Page 1 of Problematic

Chapter 1

Liv

The cappuccino machine hissed and blasted steam into my face. I grimaced. Please don’t crap out on me. Mrs. 7 a.m. Double Shot Cappuccino would not be happy with me if she was late for whatever it was she was huffing and puffing about. The machine apparently heard my bargaining because it finished off the cup without getting temperamental . . . this time.

I slid the cup toward her. “Double shot cappuccino, oat milk, two pumps of vanilla.”

She took it without meeting my eyes. The silver clan crest pinned to her collar glinted beneath the cheap café lighting as she walked away, passing a human busser without moving aside.

He pressed himself against the pastry case to give her room, tray held tight against his stomach, gaze on the floor. Humans learned early. Powerless demons learned the same lesson a little later, usually after their abilities failed to manifest and they got thrown to the bottom of society.

Valkyrie had a place for everyone.

Powerful demons ruled, and powerless demons worked beneath them. Always.

The morning rush hit the way it always did. A line out the door of under-caffeinated customers, the steady hiss of the steamer, Sam dancing to music from her earbud. The air smelled of espresso, sugar, and stale pastries. This was the time of day that people forgot their manners and needed caffeine to fake being tolerable.

Above the pastry case, a news anchor spoke over footage of a freight depot burning against a gray morning.

“Authorities have confirmed fourteen deaths following an attack along Circeville’s northern route. Seven victims remain unidentified. Lord Scarn’s administration denies involvement, calling the accusations another attempt by northern rulers to restrict southern trade.”

The screen shifted to a section of collapsed ward fencing, black smoke dragging across twisted freight cars. Workers in gray uniforms hurried past the camera with blankets wrapped around their shoulders.

“Four powerless workers were among those killed,” the anchor continued. “Witnesses claim the nearest protected shelter refused entry to anyone without a registered clan.”

Mrs. 7 a.m. glanced at the television, sipped her drink, and walked out. Of course she wouldn’t care. Her clan pin would open a shelter door before the first alarm finished ringing.

“Liv!” Sammy bounded over, throwing on her apron. She’d become my best work BFF since starting two months ago as the new store manager, and she’d recently become a BFF outside of work too.

“Third attack this month,” Sam said beside me, staring up at the screen.

“Third reported attack.”

Her mouth flattened. “Daniel says his unit received emergency evacuation instructions.”

I felt the color drain from my face. “Do they know something we don’t?”

Sam bumped her shoulder against mine. “No one’s starting another war today.”

New Abaddon had remained safer than most city-states since the uprising. Lux Draven outlawed culling inside his territory and enforced the law with enough public executions to make believers out of the old clans. A powerless demon here got underpaid, ignored, and shoved into service work.

In the South, we disappeared.

I wiped a splash of mocha off the counter and forced my mouth into something resembling a smile. I slid a latte toward a suited demon who never tipped.

He barely met my eyes, muttered a thanks, and walked off. His mate mark glowed faintly on the side of his neck, a silvery swirl under his skin. Fresh. Lucky bastard.

“Okay,” Sam whispered at my elbow, practically vibrating. “Look. Look look look.”

“I am looking,” I said.

“Not at the register, you gremlin. At him.”

I followed her gaze. Daniel sat at a corner table, his laptop open and completely ignored. He was watching Sam the way a mortal watches a goddess. His mate mark and hers glowed in matching patterns along their necks, faint and soft. He caught us staring and gave a small wave. Sam’s whole face lit up. I could almost hear the hearts and glitter.

“You know,” I said, deadpan, “some of us are trying to work.”

“Suck it,” she said playfully. She bounced on her toes, then leaned across the counter. “He came on his break. His break, Liv. He literally left the office early because he missed me.”