Devils & Thieves (Devils & Thieves #1)(21)

I don’t hate u, u loon. Pissed @ Crowe tho. Like to stuff that bird and hang him above the fireplace. R we still heading over to the property together? Have smthing to tell u. Can’t txt it.

The relief that ran through me was nearly palpable.

I’m glad, I replied. I was worried. Stupid rules. Stupid Crowe. Yes lets go together around 4?

Yup I’ll pick you up.

I showered and dressed, and by the time I came out of my bedroom, Alex was having a cup of coffee in the kitchen with my mom. She’d kindly brought me a frozen latte, since I only drank hot coffee in the mornings.

“Is that what you’re wearing to the festival?” Alex asked.

I glanced down at the outfit I’d picked: black leggings, black motorcycle boots, and a loose-fitting gray V-neck tee. “What’s wrong with this?”

“Show some leg!” Alex said. “Maybe some butt cheek. I mean, it’s the Kindled Festival. It will be crawling with hot, powerful guys.”

Mom sent me a meaningful look. She thought I should tell Alex about Darek, but I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. Admitting that I was friends with the enemy seemed like a risk I didn’t need to take—especially now. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I put Darek in danger.

“I think I’m fine on my own, thank you very much,” I said.

“Yes, but Crowe would be jealous if he found you hooking up with another kindled. He would pretend otherwise, of course. Imagine if you hooked up with Katsuya Kitsamura? Crowe would die.”

Katsuya was a Curse King—the vice president of the club, actually. They were based in Minnesota, and he was not only incredibly hot—he was also packed with the arma magic that ran legendary through his family line. I’d met him last year, and nearly choked on my tongue because of both. He had the same power as Gunnar except a lot more of it, and his pale yellow magic was so thick and reeking of sulfur that I’d almost puked on his boots after shaking his hand. He probably thought I was a freak, but that was okay, since the stench kind of put a damper on the attraction.

I laughed. “I don’t think Katsuya and I are meant to be.”

“Certainly not in that outfit,” Alex said.

“I’m not changing.”

Alex frowned. “Fine. I guess that’ll save Katsuya a few more broken bones.”

Crowe had crushed both of his legs with a curse when the Kings rolled into town a few months ago hoping to take over. He’d sent Katsuya to the hospital and the rest of them packing. There were more than a few people who had an ax to grind with the Devils.

“Are we ready, then?” Alex asked.

I grabbed my bag and my coffee. “Oh, one minute. I forgot something.” I took my stuff and scurried down the hallway, guilt beating inside me. But I needed this—I was about to be in a place seething with magic, and I wasn’t going to make it if I didn’t prep ahead. I closed the door to my room and knelt next to my bed, reaching behind the headboard to pull out a bottle of Jack. I poured a generous measure into my frozen latte and snapped the lid back on the cup. After one or two deep pulls that led to a burn in my throat and major brain freeze, I rushed back down the hall. “Ready!”

Alex’s eyes narrowed briefly, but then she smiled and turned to my mom. “Gina, are you coming later?”

Mom folded herself into a kitchen chair, her paper coffee cup clutched between her hands. “I’ll try, but I might have to pull a double. We’re understaffed.”

Alex planted a kiss on Mom’s cheek. “My mom would love to see you.”

Mom smiled. “I’ll see what I can do. Be good, girls.”

“We always are,” Alex sang, and followed me out the door.

“I doubt she’ll come,” I said once we were outside the house.

Alex pulled a pair of large, round sunglasses on over her eyes. “Why?”

I shrugged. “Mom doesn’t really feel like she fits anymore.”

“Well,” Alex said, “I hope she does come, because she belongs there no matter what anyone thinks.”

Hearing that from her warmed me inside—Alex might have disliked certain people, but she never dissed members of our community just because they didn’t have as much power.

We climbed inside Alex’s Range Rover, and when she pressed the starter button, the air-conditioning burst from the vents like a winter wind.

I turned the AC down as Alex backed out of the driveway. I had planned to press her on the something she had said she wanted to share, but she beat me to the punch and asked, “So what’s with the giant scorch mark on the counter?”

UGGGHHH.

I took a long, slow drink from my spiked latte. “I was playing with matches.”

“Well, that’s one way to set a guy’s loins on fire.”

“Oh my God. You said ‘loins.’”

“Seriously, though. After what Crowe did to us, you let him in your house?”

“He drove me home after you ditched me.”

She winced. “I totally did. I’m sorry. I kind of short-circuited. I was so pissed at him.”

“It’s okay. I get it.”

“So he drove you home and set your kitchen on fire. My brother is such a gentleman. You know what I’m going to do? When I get my magic back, that is.”