Not Your Ex's Hexes (Supernatural Singles, #2)(34)
Damian sensed the new presence on his left before the figure joined.
Dressed to the nines in a tux so expensive it could feed the sanctuary animals for an entire year, Julius Kontos looked every inch the demon figurehead on the Supernatural Council. Perfectly coiffed. Completely at ease. And the only person Damian wanted to see less than the asshole tiger shifter in front of him.
“Lucky me. It looks like I found the party within the party.” Looking bored, the demon Councilman ran his gaze over Rose’s ex, his hands tucked into his pants pockets. “What slimy rock did you climb out from, Bisset? The large one on the east side of Central Park? I thought we had that opening filled.”
Bisset hissed. “This has nothing to do with you, Kontos, so move along.”
“That’s not quite true. Being on the Supernatural Council, it’s my duty to oversee that the Bonding Ceremony of our future Council leader and all celebrations related to it go smoothly. Think of me as security … with horns.”
Julius’s inner demon showed himself for a split second, eyes—and skin—flashing red before melting back into his human form. In response to the show-and-tell, Damian’s own inner hellion stirred, and it wasn’t an itch. Or a brush. And it definitely wasn’t a caress as he’d heard other Supernaturals describe their second self.
His beast dragged a talon from the underside of his sternum to his navel, leaving behind a scorching trail of pain and misery. It was literally the reflux from Hell.
Julius’s eyes glittered as he charged up his Compulsion, his demonic gift of not-so-sweet-talking others into doing his bidding. “You’ll be leaving now, and you’ll do so without creating a scene.”
The tiger shifter fought the mind control with an angry snarl. “Go to hell, demon.”
“I’m actually vacationing there next week to work on my tan. Anyone who claims the Caribbean beaches are the best has never been to Sinful Shore, the nude beach in Hell’s Level Six.” Julius’s playful smirk melted away, his eyes flashing again. “Now, leave before I forget where and who I am, and fall back on old habits from years past. And trust me, I wasn’t so nice back then.”
Damian snort-muttered, “Understatement of the year.”
Julius glanced at Damian for the first time, his mouth twitching … and that was all the opportunity Bisset needed to make his move. He leaped, one hand shifting into a clawlike weapon as he aimed to hit both Damian and Julius in a single swipe.
Magic crackled and in a blink, the shifter was suspended motionless in the air, a living statue only capable of moving his eyes. Bisset’s lips barely moved as he tried—and failed—to snarl.
“Nicely done, Miss Maxwell.” Julius chuckled. “Damian, what do you say we take out the trash? It’s smelling the joint up. But I claim feet. That muzzle looks a slight less frozen than the rest of him and I can’t afford a nibble on the hands. They’re my moneymaker.”
Damian glanced to Rose. “You good with that?”
“Goddess, yes. Please. Get him out of here.”
The three worked in tandem to remove Bisset from the bowling alley, Damian and Julius hefting his body while Rose walked alongside, keeping him frozen until they’d tossed him onto a pile of black garbage bags stacked on the sidewalk.
Used paper plates and boxes flew up, decorating his expensive tux with trash bag confetti, and all the tiger shifter could do was glare.
“What the hell?” A high-pitched squeal pierced the evening air as a flurry of satin and ruffles burst through the bowling alley doors. A tall blonde shot them all what she probably considered lethal glares as she stood protectively in front of Bisset’s still form. “You can’t do this!”
Rose snortled. “I think we already did, Tandi. Relax. It’ll wear off in a few minutes, and then the two of you can slither on your merry way.”
Tandi’s mouth opened and closed, her face getting redder by the minute. She snarled, “I will ensure that you’re never invited to another social event in the city. Mark my words.”
“Oh, will you? I don’t know what I did to deserve such a favor, but I wish I would’ve done it a lot sooner.”
This time, Damian couldn’t withhold the small chuckle. The blonde, with a shifter-like growl, turned back to the garbage-covered Bisset and plucked a banana peel from his coiffed hair.
Rose turned to Julius. “Thank you for the help, Representative Kontos.”
“None of that, Miss Maxwell. It’s Julius.” He bowed his head, making the witch’s cheeks pink.
“Then you have to call me Rose. But again, thank you. He’s honestly the last person I expected to see here tonight considering everything that’s happened.”
“It’s not a problem. I’m afraid my Compulsion is a little rusty from disuse, and his tiger was surprisingly strong. But then again, my Compulsion wasn’t always the most robust growing up. That honor went to my brother.”
Rose blinked. “I didn’t know you have a brother. Have I met him?”
The instant Julius swung his gaze to Damian, he knew exactly what was coming, and that there was no stopping him. “If I were any less of a demon my feelings would be hurt that you haven’t mentioned me.”
Damian shrugged. “Never had reason to.”
Rose’s head snapped toward Damian and back, her mouth opening and closing. It would’ve been comical if Damian wasn’t so pissed.