the X-men’s jet, that giant mansion, and all the other luxuries?” Evan pressed, ignoring Zeydan’s look.

Kerian shrugged. “We have businesses across the globe. Hecate and Kali are extremely lucrative. Also, do you have any idea how much wealth the church has wrongfully amassed during the last millennia and a half? Whenever Milla and I destroy one of their little centers for depravity, we take every last coin. We use most of it to repair the communities the church has devastated, of course, and in other necessary venues. The rest we invest here in Darkwood, and the investment has paid off quite well.”

“Looting the gargoyles, that’s what our business endeavors have been missing,” Gabby teased, winking at Zeydan.

“Why hadn’t it occurred to us before?” Zeydan mused wryly.

Andreas hummed. “I wouldn’t mind doing some 80% charitable looting as well.”

Kerian grinned. “Worry not. Milla and I have plans to invite you all to do some looting soon enough.”

“Do these plans have room for a little vengeance?” Zeydan asked. Seeing Micah, the other gargoyle beasts, and their priests burning for what they’d done to Aella, Tatsuki, Anna, and Aiko was one of Zeydan’s new life goals.

“Maybe,” Kerian said, bloodlust shining in his topaz eyes.

“How about if you save the bloodthirsty conversations for later?” Gabby suggested, giving Luce a pointed side stare.

“I’ll have to agree with that,” Lex said.

Luce straightened slightly without releasing her teddy wolf. “Aiko and her parents deserve to be avenged. If I were old enough to be a good fighter like you, I’d join you in killing the ones who killed my friend.”

Andreas gave a wide-eyed look at his daughter, half horrified, half proud.

Adding their ages, they all had a little under a millennium of life experience, and yet they all just gawked at Luce like fish out of water.

“Are we terrible examples for her?” Lex wondered, breaking the silence.

“I’m not sure,” Zeydan admitted.

Kerian’s shock broke. “Honestly, I think it’s quite the opposite. Milla and I would have been better off if we’d known the truth since the start.” Something brittle and furious flashed in his eyes so fast Zeydan could have believed he had imagined it, but no. Kerian quickly half smiled. “Still, I’m afraid you’re far from being old enough for looting and avenging, Luce darling.”

“Somebody please stop mentioning looting to the literal child,” Gabby protested.

“I’m not interested in looting,” Luce said, leaning back against Evan. “I am interested in bloody vengeance.”

Gabby groaned and covered her face with her hands.

“That’s my girl,” Mari said with an unholy grin.

“No collecting bloody acts of vengeance until you’re twenty-five, young lady,” Andreas said with utter seriousness. “And no dating until then, either.”

Luce rolled her eyes. “I know better than to make life-changing decisions before my brain is fully formed, Dad.”

Lex chuckled. “How on Earth is it possible that Andreas is the father of such a smart child?”

“A mystery for the ages,” Evan agreed.

“Intelligence is inherited from the mother,” Mari advised.

Gabby sighed. “Thank the goddess.”

Andreas glared at Mari.

“Come now, that’s not fair,” Zeydan argued. “Andreas has made some wise choices. Just give me a moment. I’m sure I’ll think of one.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Yeah, I got nothing.”

Kerian smiled.

Evan, Lex, and Gabby chuckled.

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