Demons (Darkness #4)(44)

For the first time in his life, Charles really wanted to go head-to-head with this headstrong jackass. He was sick of this bullheaded song and dance, and Charles was pretty sure he could hold his own and even the balance of dominance. Unfortunately, his balls did really hurt, and Jonas had a point.

“Screw it.” Charles snatched up some clothes and shoved past his prickly counterpart. He stalked through the mostly quiet hallways, daring anyone to ask him a question. He stomped down a couple steps before the throbbing in his crotch slowed him, and then made the rest of the way down gingerly. He really needed to start picking who he had sex with. There were plenty of females that didn’t get off on a man yelping.

The women stood in the front entryway, staring down an extremely uncertain Rickie. Birdie stood at the front, checking things out like an army captain surveying a battlefield. The others were there, too, waiting behind her like skittish baby horses.

“Ladies, I thought Sasha told you to come in the evening?” Charles asked as he sauntered up, squinting in the glare of the many windows.

The leader put her fists on her hips. “Where did this house come from? I have lived in this city all my life, and I have never seen this monstrosity out here on the outskirts.”

Charles rubbed his face. “You aren’t as susceptible to concealing spells anymore because you have a better grasp on your magic. It’s a weak spell, aimed mostly for humans. Hence, you are now seeing something that has been here all your life.”

“Hmph.” She looked around, eyeing Rickie, who was standing guard in a terrified sort of way. “So this is real, then. All this. What we’ve been doing. Why are you only now making contact?”

“That’d be Sasha. Our human. We don’t usually mess around with your kind. You’re prone to pushing red buttons that kill a lot of people.”

Her bushy eyebrows lowered over her eyes. “Your human? What is that supposed to mean? And just who do you think—”

She cut off as Jonas entered the room. All the nasty cuts and scrapes from his forays were hidden discreetly beneath a black turtleneck and equally black slacks.

“Look, ladies,” Charles said. “Why don’t you go and—”

“Come with us,” Jonas interrupted. His patient and relaxed gaze turned to Charles. “Lead the ladies up to the Purple Room. I’ll grab the mages and meet you there.”

“In the middle of the day? Sasha was drinking at dawn. She’s not going to be much good.”

A shadow passed over Jonas’ eyes, giving Charles a momentary thrill.

“I think you should let the mages make that decision,” Jonas said in a low voice.

Charles didn’t bother stifling the groan. “Okay, ladies, let’s go. We’re off to see the wizard. Although, she’s not going to be so wonderful at this time of day.”

As they passed through the adjacent room, aiming for the hallway so they could go up a level to the large and formal Purple Room, he heard gasps behind him. All four women had stopped midway through a lounge and were staring at a youngish male sitting on a couch naked, stroking his dick.

“Young man!” Birdie hollered. “Just what do you think you’re doing with that thing? And why are you sitting in a communal area without a stitch? You march right up to your room this instant and put something on! And leave that thing alone—you’ll go blind!”

The male’s mouth dropped open. His bewildered gaze hit Charles, unsure what was happening and if he should follow this strange human’s command.

“What are you doing up so late?” Charles asked, a grin working up his face.

“Cramming for a test. Just taking a break.” His hand slowly left his erection.

“Oh my god…” Delilah breathed, her wide eyes glued to his na**d body. Her face went deep crimson as her hand drifted up to cover her mouth.

“Stop gawking, women!” Birdie demanded. Her accusing glare hit Charles. “What is going on here? What have you led us into?”

“Nice body, though,” one of the twins noticed quietly.

“Alright, come on.” Charles motioned them on. “You can talk to Sasha about our culture. Just be thankful you came when no one was around. We like to keep our downtime physical.”

“This was a bad idea,” Birdie muttered, slowing them down so she could peer into all the rooms she passed and squinting into crevices just in case other na**d men lurked.

They filed into the Purple Room not much later, shortly thereafter joined by a fuzzy-faced Sasha. Her bleary gaze took in the women as she sank into a couch in the middle of the room. “Hi. Sorry for my appearance—we kind of operate in the nighttime here. Everyone is mostly asleep in the day.”

“Do you know what I saw on the way—“ Birdie cut off as Toa’s perfectly quaffed blond head entered the room. The male looked like he’d had a full night’s sleep, a hairdresser, and a facial.

How did he do it?

Jonas walked in behind them, peeling away to the side and standing by the far wall.

“Hello,” Toa said, touching each of them with his gaze. “I hear you practice the art of Wicca. How extraordinary. I hope you don’t mind me assessing you, since you were gracious enough to show up today.”

The twins smiled, letting him direct them to take a seat. Delilah turned red again and followed suit.