2. Warwick

Chapter 2

Warwick

Something’s wrong. There’s an ache in my chest that throbs like my heart being ripped out. I scratch, hoping it’s just a bad case of heartburn.

“Another.” I lift my shot glass empty of HellFire.

Gabe gives me the look as he fills my glass. The one that says I’m cutting your ass off soon, but not quite yet. The nephilim’s too good to me, but he knows how I am. How I need to not feel for just a little bit.

What everyone doesn’t realize is that I come to Flutter and Fangs for intel on Ethan. He’s been missing for almost six fucking years to the day. One minute he’s in front of me ready to finally make his crossroads deal, but the instant he turns eighteen, he’s sucked through a portal and I haven’t seen him since.

I’ve searched the crossroads demon archive on how to find him. I even used some of Ethan’s old schoolbooks he gave me and nada. The only conclusion is his bitch of a grandmother did something to keep me from finding him and him from coming back to me.

But I digress. Flutter and Fangs is where most people come to hang out in Hex.

“Coming to the Halloween masquerade party?” Gabe gestures to the ridiculous glittery sign on the corner of the bar advertising said party. I’d take bets that Sparkle had something to do with the glitter. The cat shifter practically bathes in it.

I cock a brow. “Do I look like the partying type?”

Gabe pushes some of his shoulder length black hair behind his ear as he shrugs. “Not really, but I know your brother would love it if you were more social.”

“Is that what he tells you?”

The telltale energy that is my brother Van shimmers beside me before he materializes in the seat to my right. He slugs his arm over my shoulder and pulls me closer. “I worry about you, you know that.” His hand scrubs over the top of my head, missing my horns, and I wriggle to get free from his grip, using my tail like another hand I push against him. “Besides…” Van frowns at the shot glass in front of me. He doesn’t say anything about it, though. “You still have a few weeks left of freedom from your crossroads duties. You might as well make the most of them.”

I snort as I spin on the stool and take in the sparse patrons this early in the day. “I am making the most out of them. I’m learning how to cook and bake.” Which I adore.

Van side-eyes me, his head tips as he examines me again. “When did you start that up? And why haven’t you shared?” He pouts.

“I didn’t say I was any good.” I spin back around and give Gabe a grin. He’s been on the receiving end of a few cookies that ended up not being quite right.

“You’re not heinous,” Gabe says as he matches my grin.

Van gasps. “Gabe, my love, you betray me.” He presses the back of his hand to his forehead dramatically and sucks in a breath.

Gabe leans across the bar and crooks a finger. “Awe, come here and I’ll give you something sweet.”

“Ugh,” I groan out. “I thought Pike and Lark were bad, but you two might be worse.” I stick out my tongue and shiver when the pair kiss. “Ew. Cooties.”

Gabe snorts as they part. “Would you say that to Ethan?”

“Ethan’s the only one I want to kiss. Ever .” I don’t know that I want to go beyond that, but I want to know what his lips taste like.

Van squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry he’s still?—”

“ Don’t. I’ll save him.” I’ll save him and Florence. That’s what Ethan wanted.

“I wish I could help,” Gabe says as he wipes down the counter. “It’s like she’s blocked everyone associated with you from looking for him.” Not too long ago, he was nice enough to try a scrying spell. We figured of all people, Gabe would be able to get through. He’s an unassuming nephilim and nicer than anyone I’ve ever met. Being my go-to bartender, he puts up with my emotions, and I don’t think he judges me for them.

I nod and scrub a hand through my hair. “I know. But I can’t tell how close someone has to be to me before they’re blocked. Is it a look? A conversation? I don’t know. And how the hell is her magic so damn strong? I’m a demon, for crying out loud! How the hell is a witch stronger than me?”

Van’s pocket pings, and he pulls out his cellphone. “Well, shit. Pumpkin’s getting into something she shouldn’t again. Silly puppy.” He grabs Gabe by the apron tie and pulls him close again. “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Gabe leans in and kisses him. Then my brother’s gone.

Pumpkin is their Hellhound puppy. Van earned one after he got his head out of his ass and started acting right. He used to be so arrogant and selfish, not to mention violent. I chew on the inside of my cheek. I love my brother, I really, really fucking do, but somehow he gets away with so much and gets rewarded in the end. Poe, the king of the crossroads demons, punished me several times over because of Van with no rewards in sight.

Actually, that’s not true. I’ve been given a year reprieve from crossroads duties when Van came back home after his last little spat of childishness. I don’t blame Van for how he acts. Neither of us really had a childhood. Mother gave me to him to raise when he was only seven. Seven . Who does that? Not that it was just the two of us. We lived in the creche, which is the equivalent of an orphanage for crossroads demons to drop off the kids they don’t want to raise. We helped raise each other and the other crossroads demon kids around us. Pike, the owner of Flutter and Fangs and free of his crossroads curse, is still Van’s best friend even after all the shit Van pulls. But there’s something about Van everyone gets drawn into. Admittedly, he’s a lot of fun.

Gabe gives me a shy little smile. I still don’t understand how the nicest person in Hex and my brother work, but they do. And I want my one and only back. Watching my friends and family fall in love makes me want to show them up. Show them how what Ethan and I had— have —is stronger than… than… everything.

The door of Flutter and Fangs opens, and normally I’d ignore it, but I swear I can feel Ethan’s energy. My heart pounds, but when he doesn’t emerge through the door, my shoulders slump. “Another.” I wiggle my shot glass.

“Last one,” Gabe says as flaming HellFire pours into my glass.

A group of four sidle up to the bar, all with that faint hint of Ethan. I grind my teeth and Gabe slides a bowl of gummy bears my way. One of Lark’s improvements. The Fae loves sweets and instead of peanuts, the bar has gummy bears or gummy worms at intervals along the bar top. I grab a handful and toss them back, hoping they help take the bitter annoyance away.

The person next to me trembles before they slide into the seat. Their hands shake and they drop them to their side. There’s the pungent and delightful scent of fear in the surrounding air.

Someone rubs circles in the small of my neighbor’s back. “It’s not your fault, Tanner. Those bitches rigged your jar. It could have been any of us.”

“What can I get you?” Gabe asks with a cheery smile that usually has patrons melting, but the kid doesn’t budge.

“Something strong,” my neighbor squeaks out with a broken voice.

“Did something happen in class, Tanner?” Gabe grabs a bottle from the top shelf behind him. “Never seen you so shaken up before.”

“It wasn’t his fault,” the one behind Tanner says as the two on Tanner’s other side shake their heads in agreement.

Tanner sinks his fingers into his hair. “I should have known better than to trust either of them. Lettie handed me the bottle. She never even looks twice at me, ever. I’m like gum on the bottom of her shoe, but today…”

“She was nice, I know,” the back rubber says.

Someone sniffles beside the pair and rubs at their eye. “I hope he recovers. He’s the only teacher that made protection spells make sense.”

My face grows hot. Protection spells were Ethan’s specialty. I helped him understand them. “Who needs to recover?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Professor Speller,” back rubber says so nonchalantly I don’t think they realize how wound up I am.

“What’s the professor’s first name?” I growl.

“E—Ethan,” Tanner squeaks out.

Before anyone can blink, I shove the person away from Tanner and have Tanner pressed against the bar top with my hand gripping his throat. “What did you do to him?” My voice echos through Flutter and Fangs and everyone’s eyes are on us. On me.

My tail shakes as if to warn people off. Someone grabs at my arm and tries to yank me off him. Tanner’s face turns a delightful red and his eyes widen as he tries to gasp for breath.

“Warwick.” Gabe’s fingers glow as he lays his hand over my forearm. “Release him or you’ll know what a nephilim’s sting feels like.”

“He hurt Ethan,” my voice rumbles, shaking the walls. And I press in, just to see Tanner’s legs scramble beneath him, trying to find purchase on the floor below.

“Get off him!” Someone beats me with a purse.

Gabe’s fingers spark along my skin, but he’s just warning me.

“What is the meaning of this?” Pike stomps toward me from one of the backrooms adjusting his shirt with a disheveled Lark trailing behind him. “I’m trying to feed and you’re disturbing me.” His leathery wings fan out behind him and my feathered ones pop out, keeping him from seeing what I’m doing and pushing the students beside me away.

“Tell me what the fuck you did to Ethan.” I give another little squeeze for good measure before releasing him. It’s just Tanner and me wrapped in my wings.

Warwick—Age 15

Look at this little wannabe trying to summon a demon. They’re kinda cute in a super nerdy way. They push their thick glasses up their nose as they look around. Mousy brown hair flops in their face. They have pretty, blue eyes. They set down the tote bag they’ve been carrying all the way from the main road and start digging things out. Salt, crystals, a knife, tea lights, a lighter, and what appears to be holy water. I snort at the assortment. All they really need is the salt, a summoning statement, and a drop of blood.

Right now, they can’t see me because I’m behind the veil. I just like to hang out at my crossroads. I’m five years too early being bound to it because it’s a punishment for my brother Van. For some reason, the king of the crossroads demons decided I should get roped into Van’s punishment. I hated them both for a few weeks. But now I’m used to the soul sucking boredom of not being with the other crossroads demons my age. Being bound means I’m not allowed in classes anymore. Not being in classes means I don’t know all the rules. So I read and watch. Of course, I read the rule books I can find, but most of them are centuries old and don’t have the new rules. I figured if I’m good at this for a few months, maybe, just maybe, Poe will let me have an updated rulebook to study. Despite my brother defying Poe for years, I think the king is a good one. He keeps us all in line, though not my brother so much. No, Van wants to rule us all and honestly, I’m not in favor of it. Van is too volatile. He needs more education, and that’s me saying that.

The summoner looks younger than I am, which could be a problem. They’re the first one at my crossroads since I’ve been bound, so I want to do this right, but if they aren’t old enough, we can’t bargain. I groan to myself and throw my head back.

The summoner drags the box of salt across the gravel road, making a giant circle. I’m impressed because it’s big enough for the both of us. Then they take the crystals, looks like clear quartz, and make a circle within the circle. Curious choice. They circle the crystals with the tea lights and light them. I wonder if they just like showy magic because this is a lot of effort.

They shove the bottle of holy water into their pocket and step outside of the circle. It really takes everything in me not to laugh when they raise their knife to the sky.

“I, Ethan Gregory Speller, summon the crossroads demon assigned to this place.”

He’s the Speller heir. The lone son of Aiden Speller, former ruler of the Hex coven.

Ethan takes the knife and slices it across the back of his forearm. Not enough to make a gash, just a hairline break of his skin and he lets the blood drop on the salt in front of him.

A high pitch sound rings in my ears. My skin shimmers and before I know it, I’m standing in front of him from within his circle.

Ethan gasps and stumbles back, clutching his bottle of holy water to his chest. “It worked.”

“It did.” I tip my head, examining him close up. “How old are you?”

“Old enough!”

“It doesn’t work that way. How old are you?”

“I’ll answer if you do. You don’t look much older than me.”

I shrug. What harm could it do for him to know? “I’m fifteen. And you?”

“Twelve.”

Twelve?! “What does a twelve-year-old need to summon a demon for?”

“That’s none of—” He cuts himself off before finishing with none of my business. His face goes red, and he picks at the gravel by his hands.

I smile, letting my fangs show. My tail whips around behind me. He’s scared and brave all at once. “Why did you summon me?”

“I want out of my arranged marriage.”

I choke on my own saliva. “What now? You’re twelve . Why are you getting married?”

“I’m not getting married until I’m older. I have to graduate college first and establish myself as a Hex citizen in good standing. But my father and grandmother planned out my entire life. I like Florence, but…” He nibbles his bottom lip and doesn’t look at me. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Cross my heart.” I plop to the ground, crossing my legs.

Ethan scoots closer. He’s right on the edge of the summoning circle that keeps us separated. “I’m gay,” he whispers.

“I can see why you don’t wanna marry them, then.”

He shakes his head. “It’s the principle of the thing and Flo doesn’t wanna marry me either. She doesn’t want to marry anyone. She thinks the idea of kissing is gross and just wants a dog and to live in the country teaching people magic. At least that’s what she’s told me.”

“What did you bring for a sacrifice?”

“My magic. Memaw says I’m the strongest Speller in centuries. I just started college at Hex University and I love it so far, but if I don’t have magic, Florence’s family won’t want them to marry me. I can save us both.”

“You’re already in college?” It’s hard to wrap my brain around. I never even finished Crossroads School, but that wasn’t my fault.

“Yep.” Ethan throws his shoulders back. “I’m taking a duel program where I’m working through my bachelor’s and doctorate at the same time. I should be teaching by the time I’m seventeen if everything pans out.”

My mouth falls open. “What?” This child’s life is already planned out for him and I don’t blame him for not wanting what someone else decided for him.

“Memaw insisted.”

I rub my chin as if I’m thinking before pushing to my feet. “I’d love to help you, but can’t.” I’m not sure I’ve spoken any truer words in my life.

“What? Why not?” His slim shoulders slump.

“You’re twelve and there are rules against making a deal with someone under eighteen. You have to be a legal adult to enter a contract unless you have your parent’s permission.” I made up the bit about parents, but it’s not like he’s going to know.

“ You’re under eighteen!”

“ I’m allowed to be under eighteen.”

“Why?” Ethan fists his hands and I swear he’s about to cry. I don’t like the idea of him being so upset, though.

“Because I’m being punished for my brother being… well, himself. I shouldn’t even be here for another five years, yet here I am. So trust me, I understand disappointments.”

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me for being such a brat.” Ethan pushes to his feet and dusts his shirt off. “But I don’t give up easily. I’ll wear you down.”

“Come back in six years and I’ll make you the deal of a lifetime.”

“ I’m already so mature and adulty I think you should make the deal.” Ethan nods, determined, and holds out his hand.

“Sorry, no can do.”

“Okay, then I’ll be here every day until you let up.” He dusts off his bottom and picks up his tote bag.

I can’t help the chuckle. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

He nods. “Believe it. Every day. Right here. Promise.” He points to the circle.

“Don’t make promises to demons. We might make you keep them.” I wave as I blink out back behind the veil and watch as he carefully cleans up the summoning circle.