“Remember what I said about the dog hair,” Bel warned.
Raum disappeared, and a moment later, she heard the scratching of claws on the floor as Faust scrambled into a run. He came racing into the kitchen, slipping and sliding on the hardwood, his tail wagging hard enough to shake his entire body.
Iris dropped to her knees to scoop him up and cuddle him as he attempted to lick every inch of her face. She usually drew the line at face licks, but she was too happy to see him to care right now.
Faust wiggled in her arms, so she let him go, and he raced to Meph—
Only to stop and freeze in place. He slowly cowered, tail dropping, head lowering.
“Be nice, Meph,” Iris warned. “You can’t eat him.”
Meph glanced between her and the dog. And then again, several times, like he didn’t know what to do with himself.
And then he shifted.
Just like that, he phased through the half-shifted form he’d been in when they made love in the cave, and then he finally reverted to human form. He bent and scooped Faust up the same way Iris had.
He was still shirtless, and seeing that adorable puppy cuddled against his tattooed skin made her feel all gooey inside.
Meph stood and looked at his brothers, the puppy still in his arms. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
There was an awkward moment as the demons stared at one another. There was something unsaid hanging in the air, but Iris didn’t have a clue what it was. She was obviously missing some context, but she knew better than to ask right now.
Then Meph said, “Sorry for—I was—I shoulda—”
“Shut up,” Bel snapped, and then he mumbled, “You’re not a burden.” He clenched his jaw and stared at the wall.
“S’fine.” Meph was staring at the opposite wall. “Thanks for... Yeah.”
Iris covered her mouth to stifle her laugh. She’d never seen a group of more emotionally constipated people in her life. Had she thought she was bad? She had nothing on this.
Raum coughed.
“Anyway,” Meph said loudly. And then he finally looked at Iris.
They stared at each other. She felt her eyes sting and her throat constrict, but mostly, she just wanted to throw herself into his arms.
“Welcome back,” she whispered.
He smiled. “Are you going to tell me you miss my demon again?”
Her cheeks were burning. “No, but he can come and play whenever he wants.”
“What about what I want?”
“You’ll just have to take turns.”
“Gross,” Raum said.
Her face practically burst into flames, but she couldn’t stop smiling.
“How did you shift?” Raum asked. “You always used to need... persuasion.”
“I dunno. I guess I convinced my demon not to scare the puppy.” Meph patted Faust’s head. “I can kinda communicate with him now, try to get him not to eat people and stuff.”
