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Beside him, Evan mumbled something.

The other two turned to him before Aaron asked, “Evan?”

“Celie is coming home,” Evan said, voice monotonous as he stared at the floor. “Could you stock the fridge with—”

“Sweets, snacks, and drinks,” Aaron patted Evan’s shoulder. “I know. Cici texted me this morning. Why else do you think Iwas here? I also dusted her room. But make sure to change the sheets, yeah?”

Evan glanced at him, then managed a small smile. “Thanks, Aaron.”

“No worries. I’m just as excited to see her as you.”

Evan wasn’t exactly excited. Unless a pinch in his stomach and clammy palms were a symptom of excitement.

Before he could ask him to leave again, Aaron’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at it before frowning. “Jeez, give me a break.”

“What is it?” Evan asked.

“Nothing much,” Aaron pocketed his phone with a shrug. “I left the stove on again, and there was a little fire in my apartment.”

“Describelittle.”

Aaron grinned. “Don’t worry. Everything is under control, probably. But I’ll have to head back and check to make sure. I’ll pick up Cici from the station, so don’t worry about that. Just…stay calm,” he turned to Xen and nodded. “See you real soon.”

Evan saw him out and shut the door before heading straight into the kitchen, avoiding the figure still looming in the middle of the living room.

As he opened the fridge and aimlessly ran an eye-scan over all the snacks and three whole cartons of chocolate milk stacked neatly inside, his mind momentarily fluctuated to Celie. But not long after, he heard featherlight footsteps behind him, and his expressions turned stoic again.

Xen’s voice saying “an acquaintance of Mercy Blackwood” was still playing in his head.

“How do you know my mother’s name?” Evan asked, shutting the fridge and staring at his reflection on the door.

“I know everything about you, Evan.”

Evan’s brows furrowed. It was the first time Xen had called him by his name, and it did not sound right. It sounded…pleasant.

Pleasantwas not right coming from a demon.

“What a shame I can’t say the same about you,” Turning away, Evan moved to bruh past Xen, but a hand grabbed his arm, grip gentle yet firm.

Evan turned an irritated glare on him. “What do you want?”

Xen scanned his face. Slow. Unblinking. “You are troubled.”

“You can pat yourself on the back for that.”

With much force, he broke free from Xen’s grip and marched into his bedroom. Annoyingly enough, Xen followed.

Due to the fear of Xen damaging the book and his panic over Celie’s sudden text, Evan had hidden the grimoire amidst the books in the old library, hoping the person who cleaned the shelves wouldn’t spot the imposter.

With nothing in hand to distract him, Evan's fingers idly drummed against his thigh, calling out to Misty. But she was probably hidden in some corner and didn’t respond. Whenever Xen appeared in the house, Misty disappeared into some secret hideout Evan was yet to discover. Maybe she could sense Xen wasn’t human. Or perhaps she shared her daddy’s dislike towards the demon.

Rue, on the other hand, came running when Evan called out his name, but instead of Evan, he twirled around Xen’s feet, who stood at the bedroom door.

Evan stared at the dog and thought,Traitor.After a few moments of stifling silence with Rue’s occasional whines, Evan bit his tongue and decided to satiate his curiosity.

“Why are you dressed like…that?” He waved a hand in Xen’s direction.

Dark eyes focused on Evan, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Xen straightened the sleeve of his shirt. “Do you like it?”