Page 35 of Malice

“Yes, a professor at Davidson College in the history department who has an interest in mythology owed me a favor.”

Antonio looks up. “What kind of favor did you do for a history professor? Wait. I don’t want to know.”

“The journals,” I start. “They look like Order-issued journals.”

“That’s because they are,” Leo tells me. “None of them are in English.”

“That’s not a problem for us,” Devon tells us and then says something in German, I think.

“And you complained when I insisted you learn at least four languages,” Xavier replies and I can see the judgement on Antonio’s face. Yeah, I agree; it’s weird thinking about Xavier being a father figure to Devon not all that long ago. “And the books were acquired at an estate sale, sold under the pretense these are nothing more than the ramblings of a crazy man.”

“So you’re all working together?” I ask, though it’s clear that’s what everyone is doing.

“We all care about you, Wren,” Antonio says, looking up from a demonic encyclopedia.

“Thanks,” I reply, not really sure what else to say. I’ve gotten myself into some sticky situations before, but I always got myself out.

Alone.

This is so different.

Xavier’s hand lands on the small of my back and we go to the large island counter, sitting next to my brothers. I take the lid off the box of books, snickering when I see the name tag.

“Property of Beau Butts,” I laugh. “Beau Butts. That’s the professor’s name?”

“It is,” Xavier answers, not even looking up from the book he has in his hands. “I’ve known Professor Butts for a few decades now.”

My mouth opens as I silently laugh. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell me I am the only one not mature enough to handle that name.”

“How do you think he handled it?” Devon snickers. “His parents must have hated him.”

“Seriously,” I say back and we both laugh. Shaking my head, I grab a book and then realize Devon is still looking at me. I catch his eye only to quickly look away. It’s not a look he should be giving me. I’m his sister-in-law. He knows I love Xavier.

Leo notices and shifts his eyes from Devon to me to Xavier before raising his eyebrows in silent judgement. If there was anyone I could tell the whole truth to, it’s Leo. Or at least I would have thought so. His weird behavior has me second guessing everything right now.

We get busy with research, searching for any mention of the demon. I know it’s powerful, and being trapped is a pretty good giveaway that killing it isn’t going to be easy at all. Even with the looming contract hanging over my head, my mind drifts back to Marie.

I decided on the way home that I won’t mention her to Xavier. Not yet at least. And that’s pretty much the only thing about her I have decided, because I had no idea if she’s actually trustworthy or not, and I know the thought of having a coven, from learning from an actual witch can blind me. I need to be careful.

“It’s weird doing all that research again,” I tell Xavier maybe an hour later when we decided to take a break. We’re in his office and the metal blinds are drawn. The only source of light is coming from his open laptop. “It makes me miss the life I so desperately wanted to escape.”

“It was familiar. Even though it wasn’t ideal, you knew what to expect.”

“You’re right. I’m good at this. Hunting. Killing. The stakes weren’t this high before, but hey, I work great under pressure.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes,” he deadpans. “It’s alarming how serious you’re not taking this.”

“What, are you mad at me?”

“Yes!” he replies. “At least I want to be. You chose your brother over yourself and that was selfish.”

My brows go up. “I beg to differ. That’s the total fucking opposite of selfish.”

“You only thought about how you would feel,” he says and I watch the emotion cross his face. His words carry weight. I did save Antonio because I didn’t want to have to face living in the world without him. I didn’t want to have to deal with the heartache of grief. But what I did also kept so many others from feeling it too.

And Antonio deserves to live.

“What about the rest of us?” Desperation slips through his carefully held composure. “Look at what we’re doing.”