Page 60 of Flirting with Death

CHAPTER 34

Lex

Alastor and Tyler came back with arms full of the breakfast that was delivered. My fridge wasn't equipped to feed all of us, so we ordered out and breakfast time was anytime, at least according to the Coney Island that was open this late.

They spread it out on the table. The smell of waffles and eggs filled the space, along with the sugar sweetness of maple syrup. Then we had probably the most normal meal that we could have had. Small conversation and joking, as if our world wasn't in danger. It was a pleasant break from the fighting, a slice of normal in the war we had entered unknowingly.

But as we finished, Sam wiped her mouth with a napkin before setting it down on her open takeout container.

"We have to go after the mage before he comes to us," she said.

"If we take the mage out, we might not have a way of getting to the God, Osiris," I said. It wasn't what I wanted to say, but it was something we needed to think about.

I leaned back to watch everyone else. Bellamy was so focused on his breakfast you'd think he had never had human waffles before. The small purr of appreciation over the food was close to adorable. The thought brought his red gaze up to me, and he deliberately shoved another mouthful of syrup-soaked waffles into his mouth as if to say, ‘Don't call me that, even in your head.’ I grinned at him before turning my attention to Alastor.

He folded his paper napkin and placed it over his finished omelet. At the same time, he turned his attention to me. He pressed his lips together and nodded his agreement.

"But wouldn't stopping the demon stop the God?" Tyler asked.

"Or it could send his attention elsewhere, into an unknown threat," Alastor replied.

Tyler dropped his fork and leaned back. "But it would stop the demon from taking over the horde, and that is the goal right now, right?"

"It is the only one we should worry about. The war isn't ours. We didn't choose to be anyone's warriors," Raiden agreed. "The threat to us is the mage."

I nodded my agreement. They had a point, and maybe my mother, possibly being in danger, was making me think differently. If Osiris was coming for the Underworld, that included Alastor's and my parents. But Tyler and Raiden were right. An immediate threat was important to stop.

"You two are right," I replied. "But we need to regroup and rest. Bellamy's brother said that Sam needs it."

"I'm fine," Sam said.

She crossed her arms, and her face was set with determination, but I could see the telltale signs of tiredness in the ever so slight downward tilt of her mouth. Or the way she held herself so stiffly in the chair, as if she would fall over if she didn't.

"You aren't fine," I said, my voice coming out rougher than I intended. She shot me a look but didn't tell me I was wrong.

"Sex always helps." Bellamy broke his silence, sending a grin to Sam. Tyler groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Knock it off, Ty, he didn't suggest fucking on the table," Sam said as she smacked him in the shoulder playfully.

"I didn't?" Bellamy looked around in mock confusion, and we all laughed.

"Lex, you've got a nice open floor plan here, but I swear if any of you think that having sex with Samantha in front of me is a good idea, I will burn it all down."

"What about sex with each other?" Bellamy asked, pushing his buttons on purpose.

"I've just realized I have to go let Mom and Dad know what is happening," Ty said, tossing his napkin down as he pushed his chair noisily across the floor.

"Ty, wait, he'll stop," Sam said, sending a ‘please behave’ look at Bell.

"Will I?" Bellamy arched an eyebrow, a toothy grin spreading over his face.

"I'll call you later," Ty replied, ignoring Bellamy.

We were silent as the elevator doors shut behind him. Sam rolled her lips between her teeth and regarded Bellamy. "That wasn't nice."

"He is a little tense. I think he needs to find someone." Bellamy shoved another bite of the cooling waffle into his mouth.

Raiden snorted a half laugh as if he didn't want to encourage the demon, but he found it funny.

---