“Let me get this straight,” Laney starts. “Pricolici are the demon bounty hunters. They spooked Mystery and are tracking you down for another demon. And that ugly-ass bird thing is another demon but you don’t know what it wants either, other than the obvious murderous rage in its eyes.”
“Yeah,” I say. “That sums it up perfectly.”
“And you’re just going to wait for it to attack you?” Harrison’s brows pinch together.
“Yeah,” I say and make a face. “With my track record, it shouldn’t be too long.”
“Then what?”
“We find the demon sending the bounty hunters,” Ethan tells him. “And kill it.”
“That was Laney,” I tell Ethan, quickly replying to her text message. “She’s staying at her boyfriend’s tonight. I know she’s freaked out. Harrison too.”
“They reacted the way most people do,” Ethan says, although whether or not that’s supposed to be reassuring, I don’t know. “Give them time.”
I nod and scoop another spoonful of fried rice onto my plate. We’re in the living room and I’m on round two of my comfort food. Harrison and Laney left not long ago, probably more than a little desperate to get out of my house. They were both worried about demons attacking them—and rightly so—but Ethan assured them the demons were after me and have no reason to attack my friends.
“Tomorrow,” I say, feeling better when I have a plan in place. I’m not an organized person by any means, but there’s something reassuring when you know what’s going to happen, and with how unpredictable things have been lately, I need a routine to look forward to. “I’ll go to the new age store and then to the barn. I need to work Mystery, plus getting on and riding sounds so nice. I forget about my troubles when I’m riding.” I spoon orange chicken onto my plate and push it over, making room for more lo mein. “And I’ll stay out of the woods, I promise.”
Ethan finishes loading his plate and scoots back on the couch. “You know I won’t promise anything, but so far both the Pricolici and those bird-demons have attacked when out of sight, though the one coming to your house today…it was a ballsy move, even for a demon.”
“How did it get here?” I open a little package of soy sauce and put it on my rice. “Do demons drive? It’s not like that thing could just jump on public transport. I imagine demons ride horses, like zombie horses.”
“Are you asking this as a serious question?” Ethan cocks an eyebrow.
“I don’t really think there’s a zombie horse just chilling in the alley, but I do want to know how demons travel.”
“They’re good at lurking in the shadows, and most will only travel after nightfall. And the more powerful demons can just appear.”
“Even when they’re possessing a body?”
Having just taken a bite of food, Ethan shakes his head.
“Three bird-demons attacked us in the woods, and now three are dead,” I say and let out a breath, feeling my blood pressure rise. “What do you think the chances are there are only three of them, and more won’t come after me like the Pricolici?”
“I have no clue,” he says honestly. “We still don’t know what we’re up against.” He sets his fork on his plate and rests a hand on my thigh. “We’re safe for the night.” He can’t guarantee that, but I know he’s trying to keep me from getting too upset. “I’m not going anywhere, the house is outlined in salt, Hunter is an excellent watch and guard dog, and we can keep the sage burning.” He eyes the Book of Shadows on the coffee table. “Plus, you can cast a circle. You don’t need anything to do that.”
“I can summon and hold literal fire in my hand,” I start. “But I still doubt my ability to cast a legitimate circle of protection around the house. The fire happened out of desperation, and it was like instinct took over so I wouldn’t die. I know it doesn’t—” I cut off with a gasp as a thought enters my mind.
“What?” Ethan’s eyes widen and he straightens up, looking around the living room for a demon or ghost.
“Every once in a while, I like to get my nails done.”
“And that’s surprising?”
“Well, no, but if I’m holding magical fire in my hands, will the acrylics melt?”
Ethan stares at me in silence for a few seconds. “That’s actually a good question. Melted plastic on your nails would hurt like a bitch.”
“Right? I feel like I should know this before I magically start a fire after I get a manicure.”
“Anora,” he starts, looking away. “Maybe you shouldn’t start any fire. Not yet. You agreed with me that fire magic is dangerous. You killed a demon today, and it was fucking insane in the best way, but you also almost set your yard on fire.”