Page 67 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse

“Nothing.” I shook my head and turned to Jenna. “Maybe stay with Sage and Benjamin.”

“Nope. I’m coming.” Her expression was determined.

“Then I’m coming, too,” Benjamin said, though he didn’t sound half as determined as Jenna did. I had to admire him for his solidarity and desire to protect Jenna, though.

Sage threw his napkin on the table and rose. “Let’s meet the asshole.”

“If I were you,” Benjamin put in, “I wouldn’t say things like that.”

“Whatever, what is he gonna do?”

“Mmm, let’s see… how about torture you for the rest of eternity?” Jenna offered.

That seemed to sober Sage up a little. Though, as we walked outside, he wore ayou’re my mortal enemyexpression. He was another one taking lessons from Khargon.

As we stepped onto the sidewalk, Drevan got out of the car and walked around to meet us. He was dressed in a pristinely cut black suit, black shirt and shoes, with the only splash of color being a silken pink handkerchief in his breast pocket.

He moved with confidence, his raven-dark hair shining in the twilight, his golden eyes drawing me in and pulling me under until I felt I couldn’t breathe.

Jenna made a sound that made me think of a cave woman. “Ugah, Ugah, what a hottie,” she whispered in my ear, leaning in.

I glanced at Benjamin to see if the comment had made him jealous, but he was too enthralled by Drevan to notice. Even Sage, who was the most skeptical, seemed captivated for a moment, but the spell quickly broke, leaving him looking more hostile than before.

Drevan inclined his head. “Good evening, Lucia. Jenna.”

Jenna smiled but said nothing, which was unlike her.

Though it was unnecessary, I officially introduced the others. “These are Sage and Benjamin. Guys, this is Drevan Morningstar.”

“A pleasure.” Drevan gave a small nod.

“Hi.” Benjamin gave a small wave.

“The pleasure is all yours,” Sage retorted.

Drevan seemed taken aback. I doubted he was used to such treatment, especially once people knew exactly who he was. “Such hostility.”

“What do you expect? You almost killed me.”

“My apologies,” Drevan said politely. “It was a mistake. I trust Lucia has explained the situation.”

“That’s no excuse to go around throwing people off balconies,” Sage spat, growing more bracing in the face of Drevan’s mild and gracious response.

A frown cut across Drevan’s forehead. That spark of red flashed in his eyes.

Uh-oh!

Sage blinked repeatedly and pressed his lips together, fighting whatever he was itching to say. But of course, his will was nothing compared to Drevan’s special skill.

“I… I wa—” Sage managed to shut his mouth for a second, then it opened again, grunting sounds coming out.

“Sage?” Benjamin put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Are you all right, man?”

“I w-want to f-uck Lucia until she begs me to… to stop,” Sage sputtered out.

“Wow!” Benjamin removed his hand and took a step back.

—How rude, Drevan said inside my head.