“No, want horsey.” But Asher was giggling as he said it, because Teague was puffing smoke out of his nostrils just as his demon could.
Isn’t that smoke noxious? Piper asked.
Levi cast her a quick glance. Only if it pours out of his hellhorse’s nostrils, and only if the demon wants it to be noxious.
Called away by Lachlan, Teague stalked off with Asher.
Levi soon found himself deep in conversation with Tanner about an upcoming hellhound race when Piper’s voice again floated into his mind. Teague looks at Larkin a lot, she said.
Levi looked their way only to see Teague—now with Asher no longer on his shoulders—standing a few feet in front of the harpy with his gaze locked firmly on her. She pretends not to notice most of the time. But sometimes …
Sometimes, what?
“Keep staring at me and I’ll throw you off that fucking balcony,” Larkin conversationally said to the hellhorse.
Teague’s mouth curved. “Promise?”
Sighing tiredly, Larkin pointed at the opposite side of the room. “Go stand over there.”
“I like it here,” said Teague. “It has a pretty view. Dangerous but oh so pretty.”
Her lips firmed. “You think you’re charming, don’t you?”
“I’m sensing you’d disagree. That hurts. I thought we were friends.”
Larkin frowned. “I hurled chips of hell-ice at your face the last time I saw you.”
He smiled again. “I know, I’ve got them in a jar at home. Took me an hour to pluck them all out of my skin.”
“You … A jar? You have them in a jar?”
“I like mementos.”
She stared at him. “Your thought processes just aren’t normal. Khloë, Seabiscuit needs you for something.”
Teague chuckled. “You giving me a pet name only deepens our frien—”
“I got him.” Khloë linked her arm through his and began leading him away. She leaned into him and muttered, “Remember your oath.”
He grunted, the amusement slipping out of his expression.
Piper tensed. What oath?
Levi glanced at her. You realize you don’t have to whisper when you talk to me telepathically, right? No one else can hear you. He winced as she pinched his thigh.
What. Oath?
I have no idea, I was wondering the same thing. It might be something that explained why Teague—a man not known for hesitating when he wanted something—hadn’t ever made a move on Larkin when he very clearly had a thing for her.
Once more clinging to his father’s leg, Asher tapped it hard. “Daddy!”
Knox looked down. “What?”
Asher smiled. “Sniff up.” He giggled like a loon when Knox’s face scrunched up in distaste. “I farted.”
“Ah, the Wallis blood is strong in this one,” said Levi.
Knox met his gaze. “Don’t I know it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Swiping his ringing cell from the kitchen counter the following evening, Levi saw Keenan’s name flashing on the screen. He answered, “Yeah?”
“You ought to know that Celeste spent last night and all of today in a cell,” said the incubus.
Levi blinked. “What? Why?”
“She caused a massive scene at the Xpress bar while utterly shitfaced. Threw glasses, upturned tables, spat at the bouncers, screamed like … well, a banshee.”
“Jesus.” One-handed this time, Levi went back to stacking the dishwasher. “Losing her shit to that extent in public isn’t usually her style.”
“When Vin and Mason brought her in, they said she ranted about you and Piper the whole time. She hates that you two are mated.”
“Not a shock.” Levi exhaled heavily. “She’s been quiet recently, but I figured she’d do something stupid at some point.”
“It would seem she’s done bottling up her feelings.” Keenan paused. “The main reason I’m calling is that when Vin informed her once again that she would not be allowed to call her father, she claimed to know who’s been initiating the attacks on Piper.”
Levi paused in reaching for a dishwasher tablet from the cupboard. “Did she now?”
“Yes. But she also said that she’ll only talk to you about it.”
He felt his nostrils flare. “That fucking woman.” He grabbed a tablet and roughly placed it into the dispenser.
“It’s unlikely that she knows anything. She’s probably just playing games out of spite. It’s what she does. Still, she’s adamant that she has information you’ll want to hear. Vin questioned her repeatedly, but she refused to cough up anything.”
Grinding his teeth, Levi shoved the dishwasher door closed. There was a beep, and then the cycle started. “I doubt she’d be so stubborn if Knox was there.”
“He won’t be back from his business trip until tomorrow morning. I could ask him to pyroport back here and deal with the matter, but I only do that in cases of emergency. Celeste is not one. It’s important we erase the danger to Piper but, as I said before, I’m not convinced Celeste knows anything.”
“Neither am I, so don’t bother Knox with this.”
“I’m happy to question her myself and press her into changing her mind about only speaking with you. I can make her talk, no problem. It’s up to you.”