He couldn’t stop the laugh resonating in his chest as he turned toward her. “Rabbit herd. I need to find shifters like me so I can figure out what happened.”
Why the hell was he laughing and grinning from ear to ear? And what was it about this woman that could turn him from being ready to bolt to being perfectly happy rooted to the spot? He wanted to knock himself upside the head and get his mind straight, but as she furrowed her brow, all he could think about was wrapping his arms around her and never letting go.What is wrong with me?
“But we know what happened to you,” she said. “And I thought a group of rabbits was called a fluffle.”
“I like ‘flop’ myself,” Crimson said.
Pete clenched his teeth. “Fluffle is a word that has only been around for a few years, thanks to social media. Herd is the modern English term we use. Flop isn’t a thing.”
The witch shrugged. “It should be.”
“Fluffle is so cute, though.” Destiny smiled, making his chest tighten. She could call it a fluffle, a flop, or a fucking fuzz for all he cared.
He shook his head, chasing away the thought. Destiny was there when he first realized he couldn’t remember anything. That meant she was there when it happened. She and the vampires had to be responsible. He didn’t need to get all warm and fuzzy for the woman who probably fried his brain.
But it seemed he couldn’t help himself.
“Fluffle is cute.” Sophie leaned on the railing. “It’s not very manly though.”
He wanted to argue that toxic masculinity wasn’t the same as being a man, but what was the point? Once he got his life back, he’d never see these women again. “Thanks for your help.”
“But you haven’t let us help you,” Destiny said.
“You’ve done enough.” His stomach clenched as he uttered the last word, his body and soul insisting he shouldn’t walk away from her, but he had to focus on what was left of his mind.
He turned to stride up the walk, but the atmosphere shimmered in front of him. A glowing red line formed in the air, splitting down the center and opening a portal to…was that a restaurant kitchen on the other side?
Before he could get a better look, a man stepped through the hole in reality, and it slammed shut behind him. No, not a man.
A demon.Fluff me.The last thing he needed was to add a hellion to this motley mix.
“I’m out.” He strode past the gate and made it three steps onto the sidewalk before Destiny clutched his hand, stopping him in his tracks.
“Please, Pete,” she said. “That’s just Mike.”
Angels, vampires, shifters, witches, and now this? Was the entire population of New Orleans made up of supes? “He’s ademon.”
“Who’s in recovery. I promise he’s harmless. Just don’t make any deals with him.” She glanced at their entwined hands and let him go.
He immediately missed the physical contact, which was about the stupidest way for him to feel. He shouldn’t trust her, shouldn’t give a damn about her, but the way she pleaded with her eyes melted his heart into a puddle right there in his chest.
Crimson walked down the steps and wrapped her arms around the demon, kissing him on the cheek. “You hear that, honey? She says you’re harmless.”
Mike chuckled. “I try to be. Speaking of harmless demons, is the angel food cake order ready? The Hellions Anonymous meeting is starting soon.”
“Shoot. No, it’s not, but I’ll get it ready. I just…” She flashed Pete that heart-melting, pleading look again. “Will you come back to the bakery with me? I know you don’t trust me yet, but there is so much at stake right now, and you’re at the center of it. I can’t lose you again.”
“Lose me…” The appropriate response would’ve been to say she never had him to begin with, but the words didn’t feel right on his tongue. She did have him.Hadhad him all along.
“Please.” She took a step toward him. “My cakes help the demons in recovery stay that way. They temper their magic to help them keep control of their urges. It’s my purpose in this realm.”
His stomach growled in response, and he pressed a hand to his abdomen as if he could silence its protest. When was the last time he’d eaten?
“You must be starving. I can fix you something to eat while I’m working.” She started to reach for him, but she clutched her hands over her heart instead.
“Didn’t the last thing you fed him cause all the trouble to begin with?” Sophie asked.
“Not helpful,” Destiny said through clenched teeth.
