Page 34 of Mortis

“Right?” I added.

“I’m hungry,” Kael said helpfully.

Arlo raised an eyebrow and turned back to me. “Is that why you’re making steak Diane at five in the morning? Where’d you even get a steak?”

“He hasn’t eaten in a while,” I replied quickly, ignoring the latter half of the question.

Arlo narrowed his eyes and looked Kael up and down.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “He looks absolutely starving.”

Kael frowned, but I decided not to explain the joke.

While I added mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and cream to the pan, Arlo pulled out the empty chair and sat down opposite Kael. “What’s your name, big guy?”

Kael straightened up and gave Arlo his full attention. “Kael.”

“Like the vegetable. Cool. Where’d you come from?”

I knew exactly what Arlo was doing. He wanted to know Kael’s story. Why he’d supposedly been sleeping rough and why I’d brought him home. He was trying to make a connection.

The guilt twisted slightly in my stomach, but there was no way I could tell him the truth. Not yet. I was still struggling with the truth myself.

“The woods,” Kael replied, and my heart stopped.

“He was staying near the woods,” I cut in quickly.

Thankfully the air fryer chimed.

Saved by chips.

I moved before either of them could continue the conversation. Kael desperately needed a crash course in lying before I left him alone with Arlo for more than thirty seconds.

Plating up the steak and chips, I spooned the sauce over the meat. Honestly, if I didn’t know it was carved from Mr Cartwright’s arse, I would’ve thought it looked incredible. Judging by the way Arlo stared when I presented it to Kael, he agreed.

Time to get rid of him.

“Anyway, Lo,” I said, steering him out of his chair. “Kael needs to eat and we both need sleep. Off to bed.”

Arlo allowed himself to be shepherded towards his bedroom door. When he crossed the threshold, he waggled his eyebrows. “Have fun with your stray, Teds.”

“I’m not a stray,” Kael said immediately.

Arlo smirked. “Is that right?”

Before I could respond, he disappeared into his room. But just before the door closed, I remembered something.

“Oh, by the way.” Arlo paused beside his bed. “Someone broke in, so there’s a massive mess for you to clean up tomorrow.” His eyes narrowed. “Night!”

I slammed the door shut.

“You fucker!”

Something hit the wood. A pillow, judging by the soft thud.

Laughing to myself, I headed back towards the kitchen. For the first time all night, things almost felt normal. Which was impressive, considering there was currently a demon waiting for his dinner.

I grabbed a knife and fork from the kitchen and carried them back to the table. Kael was still sitting patiently, as though waiting for permission to eat. It was impressive, considering his mouth had watered through the entire cooking process.