She stepped into the kitchen and immediately froze.
Zoe was at the counter, sleeves pushed up, hair a little messy, the posture of someone who belonged in motion. She looked like the kind of woman who'd rather fix a roof than wear heels. The moment her eyes landed on Jade, her expression brightened. Then her gaze flicked up. To the flower.
Zoe's eyes went wide. She turned her head slowly toward Zeth like she was watching a slow-motion car wreck she'd been hoping for all day.
"Did you two do something naughty up there?" Zoe asked, voice sweet as poison candy.
Jade's entire face went hot.
"What? No!" she snapped, then immediately regretted how loud it came out.
Zoe's grin sharpened.
Jade's brain, traitor that it was, supplied the worst possible images. Not even real images. Just the concept of intimacy, of closeness, of the kind of thing Jade had read about and never touched, never dared to want.
Crap. I probably offended him. Also, gross. Also, why am I thinking about this like a panicked teenager?
Zeth gave Jade a small, maddening smile. "Feelings mutually."
Jade whipped her head toward him in disbelief.
Zoe slapped a hand over her mouth like she was trying not to scream. It didn't work. She squealed anyway.
Zoe nudged Jade hard in the side with her elbow. "So? Come on, spill it! How did this little union happen?"
Then she made an air heart between Jade and Zeth, wiggling her fingers with exaggerated delight.
Jade recoiled like Zoe had pulled out a live snake and tried to put it in her lap.
Zoe blinked, actually surprised for half a second. "Wait. Hold on. You're telling me this is not the kind of heart-sharing I'm thinking about?"
Aamon sat at the table with a cup of coffee he clearly wasn't drinking. He exhaled a slow, long sigh.
"This was your solution?" Aamon said, tone flat with disbelief.
Zoe's head snapped toward him. "What solution? Seriously, what did I miss here?"
Zeth rubbed his temples harder and muttered, "The solution to her helping without a contract."
Understanding hit Zoe like a spark.
Her eyes widened again, and this time she clasped her hands together like she'd just been given a front-row seat to a soap opera.
"Oh!" Zoe breathed. "Ohhh. I see."
She turned back to Jade, grin returning at full strength. "So you don't fancy Zeth at all, Jade?" Zoe teased. "I've seen that expression you had earlier plenty of times, you know."
Jade's face got even hotter, which should've been impossible.
Zoe giggled. "I know you fancy someone, and if it's not Zeth…"
Her eyes slid, slow and obvious, toward Aamon.
"…then it must be…"
Jade's heart started sprinting. Her hands clenched around the edge of her plate like it could keep her anchored to the world.
Zoe slapped Jade on the back hard enough to jolt her forward. "ME! It's me, right? I know I'm right!"
Relief flooded Jade so fast she almost laughed.
Almost. Because Zoe wasn't finished.
Zoe leaned back, one hand on her chin like she was a philosopher contemplating the meaning of life. "Hm. If it's not me… who else could it be?"
Jade's entire body went tense. Her mind started screaming, Stop. Please. Stop. But her mouth wouldn't work. She couldn't tell Zoe to stop without making it worse. She couldn't deny anything without confirming it. She couldn't breathe without blushing.
And now Zeth could hear all of it.
Zeth hissed under his breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. The flood of Jade's thoughts hit him like a migraine. He had expected information. He had not expected a full emotional hurricane.
But in that hurricane, something had become painfully clear.
Jade wasn't just embarrassed.
She was terrified.
Terrified of hope. Terrified of wanting. Terrified of losing people she'd never let herself have.
Zeth's eyes narrowed, not at Jade. At the situation. At the universe. At the universal laws that turned kindness into consequences.
"Zoe," Zeth said through his teeth, "knock it off. You're giving me a headache."
Zoe's grin turned feral. "You're just making this more pleasurable for me. I get to torture both of you at the same time!"
Zeth let out a frustrated noise and glanced at Aamon like Please, for the love of all infernal order, make her stop.
Aamon's expression didn't change. But his eyes flicked toward Jade's face, the way it burned red, the way she looked like she wanted to crawl out of her own skin.
There was a tightness in Aamon's chest again. That irritating, unfamiliar pressure. The one that showed up whenever Jade looked like she was hurting. Zoe clapped her hands, delighted. "So Jade… it must be Aamon you favor?"
Zoe laughed loudly.
Zeth groaned and pressed his fingertips to his temple like he was trying to hold his skull together.
Aamon's eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened. He looked like he wanted to snap something, and not metaphorically.
Jade, meanwhile, did the only thing she could do without sobbing or exploding.
She shoved the last few bites of breakfast into her mouth, swallowed too fast, and stood so abruptly her chair scraped the floor.
"Excuse me," she mumbled, face scorching. She grabbed her plate, shoved it into the dishwasher with unnecessary force, and fled up the stairs like the house had caught fire.
Behind her, Zoe called after her, "I WASN'T DONE!"
Jade didn't stop.
She only felt relief when her bedroom door shut and the world became muffled. Even then, Zoe's laughter bled through the walls like a haunting.
Jade pressed her palms to her face, breathing hard.
I need to clear my mind if I'm going to survive here.
That thought felt pathetic, but it was true. She couldn't handle this. Not all at once. Not with Zeth hearing everything. Not with Zoe poking at every tender place like it was funny.
And she knew Zoe meant well.
That made it worse.
Because kindness was the thing Jade didn't know how to endure.
Jade crossed the room, stared at her reflection in the mirror, and saw a flushed, frantic version of herself she barely recognized. The hawthorn sat in her hair like a crown she didn't deserve.
Zeth's heart.
She touched it gently, feeling a faint, cool pulse.
I'm going to lose them.
That fear rose again, thick and suffocating.
Jade grabbed her purse like it was a lifeline and turned to her closet.
There was a bar not too far from the house. She remembered it vaguely, a place she'd passed a few times but never entered. If she took her time walking there, it would be open by the time she arrived.
Fresh air. Space. Noise that wasn't personal.
And if she drank enough, Zoe couldn't tease her into a full emotional breakdown.
Jade threw on a casual outfit with shaking hands, grabbed her keys, and crept out of her room.
She moved quietly down the stairs, the hawthorn cold against her hair, her thoughts buzzing too loud.
At the base of the stairs, she called out, voice pitched casual: "I'm going out for some air. I'll be back later!"
She didn't wait for permission.
She was out the front door and down the steps before anyone could respond.
Inside, Zoe pouted dramatically at the table. "I wasn't done teasing her!"
Zeth gave her an exhausted look. "You know it's giving me a headache too."
Zoe's eyes gleamed. "Even better."
Aamon stood without a word.
Zoe leaned forward, frowning. "Awe! Aamon, are you taking off already?"
Zeth punched her in the arm, not hard enough to hurt but hard enough to shut her up. "Let him be, dummy."
Aamon paused at the door, glanced back, and gave Zeth a faint smile that looked almost… fond. Or maybe resigned.
Zeth's grin turned wicked. "He's going after his girlfriend."
Aamon stiffened. He rolled his eyes like the concept was absurd.
Then he left with a huff, slamming the door hard enough to make the house shake slightly.
Behind him, he could hear Zoe and Zeth cackling like hyenas.
Aamon didn't dignify it with a reaction.
He simply followed the only thing that mattered.
Jade.
Down the road a ways, Jade started to feel more relieved.
The air was cool, and the trees made soft sounds as the wind moved through them. The distance from the house let her breathe again. Her shoulders lowered. Her footsteps slowed. Then the fear crept back in.
Will I ever have privacy again?
Zeth could hear her thoughts now. That alone was enough to make her feel exposed. Like her brain was no longer a safe room. Like someone had pulled the curtains away and turned the light on.
And Aamon… Aamon saw too much, even without mind-reading. He noticed everything. The way she flinched. The way she smiled too quickly. The way her voice changed when she was lying.
Jade shoved her hands into her pockets and walked faster.
Behind her, Aamon moved like he belonged to the darkness. He kept his distance, not wanting to spook her, not wanting her to feel chased.
But he didn't let her out of his sight.
Without warning, a man stepped out from the shadows a short distance behind Jade, and Aamon's entire body went still. The stranger walked with intention. Not casual. Not accidental. His eyes were fixed on Jade like she was the only thing in the world worth following.
Jade didn't notice.
Aamon did. His jaw tightened. His fingers curled, shadows twitching around his feet like impatient animals.
When Jade finally reached the bar, the stranger followed her in. Aamon closed the distance immediately.
Inside, the bar was quiet. Dim. A few patrons scattered around. A slow song playing low enough to be ignored. Jade slipped into a back corner booth and sat with the posture of someone trying to disappear.
Aamon chose an empty table with a clear view of her and scanned the room.
The stranger sat on the opposite side, angled so he could watch Jade without having to turn his head much. Aamon decided, for the moment, to watch. To see how this played out.
Jade ordered a pitcher of beer and sipped from it slowly, trying to smooth the sharp edges of her thoughts. She replayed everything that had happened. Her entire life had shifted sideways. It hadn't been that long, but it felt like these demons had always been part of her world.
She laughed softly to herself thinking about Zoe. The way she teased like it was sport. The way she talked like Jade had already been claimed as her best friend. If Zeth could read her thoughts, Zoe would absolutely be tormenting him about it. And Aamon was probably… probably annoyed. Maybe amused. The thought made Jade's chest ache. She regretted leaving.
Jade chugged the rest of the beer and looked up for the waitress. The bar was still pretty empty. Only a few random people trickled in. Jade told herself she'd leave once it got crowded and loud. Then she caught a sweet scent and paused. She lifted a hand to the pin in her hair. It must give off a faint scent despite not being a real flower.
Jade rested her head on her hand, staring at the table, thinking about everything and nothing. Her mind drifted back to how Zeth's voice had sounded when he told her it was his heart. Serious. Stripped of his usual playfulness.
All your secrets are mine now. Jade swallowed hard.
The waitress startled her with another cup of beer, setting it down in front of her with a smile.
"From the gentleman at the end of the bar," she said, gesturing to the stranger before walking away.
Jade stared at the new drink then her eyes scanned the bar. Across the room, the stranger waved at her in a friendly manner. Jade didn't want to be rude, so she lifted the glass and took a sip. She nodded at him and held the drink up in a small gesture of thanks.
Before she could even lower it, Aamon was there.
He knocked it from her hand so hard it shattered on the floor and fizzed across the wood.
"Idiot!" he snapped.
Jade blinked up at him in bewilderment, already slightly buzzed from her first round of drinks.
"I'm sorry," she slurred automatically, thinking she'd dropped it herself. She slid to the floor on her knees, hands reaching for the broken glass.
"What the…" Aamon's voice sharpened. "Hey. Stop that. Get up."
Jade didn't seem to hear him. "I'm sorry… I'll pick it up. I'm sorry," she stumbled over the words, cheeks burning with humiliation. Aamon planted his foot over the glass, careful not to catch her fingers.
"Don't touch it," he ordered. "And get off the floor."
Jade stood too fast, lost her balance, and fell back into the booth with an offended pout. Aamon tossed napkins over the broken glass and sat across from her, anger draining into something darker.
"You… aren't really okay… are you?" he asked, quieter now.
Jade smiled crookedly and held up her hands. "I'm not cut or anything. I'm fine."
"I see," he said, voice controlled. "Good. You're not injured."
Jade blinked at her fingers, then looked up. The stranger was suddenly standing next to the table with a cold smile. Jade eyed him wearily, but then her eyes lit up as recognition clicked into place through the haze. She leaned across the table, making a drunken attempt to whisper.
"That's the snake guy I told you about," she murmured.
Aamon rolled his eyes. "Magpie," he muttered, sharp but familiar. "You're kind of a clumsy drunk."
Jade pouted harder.
The stranger seemed entertained by the interaction. He requested to join them.
Aamon gave no sign of welcoming him. His gaze remained on Jade and even when the stranger waved in his face, Aamon sat still as if the man was not there at all.
Jade scooted to the inside of the booth despite Aamon clearly not wanting to engage with the man and patted the seat beside her.
"A friend of his is a friend of mine," she said proudly, smiling up at the stranger.
The man bowed slightly toward Aamon and thanked Jade for the invitation. Aamon only glared.
Jade held out her hand once the stranger sat. "Hi! I'm Jade."
"Oh my," the man said, placing a hand to his cheek with theatrical horror. "How utterly rude of me."
He took Jade's hand and kissed the top of it.
"The name is Levi," he purred, "and it truly is a pleasure to meet you."
Jade pulled away quickly. Levi smiled at her with cold eyes, and Jade got the same feeling she'd had when she met Zoe the first time. This man was not a friend, he was a predator and Jade felt in her soul that she was his prey.
"I do admit," Levi said softly, "I had hoped you would be… alone."
His gaze slid toward Aamon on the last word. Levi draped an arm over the back of the booth casually and raised his other hand to order another round of drinks.
"Aamon," Levi chuckled, "it's been so long since we had a chance to catch up. How funny we would both be drawn to the same honey pot."
Jade didn't meet his gaze. Her hands were tight in her lap. Levi said kind words, but his tone was razor sharp. It sent an instant threat straight through Jade in a way she'd never felt before.
"So tell me," Levi continued, his focus on Aamon still. "is this one under contract?" His fingers reached for the end of Jade's hair, spinning it between them.
"Back off, Levi," Aamon said sternly.
Levi's smile thinned. "So that's a yes then." He sighed dramatically. "How unfortunate." Levi let Jade's hair fall from his hand as the waitress brought three cups of beer.
Levi chugged his immediately. Jade stared at her cup. Aamon didn't touch his.
The men sat staring daggers at each other for a moment before Aamon spoke.
"I figured you'd show your fishy ass around her at some point," Aamon said coldly. "Let me guess, you're here for her because she laid eyes upon the gates of Hell?"
Levi's eyes went wide as he looked at Jade.
"Wait," he breathed. "She… knows?"
Jade took a glance at Aamon, then in an effort to claim back her dignity, she calmly took a sip of her beer.
Levi looked back at Aamon. "What's the deal?"
"There is none," Aamon replied.
"But she knows?" Levi asked again, disbelief cracking his composure.
"She knows without a deal and she's…" Levi looked at Jade, who appeared bored with their conversation. "…she's alive?"
A cold smile crept over Levi's face. He reached for the ends of Jade's hair again, tangling a finger in a lock of her hair. "How utterly interesting," Levi murmured. "Tell me, dear… what did you do to entrance a demon king, hmm?"
Between the liquid courage now surging in her veins and the annoyance of being teased all day. Prodded. Cornered. Exposed. Jade's anger finally broke through.
Enough. She flung her arm out to bat Levi away.
Levi caught her wrist in mid-swing. His grip was iron. He grabbed her chin and pulled her close, forcing her to make eye contact with him. Jade understood all at once that Levi was not like them. He was vicious. Dangerous.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Levi whispered. "I think someone's buzz is about to be ruined." Levi spoke with that same tone, his words were soft, they could have been caring, but the tone he carried was anything but kind. His eyes were cold. Calculating. This man had no sympathy.
Levi studied her as the fear cut through the haze and sobered her faster than any cold shower.
"Are we sober enough now to understand the predicament we have ourselves in?" Levi asked softly, as if speaking to a dog who did not understand it's own bad behavior.
Jade tried to swallow her fear down as Levi tightened his grip on her wrist.
"You see, my dear," he murmured, "I may not have the same authority as this one…" His gaze flicked toward Aamon. "…but I assure you, I'd never let some mortal scum lay hands on me." His smile widened as his eyes held Jade in place again.
"What do you think the fitting punishment would be for a mortal who dare try to lay hands on a Prince?" Levi purred. "A few centuries in Hell maybe?"
He ran his thumb over Jade's lips.
"It'd be so easy…"
He pulled her face closer.
"The kiss of death."
Jade forced her eyes closed and internally screamed for help as she felt Levi's breath against her cheek…
…and all at once, it was gone.