Name: Nick

Day/Time: Sunday, 3:17 AM

Current state of mind: Don’t ask

What are you wearing? Tux minus the jacket and the tie

What are you listening to? Radioactive by Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar

What are you drinking? Bourbon

Where are you? Living room

We meet again. You know who I am, what I do, and what I’m about. If you don’t, it’s not my problem. I’m not about to repeat myself because you weren’t paying attention the first time around. If you’re a newbie, all you need to know is that I’m the one who runs things around here. Want to know more about me? Read my previous blog. Now let’s get to story time so I can resume drinking my bourbon in peace.

I had no desire to spend my Saturday night at some charity gala in a room full of pompous ass-kissers. But the Fire and Ice Gala was for a good cause, and I could sacrifice a few hours stuffed in a tux for our underprivileged families. Not to mention, it was the perfect opportunity to get some recon time in. Alcohol leads to lowered guards and loose lips. And the ass-kissing brigade is like its own gossip magazine after a few rounds of the hard stuff.

Everyone was on board for our field trip; no debates, no arguments—not that I expected any. The girls were upstairs getting ready, while the rest of us were having a drink down by the bar. We were talking strategy when Karina walked in and interrupted my train of thought. She was jaw-to-the-floor stunning in that silver ballgown. Then again, she could wear a burlap sack and still get heads turning.

Kari seemed anxious, not that I could blame her. The last ball we attended ended in disaster. I felt bad for her and I wasn’t about to force her into going. If she wanted to hang at home, I was good with it. In fact, I would’ve felt better if she stayed behind, especially with that target on her back. But she shot me down as soon as I suggested it. She was going and there was shit I could do to stop her. Kari’s about as tenacious as I am. Trying to dissuade her from attending was pointless and a waste of time. But there was one thing I wasn’t negotiating on, and that was her safety. I was gonna keep her close by my side, and there was no debating it. And she knew it. So, she reminded me I was her dance partner for the night—like I was gonna let anyone else take that title. And she knew that too. It was our compromise.

The evening started off uneventful at first. People were milling around, drinking booze, and chattering on about whose shit smelled better than whose. I almost forgot how much those entitled fucks enjoyed having their egos stroked. Almost. If their heads swelled any more, they’d pop off and float away.

No one had any useful information that was worth listening to. My give-a-fuck-o-meter was broken, and my patience had zeroed out. Kari wasn’t faring much better, given that forced, tight-lipped smile she had plastered on her gorgeous face. She was trying her best to fake it, but her frustration was clear. We’d both had our fill of the ass-kissing brigade for the night. Before the next wave could make it over to us, I grabbed Kari’s hand and led her out onto the dancefloor. Surprise flashed in those sapphire blues of hers, but then she just lit up. It was the first genuine smile I’d seen all night. I’d made her a promise and I intended to keep it. Words mean shit without the actions to back them up.

I pulled her close as she slipped her hand in mine, the other landing on my shoulder. Man, she smelled good, like some intoxicating blend of dark vanilla and sweet jasmine. She was the perfect distraction, the ultimate remedy to a buzzkill of a night. Losing myself in her was—is easy and effortless.

We got a couple of dances in before Ash came at us like a speeding missile of bad news. Her expression was all grim determination and there was no doubt some serious shit had gone down. She didn’t need to say a damn word. Hell, it was better she didn’t—too many prying eyes and ears for my likes. And a privacy spell wasn’t worth the effort or time.

We followed Ash to the upper level. I could smell the blood and feel the magic pulsing through the air as soon as we hit the landing. Someone had expelled a fuck load of power. I wasn’t sure what the hell we were walking into, but man, talk about your shit shows.

The scene looked like some horror show nightmare come to life. The walls were scorched, the lights flickering like they were possessed, and one of the bartenders was sprawled out on the marble tile in a pool of her own blood. Holly was working her healing energy on the young witch, but it wasn’t looking good. Kari raced over to help, adding her own power to Holly’s. Karina’s a natural when it comes to healing, between the two of them, the bartender had a chance at surviving.

I had other things to worry about—like why Riss had some dude magically pinned against the ceiling. It didn’t take a genius to connect the dots, especially after the way his eyes damn near popped out of his head once he spotted me. He was in a fuck ton of trouble and he knew it. But I had questions, and I wanted answers.

While my sister was busy getting her neck strain on, Ash gave me a play-by-play of what went down. Now I trust Ash, but I needed more details and the only one who could provide them was stuck on the ceiling. I told Riss to drop the jackass. She did. Literally. The asshole plummeted about twelve feet or so, his face cracking off the marble tile.

There wasn’t gonna be any talking, given the asshole had a busted jaw. Which meant I had to do things the painful way. For him. Not me. I peered into his mind and saw everything I needed and then some. Long story short, the shit stain cursed the bartender, whose name was Adeline BTW. Adeline confronted him and demanded he break it. He refused. They fought and she lost. So, I was gonna kill him and I’m not talking in the figurative sense.

Curses are big no-no’s and are punishable by death. They’re also breakable by death, so it was a win-win all around. Normally, I’d torture the motherfucker before sending his ass down to Hades, but time wasn’t on my side. His end would be as swift as it would be severe. I’m talented like that; it’s just one of the many perks of being me.

Now I’m not gonna get into the gritty details of that asshole’s death. You don’t need to know them. All you need to know is that it was epically excruciating. He’s Hades’ problem now.

Karina and Holly were able to stabilize Adeline after I eradicated that shit stain from this earth. She’s being monitored by our doctors at the local med center and is expected to make a full recovery. I’ll follow up with her after we all get some sleep.

As for the rest of us, we’re all hanging out and unwinding from that shit show. Kari’s sitting next to me, cussing up a storm and yanking the bobby pins out of her hair. I’m gonna help her before she rips those pretty locks of hers out or unleashes her magic by accident.

You know the drill: questions or comments, drop them below.

Nick

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