Page 242 of Infernal Secrets

I was convinced Corningware baking dishes could survive a nuclear disaster. Everyone I knew either owned a set or inherited one.

Zeke tilted my face up with his fingers on my chin. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Yeah.” I motioned to the items left to sort through. “This helps.”

“Will you call me if it’s not?”

I looked away instead of answering.

I wasn’t sure I could promise that. I wasn’t used to doing it.

I trusted him. I trusted Ash too. And even though I didn’t trust Ezra and Cyn emotionally, I trusted them physically. So I gave him the answer I knew I could manage. “I’ll try to.”

His eyes softened, as if he understood why I couldn’t give him more. His thumb brushed my cheek.

I cleared my throat and stood when his gaze darted to my mouth.

Cyn turned from the door as Zeke stood to follow him. “Is there anything else you want done before I make dinner?”

“I still need the room y’all are staying in packed up.”

If Ash had already handled the kitchen, and I worked in this room, all that remained was the guest room and the knick-knacks in the living room.

Cyn glanced toward the other room. “What do you want done in there?”

“My books can go in boxes for donation. I’d like to bring my exercise stuff with us, if that’s okay.”

“We have a gym at our house to use when we’re not using the training grounds,” Zeke said.

“Oh. Then you can just pack it all away for donation.”

Zeke’s brows pinched. “You don’t want to keep any books?”

“I don’t wanna bring too much.”

“We told you we have room,” Cyn said, crossing his arms.

“I don’t wanna impose.”

He rolled his eyes. “This whole shitshow is already turning everything upside down. You’re going to split hairs over books?”

My shoulders dropped—not in defeat, but with ease.

I didn’t know what to make of his sudden change in attitude after what happened between us. But a glimpse of his usual surly self eased the tightness in my chest.

I raised an eyebrow at him, crossing my arms to mirror his pose. “Y’all don’t have bookstores in Elyrdin?”

“Have you not been listening? Zeke said we have everything the human plane does.”

I shouldn’t say it—I really shouldn’t—but I couldn’t resist.

“Even sex toy stores?”

Zeke’s mouth dropped open, and Cyn’s face went blank.

Satisfied at finally throwing Cyn off his game, I smirked.

He schooled his expression and crossed the room to me, lips brushing the shell of my ear as he whispered, “We have toys that would put that drawer of yours to shame.”