Page 16 of A Soul’s Curse (Fallen Souls #1)

The bacon was less breakfast and more of an arson investigation, but it didn’t stop either Stella or Ivy from chowing down on it.

Thankfully, the rest of Ivy’s culinary escapade was executed perfectly.

The fresh orange juice was tangy and sweet, and the fluffy scrambled eggs were like eating perfectly seasoned clouds of buttery joy.

“Perks of working at a grocery store,” she said, crunching down on a piece of bacon that looked like it was hard enough to crack her teeth.

“Okay, ” I said, looking at Ivy. “You first. How did you find out where I lived, and why did you think it was a good idea to break into my home and make me breakfast?”

She delicately placed her fork down on her plate, taking a napkin to dab at her mouth before speaking.

“I went to Emberheart Place like you said. I told Nick about how you protected me against those thugs, and that I wanted to repay your generosity by dropping off a gift. I like cooking, so I thought maybe I could make you a nice meal, or at least just give you the groceries. I tried calling—Nick gave me your number—and I left a few messages, but you didn’t answer.

So he gave me your address and I walked over here to see if you were home.

When I got here, I headed around back to leave the bag by the side door and saw it was cracked open.

I started to worry something might have happened, so I let myself inside.

Then I heard you upstairs taking a shower, so I stuck around to have breakfast ready when you were done. ”

“How did you know it was me in the shower and not my boyfriend?” I rubbed my forehead and closed my eyes, inhaling a deep breath. “Ugh. I bet you one of Sly’s friends went outside for a smoke last night and never shut the back door.”

“I … I’m sorry, Theo. Thinking about it now, I’m realizing how stupid of an idea it was. I really just wanted to do something nice for you.”

Stella snorted a laugh. “Are you seriously flirting with him? Don’t even bother. He just said he had a boyfriend.”

Ivy squirmed in her chair. “What? No! I wasn’t—” A horrified look crossed her face. “I just … I’ve never had someone stick up for me like that and I … I guess maybe I went a little overboard trying to let him know how much I appreciated it.”

“And you wanted to get into his pants.” A subtle arrogance carried through Stella’s giggle. Ivy buried her face in her hands at Stella’s teasing.

“Stella, knock it off. You know that’s not what she was doing,” I snapped at her. She was still only wearing my apron, but seemed completely content with it. “Can I … get you a pair of sweatpants and a shirt or something?”

Stella huffed, her lips curling into a smirk.

“Am I making you uncomfortable? Because I’m perfectly fine the way I am.

Technically, I’ve been naked for the past year.

I’ve come to find it very freeing.” She then guzzled down the rest of her juice and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

“Speaking of that shithead boyfriend of yours, aren’t you afraid he’s going to walk in on a demon sitting at his dining room table?

I can’t imagine he’d take that very well. ”

I should have been worried, but I was too overwhelmed to be concerned about it. “Knowing Sly, he probably got so drunk last night he’ll be sleeping it off until this evening. I doubt he’ll make an appearance and besides, you’ll both be long gone before he wakes up.”

“Oh, yeah? Where we going?” Stella rested her head in her hand and grinned.

“Wherever you want that’s not here. Stop trying to change the subject.” I pointed my deadly piece of bacon at her. “Your turn. Who trapped you in the body of a bird with that sealing rune? Was it the Arcane Syndicate?”

Ivy choked on a piece of bacon, but Stella held her composure. “The Syndicate? No. Although I’ve had a few unpleasant run-ins with them in the past.”

“Then what happened?” I asked. Stella didn’t get a chance to answer. The sound of the front door smashing into the wall as it whipped open made us all jump to our feet.

“Fee-ohhhh” It might have been nearing one in the afternoon, but Sly was so drunk he couldn’t even properly say my name.

He stumbled into the wall, knocking loose a picture frame that went crashing to the ground.

“Fhe-oh, I need that shpell stuff you make! Now! If I … I don’t take it now , I’m gonna …

I’m gonna …” He held his hand to his stomach and I knew what was coming.

“I thought you said he was sleeping it off upstairs?” Stella raised a curious brow at me. “You didn’t check?”

“I thought he was! The TV was on and the door was locked. Who leaves the TV on and the door locked if they aren’t actually inside?

” I looked back at Ivy. Sly despised demons, and a drunk Sly wouldn’t be in his right mind to hide it.

“Ivy, you need to get out of here before he sees you. I’ll distract him, you and Stella go out the back door. ”

Stella sniffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Uh, just a reminder that I’m still naked and it’s cold out. I’m not going outside. ”

I didn’t have time to argue with her. “Fine! Whatever. Stay. Just … don’t let Sly see you. Ivy, if you have nowhere to go, head back to Emberheart Place and find Nick. I’ll be there tomorrow afternoon.”

Panic shook my hands and dried my throat. The problem with the open floor plan of the apartment was that there was no place to hide. Ivy and Stella ducked behind the kitchen island, while I darted out into the living room just as Sly stumbled out from the entryway and into view.

“Heeey, babe. I thought you were upstairs sleeping.” I positioned myself in front of him, trying to block his view of the kitchen behind me.

“Sleeping?” he scoffed. “You didn’t even notice I wasn’t home? I’m mad at you, you know. You were supposed to bring me a pizza last night!” He struggled to get the words out of his mouth, then he pouted at me as if offended at my ignorance.

“Sorry. I ran into some trouble. How was your night?” I stepped closer to him, hooking two fingers around his belt loops and pulling him in to press against me and giving him a hungry kiss.

His clothes smelled like a puke parade, but his lips were busy celebrating with cherry vodka and cranberry juice like the party never ended.

“It was fine. But I missed you.” The kiss deepened as his hands found their way under my shirt, fingertips brushing against my soft skin. I tried to push Sly backward into the entryway to give Ivy a chance to escape without being seen.

“Mmm,” I mumbled into the kiss as I guided him toward the stairs, my hands exploring the muscles of his chest. “I missed you too. Maybe next time I can come with you?”

I broke the connection, my lips trailing down his delicate neck as he sucked in a gasp.

His strong hands were guiding my hips against his.

Even though I was trying to distract him, I couldn’t help but to be a bit distracted myself.

Sly might have been a professional at video games, but he was a certified expert at satisfying his man.

“Oh, babe, please. You’d be bored out of your mind with my friends.

All we talk about is video games all night.

” Sly suddenly pulled away, stumbling slightly as he regained thoughts.

“Wait. Is that bacon I smell? Were you making me breakfast! Theo, you’re so adorable sometimes.

” He leaned in to kiss me again, this time with the warmth of his tongue.

“Sometimes?” I mumbled. Then realized he was heading right for the kitchen. “Sly, wait!”

She almost made it. Ivy was halfway out the door when Sly turned to me and in all his drunken rage, growled, “A demon , Theo? You brought a fucking demon into my home?”

“It’s my home too, you know.” Even if my portion of the rent wasn’t even enough to keep the lights on.

“You know how I feel about your little demon-loving side business or whatever it is. I don’t interfere with it, but I strictly told you my one rule was to keep it away from me!

” He was drunk and fuming, steadying himself against a chair to prevent himself from falling over.

He raised his hand, and while he had never hit me before—never even attempted it—for a split second a part of me feared today might have been the day.

Thankfully, he didn’t. His hand came swinging down onto the dining room table, so forceful it knocked over the salt and pepper shaker in the center and rattled the three plates with half eaten eggs.

Sly was just a normal human, supposedly without magic, but I sometimes wondered if maybe his special power was channeling an abundance of rage into strength and didn’t even know it.

“That’s no way to treat a houseguest, you shithead.” Sly’s attention then caught on Stella. She leaned forward on the kitchen counter, the top of the apron giving a glimpse of everything she wasn’t wearing underneath. The distraction gave Ivy the chance she needed to slip out the back.

It was unnatural how easily Sly’s anger switched into flirtation mode.

“Well, Theo, you dirty dog! There is a naked fairy standing in my kitchen, and she’s wearing your apron.

I told you if you ever wanted a threesome you just had to ask.

She’s not who I would have picked but … she’s beautiful in her own way, I suppose.

Well, what are you two waiting for? Let’s go upstairs. ”

“Ew, you disgusting perv! The garbage coming out of your mouth is enough to make me nauseous. I would never let your slimy hands touch me. And I’m not afraid to stab you if you try.

” Stella threw a butter knife at him from across the room.

Completely amused by her display of repulsion, Sly chuckled as it missed and bounced on the wall.

He seemed to think she was teasing, but if he hadn't been drunk, it would have been extremely clear she was dead serious.