Chapter 14 Ezra
Suggested Listening: The Feel Good Drag by Anberlin
T his is such a bad idea, but I can’t help but think we’re going to tell stories about today for the rest of our lives. Since that day off we spent together, we’ve had a routine. Vyslan and I get breakfast going and lunch packed. Then we wake Gracie up with sex, followed by some assisted bathing . Breakfast is normally done by then and we eat while watching another episode of Two Humans and a Demon before leaving Vyslan at home to come into the shop.
Every day we get back and he’s still there, I get a little more hopeful he isn’t leaving.
He’s completely taken over the cooking duties, claiming that good food is as good as an orgasm, and the better we’re fed, the better he’s fed. But I think he likes it.
Today is different.
After Gracie came back from talking with her roommates, she shared some of what’s going on with the coven. She was circumspect, as always when dealing with witch business, but it was clear to Vyslan and I that Gracie needs more protection. She and I both felt better about keeping Vyslan close, just in case the enforcers wanted to swoop in and try to start something with him untended.
This will be good for Vyslan’s boredom, too. I can’t blame him with the way he’s been shut up in Gracie’s room to keep out of Poppy’s way. So today he gets his first shot at being a budtender.
What could go wrong?
So fucking much.
Vyslan stares at himself in the full-length mirror in the office at Witchweed, admiring the way the black budtender tee fits his human disguise. He’s managed to hide his horns and tail this time, though it does increase his base human size. He looks like the human embodiment of those incredibly muscular, disproportionate men in the manhwa comics Gracie and the girls like to read. I always thought those proportions were fucked up, but looking at Vyslan? I’m kind of wondering if he isn’t the inspiration behind the entire trend.
According to him, this is the smallest form he can adopt. It makes me wonder just how large his true form is.
“Vys, when’s the last time you were on earth?” I ask.
His brows slam down. “Pshaw, hundreds years ago. Not really sure. You see, only the weak demons want to come to your world where they aren’t at the bottom of the food chain anymore. What do you think, Puppy Daddy?”
“Okay,” Gracie says suddenly from out of nowhere. “What the fuck is up with that? Can I ask now that your meat stick has calmed down?”
Heat races up my neck and my ears burn. Because of all the blood I’ve sucked the last week, there’s enough to actually make me blush. Since Gracie never mentioned the, ah, little names we’ve called each other in the heat of the moment I was hoping we were going to skip right past it. But I guess not.
Vyslan reaches over and claps his hands on my cheeks, making a loud popping sound. I bat his hands away and he grins, then whirls to face Gracie.
“If you want to know something, ask, sweet witch. How do you think I got to be where I am now?”
“By having a dumb name?” she shoots back.
Vyslan presses his hands over his chest, face falling as if she just wounded him. But it lasts only a fraction of a second before he folds over, laughs, and smacks his knee. “You’ve got a point there!”
Gracie’s dark eyes dance with mischief and the corners of her smile turn upward. It’s been a really fucking long time since I saw her this happy. And I helped do that. Her gaze slides to me and for a moment we just stare at each other.
I don’t have the words to describe how perfect this week has been. It isn’t the never-ending sex, though that first day will live rent-free in my head for all-time. No, it was the intimacy of it. I don’t tell people my story because inevitably their sympathy turns to bitterness. Poor little rich boy . But Vyslan and Gracie took it in stride. Hell, we haven’t even mentioned it. I’m still the same Ezra I’ve always been to them. And that means the world to me.
Vyslan throws his arm around my shoulders and drags me in for a sort of side-hug. He’s incredibly tactile, which is one of my main concerns having him in the shop. He’s going to give a lot of people the wrong idea being touchy feely.
“Ezra is your puppy, but he’s strong enough to be my daddy,” he says like that makes any sense whatsoever.
Yet Gracie’s brows rise and she slowly begins nodding as if she gets what he’s saying. “Okay. Cool. So we’re clear, that’s your thing. Calling anyone daddy just gives me the no’s. If it works for you—cool. But I’ve got a dad I still call daddy sometimes and—no. Just, no .”
Vyslan just grins even wider.
I smack his shoulder. “Your teeth.”
He drags a hand over his face and rolls his eyes. “Sorry. Won’t happen again. And Gracie? I don’t expect you to share all of my proclivities. If the name bothers you—”
“Nope. That’s your thing. Leave me out of it.”
“Well, thank you nonetheless.”
Gracie gets up from behind the desk and walks around. She’s wearing a sleeveless, black maxi dress with a high collar that covers the hickies I left on her chest. We’ve both offered to heal them multiple times, but she isn’t having it. She’s thrown a purple cardigan with a Witchweed patch stitched to the front that makes her look very manager-goth. She crosses to stand in front of the both of us, then crooks her finger at Vyslan. He bends forward, and she presses a chaste kiss to his lips.
I can’t help stepping closing in, so all she has to do is turn slightly, and we’re far closer than is proper for a boss and employee.
Her hand comes up, cupping the back of my head, and I eagerly swoop down for my too-short kiss.
She takes a big step back and waves at us. “Okay, now— go . Store is opening in fifteen and you have to teach him what the heck he’s doing.”
I’m grinning like an idiot, and I don’t care. “Yes, ma’am.”
She rolls her eyes and waves.
I grab Vyslan’s elbow and drag him into the front of the store.
“Let’s talk about the shop, dude. Tito is our security guy. He’ll arrive exactly five minutes before the shop opens. He’s part bridge troll and super fucking nice. You won’t have a problem with him, will you?”
Vyslan looks at me with wide, confused eyes. “Of course not. I’ve never met a troll. I kind of thought they were made up…”
I chuckle. “Nah, man. Very real.”
“Bridge troll, is that different from a troll?”
“Yeah, according to Gracie, bridge trolls are just a subrace of trolls. Tito is only part bridge troll. He’s a good guy. He won’t be super buddy-buddy with you. Keep your hands to yourself. As long as you don’t jump-scare him, we’ll be good.”
“Do I want to know?”
“PTSD from being in the Army. He’ll talk about it, especially with customers that are hesitant, but I don’t pry.”
Vyslan nods slowly, his face surprisingly serious.
Every time I think I have this guy figured out, he surprises me. Vyslan can be like a kid one moment, and a wise, old sage the next.
“Jenn—if she shows up today—will come in whenever.” I sigh and grab the bottle of glass cleaner and begin wiping down the case. There are smudges and fingerprints on it from the closing crew yesterday. I can see where it’s been wiped down dry, but that’s not good enough. The other budtenders are good, but they aren’t thorough . They don’t take pride in this job like I do. The way I see it, taking care of the shop is just like taking care of Gracie. “Normally, we only have two people in the shop. Plus Tito, though he won’t help with product.”
“Not in his job description?” Vyslan smirks like he’s in on some private joke.
I shake my head and rub at the back of my neck.
Being around him is strange. New. I’m not altogether certain how I’m supposed to act.
“Nah, it’s something about insurance. Okay, let’s quickly talk about the product and our customers…”
For the next ten minutes, we go over what’s in the case, our pricing strategy, discounts for medical cards, and the magical product. We’re in the middle of debating our preferred strain of witchweed when Tito comes in from the back and steps around the corner to curiously stare at us.
“Ah, Tito. Come meet Vyslan. He’s going to be helping out in the shop for a bit,” I say.
Tito’s nostrils flare and he stares at Vyslan with some concern. “Not to be rude, but what are you?”
“Demon. Incubus, to be exact.” Vyslan wiggles his fingers at the other man. “I’m very motivated to behave and play nice. Whatever your experience with my kind has been, I’m deeply sorry.”
Tito grunts. “You’re going to scare customers away with that aura.”
“Oh! You can sense that?” Vyslan bats his hands around his head like he is trying to get rid of a fart. “I hadn’t realized it was perceptible. Neither Ezra nor Gracie have commented on it. How’s that?”
Tito shakes his head and glances at Vyslan again. “I thought I’d gone up against some real bad demons before. You’re on a whole other level, aren’t you?”
“Yes, which is actually why you’re a lot safer around me, though I can understand why you wouldn’t think that.”
“Why’s that?” I ask.
“It’s like I said the other day, only the weak seek out a way into your world where they are no longer at the bottom of the food chain. There’s no reason for someone like me to come here. Your world… It’s like… It’s easy . And demons, to some extent, thrive on competition.”
Are we not enough of a challenge for Vyslan? Is that why he wants to go home? Is this just a bit of fun for him?
“You won’t hurt the girls, will you?” Tito asks.
Vyslan draws himself up a little straighter, then presses his hand to his chest. “On my honor, no. It’s good to know Gracie’s subordinates look out for her.”
Tito snorts and shakes his head, then looks at me. “Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about how some subordinates are doing just that.”
“What the fuck, man?” I mutter. “Is everyone just talking about this behind my back?”
“Pretty much,” Tito says and perches on the stool at the podium-like desk he mans throughout the day. “I mean, it’s been pretty obvious. Briella and Poppy here two days in a row? And after you-know-who showed up the other day? Just surprised it didn’t happen earlier, man. No offense, but I think even our regulars knew. I’m happy for you. Just don’t fuck this up, okay? I’d hate for you to get fired and one of the others get promoted to manager. Talk about a pain in my ass.”
I draw in a long, deep breath, then shake my head. “It’s fine. It’s not like anything in the shop is changing.”
Tito glances back and frowns. “Excuse me? What the fuck?”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you mean, what do you mean?”
Vyslan chuckles and claps his hands. “Oh, things outside the shop are very much changing.”
Tito’s brows shoot up and he nods slowly. “Oh. That’s how it is?”
Wait. Did he think I’d screw Gracie, then move on or something? It’s my turn to glare at them. “Yes, Gracie is dating the both of us.”
Tito rocks back on the stool and Vyslan doesn’t refute what I’ve said. He hasn’t mentioned going back to his world, but there are moments where it does feel like he’s trying to withdraw from us. I’m not sure if I can convince him to stay. But I want to try. There’s something balanced and just right about the way we are. And Vyslan’s right. With Gracie, I want to be soft and tender. I want to cuddle, pamper, and scold her. But with Vyslan? It’s like he brings out this savage side of me I’ve kept bottled up. I can’t touch Gracie with that kind of energy. She’s too delicate.
The longer Vyslan is here, the more I want him to stay.
“Opening time,” Tito says.
Vyslan turns and starts a slow walk around the store, staring at everything while I unlock the front door. There are already a handful of regulars waiting, so we don’t have a moment to spare for more conversation. Jenn is nowhere to be seen, which isn’t a surprise. With Vyslan here, it’s much smoother. He gets tongue twisted with some of the strain names, but his high energy and cheerful demeanor make him a hit with the regulars.
When Jenn finally drags in, she does a lot of frowning at Vyslan, no doubt concerned about her job being taken. I don’t let it slip that Vyslan is refusing payment of any kind, citing a fair trade agreement. Something to do with his summoning contract. I’m not terribly happy with this arrangement, seeing as I’d like him to stay part of our lives, but I don’t have a plan yet. I want to show him there’s a place for him here.
“Ezra?” Tito calls out.
Vyslan and Jenn are busy with two separate wholesale customers that didn’t make orders ahead of time, so it’s a perfect moment for us to have a word. I cross to the security stand and lean in close.
“ He’s here.”
I grimace and peer out the front windows.
Gracie waited two days to tell us that Puck had attempted to visit the house and ran into the wards that keep him out. I mentioned as much to Tito. I didn’t put the pieces together until that moment with Vyslan earlier, but it seems that the troll has some sort of awareness I don’t have.
“You can sense them, can’t you? I mean, in a way I can’t?” I ask.
“Yeah. I suppose, being undead, you don’t get that little benefit. Non-worlders have an aura that makes them stick out. Your boyfriend over there can make his almost imperceptible, but Puck never did care. He probably wants me to know he’s here and tell Gracie.”
“I doubt she’s unaware, but let’s keep this between us, okay?”
Tito shakes his head. “What he did ain’t right, but he was good for her. I don’t understand it.”
I grit my teeth and pack my frustration into a corner of my mind. Everyone says the same thing, and it’s getting on my last fucking nerve.
“Neither do I,” I say and pat Tito’s shoulder.
Puck might have been a good boyfriend, but we can all mess up. He took his relationship with Gracie for granted. And he left her. I can’t imagine she didn’t tell him how his abandonment the first time upset her. Then he went and did it again. I won’t make that same mistake.
Gracie pops her head out of the office, lips pinched in annoyance, holding my phone.
“Hey, boss, what’s up?” I ask.
“It keeps going off. Will you just handle whatever this is so it’ll stop ringing?”
I hurry across the shop and grab the phone. “Sorry, I thought I put it on silent.”
“Yeah, but I swear I can still hear an electric hum. Sorry, everything is irritating me today.”
I glance at the display and barely refrain from cringing. “I’ll just pop out and take this real quick.”
She waves her hand at me, unconcerned. One of the wholesale buyers calls her over to chat and I take that opportunity to slip out the back of the shop where there’s a large awning. Gracie had it put in so there would always be shade if I got caught outside the shop for whatever reason.
I hit the last call and the phone rings all of once before I hear the puff of someone breathing over the microphone.
“Ezra, hey!” my blood dealer, Farid, says with far too much enthusiasm.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Hadn’t heard from you in a minute, bro. Just wanted to check on one of my regulars. You need anything?”
“Oh, uh. No, man. I’m good.”
There’s a moment of tense silence. “Did someone make you a better deal? I can match it.”
“No. No, nothing like that. I just… I have a live donor right now.”
“Fuck,” he mutters.
“What’s going on?” I ask. I can’t help it.
Gracie put me in touch with Farid not long after turning. He’s one of many local blood dealers. I’ve stuck with him mostly because Gracie vouched for his product and said he wasn’t as sketchy as the others. He’s always given me the creeps, though, so I have to wonder what the other more sketchy ones are like. I don’t know what he is, but it’s something that sets off my vamp senses in a not-good-way.
“Business is slow, man. That’s all it is,” he grumbles.
“How much do you need to move?”
“Couple liters.”
“Are we talking five, a hundred—what?”
“I mean, if you want to put a number on it? If I could move thirty, it’d cover me.”
Fuck.
Thirty liters isn’t a small amount to transport or consume, that’s not even touching on the price. But, Farid has been there for me. He’s made house calls and gotten me taken care of when I was seriously worried about my cravings back in the beginning. One time, he even talked me off the ledge. He sat on the other side of my bathroom door for hours until I was calm again. This was back when Puck was still around, which only aggravated the situation.
Farid still gives me a vibe. It tells me to be wary of him. But that doesn’t change the fact he’s been there for me. Besides, Vyslan gave Tito bad vibes, and I know that my demon isn’t out to hurt anyone.
“Okay. Fine. Yeah, I’ll take thirty off your hands.”
I don’t need it, and it would probably go bad before I can drink it. So I’ll take it over to the paranormal shantytown. There’s always a ghoul or vamp down on their luck that could do with a little donation. I’ve got more than enough money to cover this, and really, what’s the harm? I’ll help him out and whoever gets the blood will be in a better place than they are now. It’ll be my good deed of the week. Yeah. That sounds good.