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We both fell silent as the waitress returned with a laughably large muffin. The moment she was gone, Juniper dove back in.“Hmm. That leaves Greed or Gluttony, doesn’t it?”

My nostrils flared.

“I don’t appreciate the sarcastic tone,” I said stiffly.

She tilted the muffin toward me, offering some. I shook my head.

“Hmm,” she pondered, looking at me like I was a puzzle to solve.

It rankled me, and raised my ire.

“Greed and Gluttony do not only exist for material possessions,” I grit out. “How childish.”

She laughed.

“So what are you doing here then? Is it related to why Pride suddenly showed up?” Her voice took on a more angry, despondent tone at mentioning Pride.

Interesting.Obviously my brothers are not in her good graces at the moment.

“Pride and Lust can both be idiots–all of them, really. It is my curse and blessing to try and shepherd them as best I can.”

Her gaze pinned me so quickly and with such intensity that I went still.

“Don’t try to manipulate me. You’re the ringleader of all of them, aren’t you?”

My lips parted slightly at the accusation; she was treating me like a naughty ruffian running rampant with a gang, not a centuries old vampyre who was the head of the seven sins!

She is fearless. She is–

No.

“No wonder you butt heads with Lust. You are disagreeable,” I spit out, swiping my coffee and taking a drink just to have something to do. I was met with lukewarm coffee.

Urgh.

Juniper laughed without any humor.

“Oh ho, yes, the ‘just call her a bitch’ defense. Well-played. You’resoworldly.” She clapped once, then stopped as a cat materialized under the table, growling at me as it twined itself between Juniper’s legs.

“That’s one of Hades’s Shadow Demon cats,” I noted dumbly.

Her utter lack of reaction to this news was almost as concerning.

“Damon’s an excellent judge of character. Aren’t you, darling?” Her fingers danced around the black cat’s chin as it purred loudly, opening one red eye long enough to glare at me.

A clear dismissal.

I stood.

“Right. Well, as you so clearly stated, your brothers are idiots. Cheers that you prove yourself...not.”

Without another word she stood, pushing away from the table, turning on her heel, and heading back across the street.

I took an unconscious step toward her and a deep, monstrous growl emanated from beneath the table.

“Oh shove–er, sorry. Right,” I said to the Shadow Demon, who waited until Juniper was safely across the road and inside the building before dramatically dissipating into black.

“Fucking Hades...” I growled to no one, snatching the coffee and throwing it into the trash.