Page 53 of Infernal Secrets

“Ezra’s twenty-four,” Zeke said before shoveling macaroni in his mouth. “So you fit in the middle of us perfectly.”

“For fuck’s sake, Zeke.” Cyn pinched the bridge of his nose.

“What?”

It took a moment for the words to register, but when they did, I groaned. Zeke hadn’t meant anything, but once again, Raelynn had Cyn in a knot at the edge of his control. What was it about her?

Realizing what Cyn’s words meant when he caught her eye, Raelynn choked on her food and smacked her chest twice.

Zeke’s eyes widened with understanding. “I didn’t mean—”

“He knows you didn’t mean that,” I said. “He’s being an ass.”

Raelynn took a long drink of her soda and cleared her throat, accepting the napkin I offered to wipe her mouth. “Thanks.”

“I’m not being an ass. Zeke’s the one fawning over her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted to put her between you two.”

“Wait a minute,” she said, holding her hands up. “That ain’t happening.”

Cyn aimed his scowl in her direction. “What? Too good for an infernal?”

Her lips parted in surprise.

I glared at Cyn. “He doesn’t mean that.”

He looked at me. “No? Don’t tell me you don’t want to fuck her. Might as well see if you’ve got a shot now.”

At his crass words, the room went still. Even Ezra set his utensils down to stare at Cyn.

I couldn’t explain it, but Cyn became increasingly volatile the longer we remained on Earth. I’d never heard of him behaving in such a way during his previous visits, but I’d never witnessed it firsthand.

Zeke placed his fork on the table and looked at Cyn in disbelief. “Why are you acting like this?”

“Like what? I’m an infernal. It’s what we do, right?”

“No, it’s not.”

“This isn’t gonna work,” Raelynn said, turning her attention to me. “I’m sorry. I know you and Zeke wanted me to consider it, and I really wanted to try because I hate the situation you’re in, but…” She glanced at Cyn out of the corner of her eye. “I can’t do this. With Grandma and everything… I can’t.” Her voice softened. “I’m sorry. Please find somewhere else to stay.” She looked down at her lap as if ashamed to reject us. The pain that bloomed in my chest took me by surprise.

“What? No,” Zeke said, turning and grasping her hands in his. “Please give us a chance.”

“Seriously? I told you to lock her in her room and be done with it. This is ridiculous. She’s a human and we’re infernal royalty. She’s lucky to even be alive.”

“Cyntrix. That’s enough,” Ezra said, voice hard and cold.

Raelynn stared at Zeke, taking in his pleading look, her own softening. Something shifted then, and her eyes hardened. Shaking off his hands, she stood and stepped around him to move behind Cyn. When he turned and looked up at her, she fisted her hands at her side. “Get up.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said… Get. Up.”

He chuckled like her sudden stern voice amused him, but he still pushed off the floor and rose to his feet.

Raelynn’s height meant she didn’t need to look up much to meet Cyn’s gaze, but he stepped into her space, bringing his face close to hers. The calculated move forced her to angle her head back, making her appear smaller.

Every muscle in my body went taut, and I started to stand.

Ezra lifted his hand to stop me.