He frowned at Lyri, wracking his brain for a moment. “I don’ remember doin’ anythin’ that’d piss off Cam. Which I mean, definitely still could’ve done somethin’, but I dunno what it was. ….I didn’t sleep with Kat, right? ‘cause I’d like ta think I’d remember if I had.”
She gave him a hard look, not at all amused by that particular comment. “Remember that night we crossed paths in that hole of a club and I made you dance with me? Do you remember how that night ended?”
“I don’t make for great company like this,” he warned, but it wasn’t a no. Sometimes it was easier for him to be around someone else, even if it just meant his anger had an external target, rather than an internal one.
“You say as if you’re stellar company on a good day,” she teased, settling down across from him with her own drink. She wasn’t trying to get drunk tonight, but it was helping take the edge off of the day as a whole.
He shrugged. “Maybe, but I ain’t exactly the type for makin’ safe bets. What fun would that be?”
“I’m going to remind you that you said that when Cam literally finds a way to end your existence.” She knew she was being subtle, but damn, he was thick headed.
“Not enough,” he answered, before taking another long sip of the drink. He was still feeling melancholic, which definitely meant he needed more alcohol
“Would you rather have some company instead of drinking alone?” She trusted him at least a little, but she wasn’t about to admit that. Not quite yet anyway.
“I just need the blood of a true immortal. It doesn’t have to be yours but you’re the one who’s here and I can get things started sooner,” he answered, refusing to back down. “It’s nothing too nefarious, love. I’m not planning to fuck with you, if that’s your concern.”
“I am not helping you fuck people over, Alexi,” she countered, one hand wrapping around his throat. It was a temptation to rip out his trachea with her claws, but she held herself in check. For now.
“I s’pose there’d end up bein’ more immortals than mortals if it did.” It was the only explanation for that unfortunate truth that he could come up with. “But I still think I’d’ve noticed any new tricksters, so Lin’s prob’bly the only one.”
“I still say getting you neutered would be the safest bet,” she practically sang, tapping on the collar once more. It was definitely a more pleasant experience than the last time she had done such a thing to him.
He took the punch, stumbling back and hearing something crack in his jaw. His vision went white with pain but it was fine. He could fix it later. He had a time limit to finish what he was working on. His grip on the knife remained firm. It would only take a few drops. The taste of copper hit his tongue and he spat blood onto the floor, annoyed he’d have to clean that later. “Sorry, love. It’s important.” Forming the words hurt; she’d definitely managed to break something.
She was moving forward before he could even start to speak, illusions dropping. It had been one thing when he stabbed her nephew, Damien was always sort of asking for it when he was younger, but this was a line he should have known not to cross.
“If you even so much as try to put my blood in whatever bullshit you’re doing, arrangement or not, I will rip your fucking heart out, Alexi,” she snarled, baring razor sharp teeth at him.
Azrael remained silent and unreadable, aside from his attention shifting toward is brother with a sharp and impassive glare. He wasn’t struggling against the chains any longer. He knew what they were for. He’d been in similar before. Instead all he did now was wait for them to be removed. By whom, it didn’t matter for the moment. When he was loose, however, there would be hell to pay, especially to anyone who stood in his way.
“You need a stronger phone password. Terribly predictable,” he continued, tossing the phone between his hands. He had opened the freezer and sent a text moments before Az had come to, a wicked glint in his eyes.
“Do tell your grandson I send my regards,” was his final remark before he tossed the phone onto his brother’s lap and walked out, trusting that the boy would come to Azrael’s aid.
