Page 36 of Grave Mistakes
“Let. Go.” I strain, my body bending over the table as I grip the plate with two hands.
“You let go,” he says, not even straining as he pulls.
I try to plant my feet and dig my heels in, using my entire body strength to keep the plate to myself. Crux is barely even trying, with just a lazy, one-handed grip on the thing, which really pisses me off.
The others just continue eating, watching our tug-of-war with detached amusement. As if this couldn’t get any more awkward, my pants suddenly drop down my ass, ensuring that everyone is getting an eyeful of cheeks and crack because of the whole commando thing, but I can’t risk letting go of the plate and pissing off Grumpy Lurch even more than I already have, so I hang on like my life depends on it.
“She makes breakfast much more entertaining, doesn’t she?” Echo muses with a smirk.
“Shut up,” Iceman says. “Crux, let go.”
“No,” the blond demon argues.
“Stop being a dick. I can’t swap plates!” I grit out.
Crux huffs out in frustration and then lets go, causing me to squeal as I fall back into my chair and juggle the plate to keep it from flying backward. It takes great concentration and quick balance to ensure that the nasty contents don’t spill everywhere. As the sludge settles, I slam my plate back down on the table and glare over at Crux.
“Suit yourself,” he tells me with a bright smile. I can just make out pointed canines amidst all the straight white teeth.
I automatically run the tip of my tongue over my normal human-like canines and wonder what it would feel like to have those pointy teeth skimming across my shoulder. I shake my head slightly to clear it of that thought and continue to give him a dirty look. His eyes light up with even more amusement.
“Delta doesn’t share food,” I announce, doing my best to channel Joey fromFriends. “Especially when it’s my punishment food, because I know that bastard will just serve me shit again if I don’t eat this,” I add with a whisper, hoping GL doesn’t hear.
None of them argue that point.
“Fair enough, Maverick,” Iceman concedes, pulling my attention over to him. “Let’s move on to a more pressing issue. After you’re done with your…um...breakfast,” he says, shooting my plate an offended look, “we will go to the Gate.”
Well, shit.And here I was hoping we could skip thedrag me to Hell and backpart of today’s activities.
10
Ilet his words float about the room for a bit. “You know, normally I would be up for an adventure that could potentially get me killed or sucked into the bowels of Hell, but today is not a good day for me. Rain check?”
I push my chair back from the table and try to figure out how I can stand up and storm out without mooning everyone again.
Eh, fuck it. Give ’em something to remember me by.
I stand up, and all the hot demons do the same. I get the distinct impression that if I make a break for it again, they may put up a fight this time. I pause for a moment, intrigued, and then make a dash for the exit just to see what they’ll do. My pants are fucking huge, and I have to hike them up so that I don’t get tripped up. My waddle-run comes to a screeching halt when I slam into a tall, bony body. I bounce back from the impact, but this time, there are no strong arms to stop my fall.
I land on my ass, one half exposed cheek making a slapping noise as it hits the shiny—probably freshly polished—wood floor. I look up to find Grumpy Lurch staring down at me with satisfaction.
“Oww!” I grumble.
He tilts his head in mock sympathy. “My deepest apologies, miss.”
Grumpy Lurch promptly spins on his heel and leaves, not even offering me a hand up. I turn around and notice that the hot demons are still just standing around the table. I glare at them all. “Why the hell do you guys keep letting me run?”
Echo cocks a brow. “Was that what you were attempting to do just then? Run?” he asks mockingly. I wish I still had my sludge plate, because I’d chuck it at his frustratingly attractive albino head.
“If I’m so special, shouldn’t you guys at least try to keep me here?” I gripe as I rub my ass with one hand and fist my too big pants with the other as I stand back up.
Iceman snorts. “We’re not kidnappers. We won’t keep you here against your will. What kind of demons do you think we are?”
“Uh, I don’t know,demonicones? Thieving, murdering, kidnapping...all of that should be your forte, right?”
“We’reInner Ringdemons,” Jerif says, as if that explains everything.
“So? That tells me nothing.”
