Chapter 9

Nine

P hillip took a sheaf of papers to Thack's mobile office to hand over to January, because business still went on even when one was planning a demon coup on the down low.

"Morning, Boss," January said, a faint smile on his face. "How are you this fine morning?"

"Good storm last night, hmm?"

"It was exceptional." January took the papers.

"Where's the horned one?"

"I believe Thack is still in his trailer this morning."

"Ah. Well, then. I'll take him doughnuts." It had been far too long since he'd needled Thack and Uri a little. Hell, Uri had disappeared for years, and they'd gotten back together, so there was definitely a lot to study there about reunions and redemption.

January chuckled. "Better you than me."

"Yes, well—he's not my boss."

"No, sir. Best of luck. Do you need me to fetch breakfast pastries for you?"

"Do you mind?" He just didn't have time for the kitty cavalcade right now. They would latch on and want him to stay and chat, and while he fully intended to do that soon, he couldn't right now.

"Not a problem. Give me two." January poofed out of sight, and then popped back in, a box of doughnuts in hand. "Here you are."

"You're a marvel." Phillip nodded and headed off, humming under his breath. He was in a fab mood, thinking of his dear uncle and trying not to let their plan out into the universe.

There were dragons out doing yoga, and a number of little ones playing hide and seek in the grass along with January's unicorn.

It was charming as hell.

He could see why Cody had stayed on at the rodeo. This was a family, and while Phillip had friends there, he still wasn't really part of it. Hell, maybe he wasn't capable of it. Who knew? But he intended to stay, so they ought to get used to him and vice versa.

Something small and gold came flashing at him. It hit him smack in the chest with an incredibly solid little thunk. He grabbed it with one hand, keeping hold of the pastries with the other. What the hell?

"Less hell, more plane of air. Sorry." One of the dragons came sweeping up, gold eyes flashing. "She's only very newly hatched. And she hasn't quite gotten a hold of where her wings are. Or, well, she knows where her wings are. She doesn't know for certain where they're taking her."

Phillip glanced down into his hand, and sure enough, there was a tiny little gold dragon. Fitting right into his palm, feeling about as solid as a gold ingot. "Well, hello there."

She blinked at him, her eyes black for a moment and then gold, and then black, and then gold. "Hi, ho," her little voice peeped.

Okay. That was freaking adorable. "I'm Phillip. Phillip Darque."

"Lisity. I Lisity."

Her mom, or at least Phillip assumed it was her mom, bobbed her head. "Felicity. Sorry, Boss. I didn't realize you were out and about."

He shook his head. "No, no, no, we're fine. Hello, Miss Felicity, it's very nice to meet you."

"Meet you too."

"Tell Mister Phillip that you're sorry that you ran into him. You're very heavy."

"Sowwy. Heavy."

"I'm not worried. It was lovely to meet you. I hope that you have a very good day."

She nodded and kind of floated up her little butt, which was so much bigger than her wings, since she hadn't quite gotten them in fully yet.

Mama grabbed her in one clawed hand. "Sorry, boss. I hope she didn't bruise you."

"We're fine, the both of us. Seriously. All is well."

They left, and he found himself smiling all the way to Thack's trailer for a very different reason than before. Wee dragons were amazing. He'd never seen one that small.

He knocked on the door to the trailer, wondering why Thack and Uri didn't just stay at the house. Then again, maybe they were as loud as they'd been when they first met.

Thack answered the door wearing a violently purple bathrobe, his horns very nicely polished and glowing. "What?"

He let one eyebrow lift up, threateningly.

"Oh, fuck off. Did you bring coffee?"

"No, but I did bring a box of various pastries."

"Then we can use the Keurig. Come on." Thack stomped back inside.

Uri stood there, wrapped in a sheet, sort of… glowing.

It was unnatural, honestly.

"Phillip. It's so good to see you, friend."

"And you, angel. How have you been?" He'd heard about Uri's bout of magical amnesia, keeping tabs on the devastated Thack for years until Uri showed back up at the rodeo.

"Much better, since I made my way back to my mate."

"I understand."

"I bet you do." Uri's smile was wicked as hell. "I bet you get me, balls deep."

"Mmm. Not quite that deep yet," he retorted.

"Ah, well, he's recovering quickly."

"He is." And he was trying to be patient. He was being patient.

"Come sit," Uri said. "Thack just wants to be lazy today."

"He can be. I just need to get something in the pipeline." Phillip sat and opened the box of pastries while Thack made coffee.

"Something. What sort of something?" Thack brought him a cup of coffee, before handing one to Uri and sitting down.

"I need a new bull."

Thack frowned. "Why? What's wrong with the ones we have?"

"They all have demons in them already." He deadpanned it, waiting to see what Thack would make of that.

Thack tilted his head, then smoke began to trickle from the demon, his lips curling in a truly evil grin. "Well, I do believe you're right."

"My mate's idea. Nonetheless, a brilliant one."

Uri began to laugh, the sound soft and bell-like. "Oh, yes. Don't think it too loud."

"No. No, and absolutely don't speak it. Understand?"

Uri nodded, expression so satisfied. "We understand."

"Good. Good. So. Pastry?" He felt a little like celebrating.

"Please. How is Cody healing? It's going well?"

"He's almost there." And he was ready. His urge to claim Cody was riding him like one of the ghost rider's horses.

"Excellent. It feels like it's been forever since we've seen him." Uri ate an eclair, the act inherently sexual the way his lips and tongue moved.

He stared. He couldn't help it.

Thack growled at him, and Phillip grinned. "Angels. And yes, we need to have a cookout where everyone can see that he's all right."

"Oh, that would be fun! Do you want me to talk to Brax?" Uri knew exactly what he was doing to Thack.

"I do. I'll let you and January handle it." He winked, having a bite of his pastry.

"Will do."

"Phil. I love you. Take some of the croissants and doughnuts and go. I'll get your bull."

"You wound me." Phillip put two pastries in the little baggie Uri handed him, laughing at the smile on his friend's face.

"Enjoy Cody, boss." Uri's lips brushed along Thack's shoulder.

"You two have a good day off." That was stunning, really. Those two. Phillip wasn't above admitting hot demon-angel action turned him on in a voyeur-type way.

"Mmhmm. Bye, boss. Go play." Thack moaned as Uri stroked one of his horns.

He chuckled. Maybe he would see how Cody felt when he woke this evening. He detoured, deciding to go see Denny and Blaine and the kitties and see if he could get something with some meat. He wanted to feed his mate again.

Denny was sitting outside his trailer, kittens climbing all over him like he was a jungle gym.

"Hey, old man," Denny said. "How's the chief?"

"Good. He's better every night. You enjoying the time off?"

"I am! I'm kittysitting while some moms do yoga. So much fun." Denny winced as someone's claws dug into him.

"It looks like it." That looked like… snow leopard?

"It is."

One of the little ones toddled over to him, totally unafraid, her eyes focused on him, arms held aloft. "Up?"

"Hello, wee one." He lifted her, smiling as she squealed. He'd forgotten what it was like to have anyone around him besides his assistant, who was no doubt glad he was long-distance now.

She purred hard, snuggling right in.

"That's Miss Katie. She's a lover girl. We were telling the kits all about you."

"Were you?" He raised an eyebrow. "None of them appear to be crying."

"No kai, fren. No kai." She patted his cheeks.

He laughed, because she was so earnest and wonderful. "None of us will cry, little one."

She beamed and hugged him, as if he wasn't one of the most powerful infernal family around.

This could be his life. He'd avoided it for so long, and for what?

Power? Money? Pride. It was stupid pride.

Denver smiled at him, expression knowing. "You get it. I can tell. You really get it now."

"I do." He patted the little one's back. "I wasted a great deal of time."

"We all do dumb sh-tuff." Denny shook his head. "Look at my brother. He was…"

"Difficult." Phillip tried to be diplomatic. Denny's brother had always been so stubborn, and had fought one bull too many. Demon bulls. He chuckled. Denny wouldn't be fighting their newest one. He would just be locked in a pen at the ranch.

Oh, that thought did make him incredibly happy.

His bloodsucker was the smartest.

He smiled at Denny, knowing that he couldn't tell the bullfighter what his plan was. Not because he thought that Denver would tell anyone, but Blaine… Well, he would talk. And because Denny had a strangely involved set of morals.

And he might just disapprove of the idea of putting family members into their place. One never knew.

He chuckled, and the little kit that he was holding squealed with happiness.

"Hims got teeths!"

"Ah, little love? You have no idea." He winked at her. "I have big teeth."

"And his mate has bigger teeth. You remember Mr. Cody."

She nodded. "Him has candies. Him be the boss."

Denver nodded to her. "Yes, ma'am. So is Mr. Phillip here. He's Cody's mate."

"Oh." She smiled and hugged him again, like that was the most charming thing ever.

He supposed it was. He could fall in love with someone decades ago, have a terrible, vicious, violent fight with them. They could be apart for dozens of years. And somehow these people just accepted him like he belonged here.

Phillip strongly suspected that had absolutely nothing to do with him as a demon. More was credited to Cody. He knew it had to be Cody who made sure that there was going to be a place for him, even if he never wanted it.

He kissed the top of her head. "Well, I will see you about, wee one. I was just checking in with Mr. Denny."

"Okies." She dutifully got down and ran off to join the other kits where they played.

"You got you a good reputation, Mr. Darque," Denny teased.

"I know. I am quite appalled."

"I live to serve, boss." Denny winked at him, utterly unrepentant.

Little fuck.

"You live because no one has figured out how to end a stubborn bastard like you." Phillip winked back. "Carry on."

Denny saluted at him and winked. "Have a good one, boss."

"I intend to." He put his hands in his pockets, whistling as he wandered. Time to get that meat, so he headed to the kitty cavalcade. They always had something very rare on offer.

Hopefully, Cody would be feeling better this evening.