“Circus freak,” Alex muttered reaching for Mason’s coffee.
“Why—” Ethan stormed into the room. “—didn’t you warn her?”
Cassius followed, close on his heels. “What the hell did you expect me to say? Oh by the way, in your dreams, you’re going to get a visit from Darkness, have fun, be careful not to get to set the house on fire. Oh, and if you’re hot and bothered, it’s not me?”
“For the record,” I interjected. “I wasn’t hot and bothered, just warm.”
They ignored me.
“If she can’t control herself, she can’t stay!” Ethan slammed his fist down onto the granite cracking it down the middle. “Genesis is pregnant! She needs protection from things like that.” Pieces of granite flew into the air as Ethan pointed in my direction. I slumped low in my seat.
Mason let out a low curse. “I hate ordering new kitchen appliances. Home Depot employees are always so judgmental.”
Alex winced as the crack in the granite extended farther. Then the counter slammed into the floor. “Just tell them you got carried away with your last stripper. I’d go with it. Then once we flash them nothing but cash lean in and whisper ‘mafia’.”
Mason poked another berry with his claw. “Maybe I’ll just take you with me and tell them you’re my lover. Last time we did that we got fifty percent off.”
Alex sighed heavily. “Because she was totally into me, not you.” He scrunched up his nose. “You smelled too funny for her tastes, which is why you hung out by appliances while I took her out back.”
Ethan turned. “You did what? To a human?”
“Taught her how to saw.” Mason interjected. “At the Depot of Homes.”
I barely managed to keep my smile in as Cassius shared a confused look with Ethan.
“Lots of sharp edges.” Alex nodded emphatically. “Very dangerous… but don’t worry, none of your precious blood was spilled.”
A low growl erupted from Mason. “One day you’re going to get caught for tasting forbidden fruit.” Another raspberry flew through the air and into his mouth. “And I’m going to laugh. What’s going to happen when your tricks stop working on human women?”
Alex didn’t look worried.
“They’ll attack in mob-like fashion.” Mason nodded. “Yes, what a fantastic day that will be.”
Cassius frowned. “Do they… attack at the Depot of Homes?”
“It’s Home Depot,” I corrected. “And don’t pay attention to them, they’ve been bickering all morning.”
“Here.” Alex tossed a pinecone into the air. “Have some tree.”
“Technically, it’s a seed,” Mason grumbled, biting into his berries while Ethan slowly made his way over to the group. The tension in the room was extremely uncomfortable as his eyes blazed Vampire green.
Oh, good. He was pissed.
With a snarl, his fangs elongated. “Two days.” He jammed a finger in my direction. “She gets her powers under control in two days and she can stay. If not, then you’re on the streets.”
“And when he says streets, he means you get to shack up with Cassius so you don’t burn down Ethan’s house with his precious human in it,” Alex said.
“I thought we were beyond that?” Genesis breezed into the kitchen, immediately causing Ethan’s eyes to go back to normal as he hissed and pulled away from us only long enough to tug Genesis into his arms and kiss her neck.
“No biting in public,” Cassius mumbled under his breath. “That’s against immortal rules, not that you listen to me anyway.”
“I’ve been bitten,” Alex announced as all heads turned in his direction. “I found it extremely erotic… then she tried to kill me.”
“Surprised only one of your stories ends that way… I imagine if women were in their right minds while you seduced them they’d all want to kill you.”
“An Elk followed me home once too. Thought itself in love with me.” Alex yawned.
Disgusted, since I still thought of him as my brother, I stood and held out my hand to Cassius. “Should we get started?”