Not Your Ex's Hexes (Supernatural Singles, #2)(88)
“You know what? Put a bonus shot of tequila in mine. I nearly died less than twenty-four hours ago. I think I deserve a little something extra.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Vi grinned. “Midnight Margarita Madness, here we come! Olive! Cue the music!”
* * *
Damian sat in the Blood Moon’s corner booth, alternating between staring at the hole in the wall and staring at his untouched beer. After leaving Rose like the demon shit he was, he hadn’t known where to go or what to do, knowing only that he didn’t want his funk to touch her in any way.
It was ironic he’d ended up at the Supernatural bar that had whetted her appetite for Hunting.
Within minutes of his arrival, a few regulars tried messing with him, but he quickly shut it down—and had the sore knuckles to prove it. Immediately after, he’d felt lighter. Not better, but the intense pressure that came when his demon pushed hard had lessened a minuscule fraction.
Letting him out to play, and then locking him up tight again, made the bastard a bit randy and Damian unfit for human interaction. Hence the Blood Moon.
Someone slipped into the seat across from him.
“How many has he had?” the familiar voice asked.
“You’re staring at it,” Charlie—the Blood Moon’s owner—answered. “The least he could do after scaring away all my customers is to keep ordering bloody drinks.”
Damian turned his attention to Julius, and glared. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I missed your sparkling wit and charming disposition,” Julius said dryly before gifting the shifter a mega-watt smile. “And go ahead and bring us two more of whatever’s on tap.”
“That’s it?” Charlie asked. “I mentioned he threatened to decapitate one of my regulars with his bare hands, didn’t I?”
“Tack on a couple of your most expensive shots, too.” Charlie waited pointedly, and Julius sighed. “What else do you want, Char?”
“Top pick of any Hunt assignments for the next five years.”
Julius kicked up a lone eyebrow, inspecting the Hunter from head to toe. His perusal—and Charlie’s complete lack of give-a-fuck—almost made Damian smile. This would be a fight his brother wouldn’t win.
“One month,” Julius offered.
“One year,” Charlie countered.
“Six months and you agree to take on any special assignments that I feel you may be a good fit for.”
Charlie mulled it over, nibbling on her lip ring before giving a faint nod. “Fine. But I’m still charging you for those top-notch shots and the two beers on tap.”
With a sway of her hips, she turned, leaving them alone.
Julius grumbled. “Remind me why I thought it was a good idea to put her on the Hunt payroll?”
Damian snorted. “Knowing you it was because you liked the way she filled out her leather pants.”
“Ah. That’s right.”
“What the hell are you doing here, Jules?” Damian asked. “In case my fist in your face didn’t clue you in, we’re definitely not in a grab-drinks-and-gab phase of our relationship.”
“Trust me, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for your pretty little witch asking it of me.”
He swallowed down his surprise by taking the first sip of his warm beer. “I don’t have a witch. Besides, I didn’t realize you and Rose were so chummy that she’d feel comfortable asking you for favors.”
Damn, is that jealousy?
The more he tried to stanch it, the more it ate away at his stomach, and Julius, ever the bastard, smirked knowingly. Damian’s second half lapped up his brewing anger like chocolate-chip cookie dough.
Julius chuckled. “For not having a witch, you knew exactly who I was talking about, didn’t you? Relax, brother. She called because she was worried about you. The alcohol may have played a small part in the decision, too. Frozen margaritas if the roaring blender in the background was any indication.”
Damian wasn’t sure which reason was worse. That she’d been worried about him enough to call on Julius, or that she’d been upset enough when he’d left that she dove into all the frozen fruity drinks that led to it.
He stood, eager to get away from both his brother and the unwelcome feelings he didn’t know what to do with. “You found me. I’m breathing. If you’d like to continue doing the same, I’d suggest that the next time Rose asks you to check on me, you let your survival instincts kick in and tell her no.”
“What are you doing, man?” Julius asked with a sigh as he turned to leave. “You’ve avoided the Hunt all these years because it means accepting your true self, and yet you’re okay with it when it comes to the witch?”
“I wasn’t letting her put herself at risk. I wasn’t there earlier tonight and look what happened. Besides, you have me right where you wanted me so what are you complaining about?”
“Not complaining, just pointing something out. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the lure of a good woman. Hell, if I caught the attention of one of the Maxwell witches, I might take stupid risks, too. But that’s what you’re doing. At least that pesky hex of yours won’t come into play if you keep it a Hunt thing.”