He tilted his head disbelievingly and I nodded again. Last week, I’d taken Vas to the shooting range. It had been hilarious trying to teach a demon who was a walking weapon how to fire a gun. He was the only demon I still talked to, and the only good thing to come out of my deal with Samael.

I’d always been low on friends, and Vas was quickly becoming more like a brother.

A flap of invisible wings, and he was gone. I got in the back of Rose’s car and sat quietly. Rose got in the front, and I was small enough to enjoy the goosebumps that rose on the back of her neck.

Oh, she wouldn’t have had a problem with me behind her if she’d clamped Naud chains around my wrists and removed my ability to access my power. I refrained from telling her I didn’t need my power to kick her ass.

The Mage Council Facility was a few minutes’ walk away, and if Rose had been thinking clearly, she would’ve taken the opportunity to march me down Main Street and humiliate me further.

The short drive didn’t give me much time to consider my options, but I ran through them anyway. Option one: tell the mages about the kids. Cil and Zip would be questioned about whatever they saw. Unfortunately, I highly doubted the mages actually gave a shit about Gary. They were bringing me in to put me in my place. The kids would be further traumatized.

Option two: leave the kids out of it. Evie would keep them safe, and I could visit them when I was done being grilled by the mages. They’d be comfortable, surrounded by the witches who— while I couldn’t stand most of them— would probably be delighted to have kids in the house again.

Rose parked the car and I stepped out. I didn’t know the bounty hunter who’d been sending wary glances over his shoulder at me from the passenger’s seat. He must be new. He circled the car and approached me from behind. I snarled at him.

“If you think I’m going to allow you to walk that close to me, you’re wrong.”

If I gave these assholes an inch, they’d stab me in the back and have me in those chains before I could blink.

The bounty hunter gave me the side eye. He had six inches on me and his fist was the size of my face. He stood poised on the front of his feet as if ready to lunge at me. I’d pull him off balance and bury my knife in his gut before he got the chance.

Time slowed down as we both stared at each other. I softened my knees and he squared his shoulders.

Anytime, buddy.