Page 139 of A Summoned Husband

“Boy, if you don’t get your little butt back here.” Imani scooped the girl up, resting her on her hip as she followed the boys up the steps.

“This might send her spiralling,” Alicia whispered. “Her son is using a demon as a jungle gym.”

The boy she called Fahmo grabbed my arm, forcing me to hold his hands in mine as he started walking up my right leg. I couldn’t help but grin down at him.

“Fahmo, you’re getting him dirty,” the older boy whispered. “You’re going to get in trouble.”

“La, la, la, la, I can’t hear you,” was Fahmo’s response.

Imani reached the top of the stairs, handing the female child to Sarika before she wrapped her arms around Fahmo’s waist and tried to pry him free. “Get down,” she said through her teeth.

“No!”

“Fahmo!” she said more sternly. “I’m going to count to three. One, two—”

“Three,” Fahmo finished.

Anger shimmered over her face before she forced a smile. That didn’t look like the result she wanted. “Fahmo,” Imani said more sternly.

“Incoming!” Sarika announced as the girl grabbed my other arm, following the actions of what appeared to be her older brother.

“Hani!” Imani’s eyes whipped back to Sarika. “Really?”

“They’re attracted to the chaos, almost all children regardless of what kind are.” Arzen appeared from around the corner. Her hands were shoved in the pockets of her black slacks. She had finally surrendered her horns and tail, standing there with her short dark hair in a crop of wispy curls that framed her face. Large gold hoops hung from her ears as she slowly ascended the steps.

Sarika’s smiled broadened. There was something between these two. I had noticed it before, but with the bedlam Vindicita had brought, I hadn’t had the time to focus on it. Now, I could see it clearly. Their bodies turned toward one another and everyone else seemed to disappear, their eyes honed on one another.

“Sarika,” Arzen nodded at her as she reached the top of the steps.

Eden’s eyes moved back and forth between my sister and her friend before she looked at Alicia and Olivia with her brows raised. A silent conversation happened between them and I was momentarily jealous I wasn’t a part of it.

“You shouldn’t worry too much. Demons with ill intentions tend to scare children away. They have a sense for these things.” Arzen eyed the children with carefully hidden affection.

Imani paused her war against her children. “Really?”

“Hmm.” Arzen nodded. “Children of all kinds are very sensitive to these things.”

Imani’s brows dropped.

Arzen’s eyes lifted, taking in the large building with its pale grey stones and the alcoves where statues of what Catalina had told me were saints stood looking down at the passerby. “A church, brother? Really?”

Arzen had spent far more time in this world than I had, so her knowledge of this place surpassed mine. I hadn’t cared much before, but now it made me a little envious. I wished I knew what Arzen did so I could better understand the place my wife called home.

She walked up to the doors and paused as she stood before their towering shape. “Did you go in?”

“Yes.”

“Really?” She reached out, wrapping her hand around the handle. Hissing, her hands covered in fire and smoke. Head thrown back, she howled in pain.

Eden’s eyes widened. Imani and Olivia screamed. Sarika quickly ran up behind her, hands hovering behind Arzen’s back. The children were completely unaffected by the commotion.

I rolled my eyes. “Really, Arzen?”

She laughed, releasing the door. “What? They make it so easy.” She held her hands up, showing them her palms. Her fires coated them before they completely doused, showing her flawless flesh. “I’m just kidding.”

Olivia huffed a nervous breath that slowly turned into a giggle. “A joke?”

“Yes. My sister has always thought she was funny.” I rolled my eyes.