Page 21 of A Date With Demons

“What’s wrong? Tell me, Portia,” I demand.

She turns to me as Bragg places himself between her and the deejay booth.

“I didn’t know my ex was deejaying,” she says.

That’s all she needs to say.

“Very well. I shall rain fire on him. I’ll just be a minute.”

Portia tugs at my shirt. “No, Rewd. Bad demon. You’ll burn the place down.”

Growling resentfully, I look over at the deejay booth.

Staring back at me is an overgrown man-child in headphones and coiffed hair who scrutinizes Portia disapprovingly.

I don’t like his face. I don’t like his eyes. I do not trust him.

Bragg bares his teeth as if he’s ready to rip the deejay’s throat out.

“Let’s just go,” she says.

That, I am on board with.

“So,” the man-child calls out to Portia as we turn away. “You finally found some LARP-er nerds to play dress up with you. Congratulations.” She freezes to the spot in response to his voice.

The idiot human seems to think our Portia looks silly.

But she, in fact, looks breathtakingly beautiful. Portia glances down and smooths the front of her corset, which reminds me of a lonely courtier I deflowered in the 1400s during my wilding phase. Before the accords put us all under lock and key. Those were good times.

The fact that this disapproving human male has any effect on her at all is testing my resolve not to cause destruction and mayhem.

Portia stays put, but I turn toward the deejay, and so does Bragg.

I do not care what anyone says about me, but I do not like his tone with Portia. She crosses her arms over her pretty breasts and looks at the floor.

Bragg nods at me, his eyes blazing with rage. We are of one mind, and I feel the excitement build inside me.

“Bragg, I do not think this man is earnestly congratulating our mate,” I say.

At the word “mate,” Portia turns and looks up at me. I am still getting accustomed to human expressions, but I think she may be shocked at that. Bragg coughs. He is uncomfortable with sincerity, too.

I turn to the deejay. “Tell the lady you are sorry, and pay her a compliment.”

The human male laughs. He does not know he’s in the presence of two actual demons.

“Some chicks cut their hair after a breakup. This one decides to come out as poly. So edgy, baby!”

Portia seems to coil in on herself. Bragg takes another step forward. We move in sync. I’m ready to attack and maim.

Meanwhile, the deejay continues his ill-advised nonsense. “Enjoy my sloppy seconds, fellas!”

Bragg reaches one hand over the deejay booth and lifts the human man by the neck. His mask and headphones clatter against the equipment, and the music abruptly cuts off.

Everyone turns and stares at us.

I crack my knuckles.

Portia’s eyes widen with worry.