E.J. Stevens

“You catch all that, Humphrey?” I asked.“Get to eat demons for breakfast,” he said with a grin.“Hey, only if they misbehave,” I said.“Demons always do,” he said, licking his lips.I had a sinking feeling that the gargoyle had a point.”

“Walking out into the night with a water fey was all kinds of stupid. Heck, Kelpies eat people. They may not play with their food as creatively as the Each Uisge, but dead is dead.”

“I stomped on the spiders as I backed away, halting their progress. A brave one ambled forward and sank it’s dripping mandibles into its nearest kin. The other spiders followed suit, joining in the feeding frenzy.“Oh, look, aren’t they cute?” Torn asked, pointing to where baby spiders were busy cannibalizing each other.“Freaking adorable,” I growled.”

“Demons were all about ego, which meant that most demons had some kind of title. I think it made them feel better about their tiny…pitchforks.”

“So it’s fate then?” I asked with him so close my lips brushed the line of his jaw with each word, “Us being together?”“Absolutely,” Calvin said with a low growl. Then he lifted my chin, tilting my head back, and kissed me deeply.Who was I to argue with Fate?”

“Becoming a fae leader? Not on my bucket list.”

“Emma was doing something nice for Simon? Hell must be enjoying the snow day.”

“I’d been called a freak, and worse, all through school. Now that I’d finally graduated, I was sick of it. I’d hoped that no one would ever call me names again. Oh well, if wishes were flying monkeys, we’d all be wearing tiny hats.”

“My heart, always so strong in the past, was like the fishnet stockings that clung to my legs—torn, shredded, and full of gaping holes.”

“Let the spirits guide you, but never let them take you.”

“The dwarf’s eyes widened—at least I think they widened, since they became much more visible in his hairy face—and he froze.“Would you prefer to retrieve the missive yourself, M’lady Wisp?” he asked.“I’d rather not,” I said. No way was I touching some strange dude’s vest, no matter how impressive his beard.”

“Not so long ago we were all a tightly knit group of friends. Too bad someone had ripped apart the stitches that held us together, unraveling the cozy blanket of our friendship and leaving just enough strands to hang ourselves with.”

“I’m trying to decide whether to tell you two to get a room or go barf in the trash can,” Emma said. “I’m leaning toward the second choice. You are both getting way too weird. And gross.”Cal barked out a laugh and slid his fingers down my arm to entwine with mine. His touch, and Emma’s comments, only made me blush more. Looks like Emma saw Cal lick my face after all. Now that wasn’t awkward or anything.”

“I need a victim and no offense Yuki, but your carrot sticks are lacking in controversy.”