Chapter 19 Supply Run #2
“What more is there to see? I can throw a rock and hit the opposite side of Achreos Barrens.” His claws teased at her palm, and she shot him a glare. “I’m still not calling it that.”
“Heck is small, but even Sev isn’t strong enough to fire an arrow across our borders.”
Kalypso only rolled her eyes, but even when she feigned indifference as he showed her little shops and districts along their walk, he could see her mind cataloguing directions.
No demon was brave enough to outright stare at the two guards in purple grass-stained practice gear walking through town, but he could feel their curiosity and subtle lingering of their eyes.
He knew Kaly was well aware of the attention, but she either didn’t notice or didn’t care that his hand remained firm around hers.
Claiming her in front of every demon on the streets.
All the way into the next district.
She let out a low whistle. “Fancy houses. Didn’t get to see all these last night.” But then suspicion narrowed her gaze. “Wait, we’re not actually thieving from Argeth’s closet, are we?”
Ozirax shrugged. “I mean, I’m not opposed. I’ll happily boost you into a window and be a lookout.”
“You just want to touch my ass.”
“Can you blame me?” He considered it a win when her lips pursed to fight a smile. “I’ll refrain from scandalizing this upstanding community of rich assholes. This time.”
At that, she let out a snort. “There’s a lot of shrubbery. Don’t tell me these demons aren’t getting up to debauchery with—”
“Ozirax?”
He pulled up short, managing to tug Kalypso away before she ran into the blue demon turning the corner.
“Astradez,” he said, dipping his chin stiffly.
The female returned the gesture. Her dark blue hair barely shifted with the movement, expertly twisted into her signature style around spiked horns.
Oz wasn’t sure he’d ever noticed a strand out of place, nor a skirt or blouse wrinkled in the slightest, and today was no different with the shawl draped over her shoulders and arms.
Astradez’s smile strained at the corners of her lips, but she did offer greeting to Kalypso, gaze dipping to their joined hands, before turning back to him. “A delight to see you.”
“Likewise.”
And with that, she stepped around them on the footpath and continued her stroll.
Kaly stared after the female, confused gaze bouncing between him and the blue demon. “So… she would be…”
Ozirax began walking, dragging Kalypso along with his increased pace. “My mother.”
Kalypso’s feet stuttered, and then she was walking sideways so she could keep her gaze on Oz. “Your… that was your mother?”
He hummed. “We aren’t close. I told you it was an advantageous match, not one of love. She was the strongest of her family, Zalvokan was the strongest of his, and they thought his magic would win out. Turns out, only her spikes did. His redemption was that I wasn’t gray and magic-less.”
It was an odd thing, discussing his parents with someone unfamiliar with demon culture, or at least the antiquated customs that traced back to before their summoning.
Even more odd that he’d never said any of this aloud before, even to himself. But with Spicy, he felt safe. Protected.
“Oh,” Kaly muttered, her hand tightening in his and emulating his thoughts.
“No, it’s quite poetic. For all his strength, he’s not all that potent when it comes to producing. They’ve not been able to have another child.”
She grimaced, then followed his direction toward a garden and winding stone pathway that led up to a smaller guest house’s door. “It’s gross that you know that about your father. But after meeting him, I’m not surprised. A kestrel might not even have an appetite for that.”
Ozirax laughed, pulling his hand out of hers to swipe over the rune set into the wall. Magic alerted the home’s owner of his arrival before he stepped back and looked Kaly up and down. “I wonder what happens when you run out of increasingly smaller animals to feed our cocks to.”
“I’ll handle the castration myself when my shiny new weapons arrive.”
A choking sound pulled their attention to the now open door, the pastel purple demon with white hair and curling horns standing wide-eyed in the entry.
“Azrion,” Oz said in greeting. “Sorry I’m a little early.”
“Not a problem.” Azrion cleared his throat, then made a quick show of fixing his outfit—a simple shirt compared to his usual ensemble, which told Oz it was a small problem.
Especially because his typical laid-back and casual demeanor felt forced when he said, louder than necessary, “No issue at all that you’ve shown up early for our meeting when I was expecting you later.
” He darted a nervous glance over his shoulder and into the house before his smile was back in place.
“Restocked with Kiz, so everything’s freshly made. ”
The demon ducked out of sight for a moment, coming back with a canvas bag, all the while keeping an eye on Kalypso as he held it out. “Only the finest, you know. Oz has been coming to me for years, though it’s our little secret. I am very trustworthy.”
Ozirax took the offering with a frown. “You sound the opposite of trustworthy right now.” He glanced at Kaly who looked entirely bored, then back to the demon in realization. “For fuck’s sake, Azrion, yes, it’s a human.”
“It?” Kaly snarled at the same time Az hissed, “You don’t have to say it so loudly.”
Oz grumbled. “So dramatic. Are these safe for humans?”
Azrion puffed his chest. “I am a professional. Of course it’s safe for humans. I am nothing but accepting of humans.”
“And now you sound the opposite of accepting.” Ozirax tossed a small pouch of coins at the demon. “Thanks for this. Come on, Spicy.”
“It was nice to meet you, human who I don’t know your real name,” Az said with an overdramatic smile, the sight more and more terrifying as he slowly closed the door on them. “Best be off, don’t delay. A delight as always, dear friends.”
Ozirax stared at the door as it latched shut, head tilting to the side. “Huh.”
“Bye now!” came the muffled dismissal behind the door.
With an eye roll, he turned and left with Kaly by his side.
“He’s not usually that weird,” Oz muttered when they were a good distance away.
Kalypso shrugged. “Entertaining.”
“I suppose.”
“No, I meant… he was entertaining someone.” At Ozirax’s frown, she clarified, “The nervous looks? The hurrying us off? He absolutely has someone inside.”
Oz snorted. “Not surprising. He used to have a talent for mesmerizing partners with all that romantic shit. Grand declarations of love. Flowers.”
Kaly gave a dramatic shudder, clapping a hand over her heart. “Oh, how dare he offer gifts of affection that aren’t swords or the bleeding heart of a sworn enemy.”
“Spicy, I would accept this gift over a blightspawn heart any day.”
“The fuck is that?”
Ozirax changed the subject. “What’s your favorite flower?”
“Poison ivy.”
He raised a teasing finger. “I know that one. Even the Dreadmoor couldn’t make that human plant worse.”
She laughed, nudging his side with her elbow, which made the contents of the bag clink together. “Alright, why did we come all the way out here for that?”
“Works better when all the pieces are together.”
Kalypso narrowed her eyes, but he did commend her patience that she didn’t ask any more questions as they returned to the barracks. The squad room was empty, so he left Kaly on the couch and went to gather the rest of the supplies.
She was reclined, looking bored once again, up until he set his things on the table.
Kaly gasped, scrambling to sit up with a spark in her gaze. “Wait…” Her eyes flashed to his. “Tattoos?”
Ozirax nodded. “I’m a little behind on a few runes. Thought maybe you’d be interested in seeing them?”
“Yes!” she blurted, then quickly cleared her throat. “I mean, sure.”
His smile softened. “And maybe you’d like to do that one you’ve been sketching.”
Her whole body tensed, and he could hear her heartbeat increase. But she swallowed, glancing toward him hesitantly. “You…”
“You have to do it yourself if you want the magic to work,” he clarified. “Humans are capable of runes, but this ink has an additional magical property that will help keep it set. Azrion’s specialty.”
Kalypso’s lips twisted, a pinch to her brow. “After everything…”
Ozirax took the seat next to her, resting a hand over her forearm and the cuff attached at her wrist. “I know.”
Silver shined in the corner of her blue eye, and then she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Heat spread from that contact, warmer and stronger than any words she might have tried to speak, and Oz savored the feeling.
Let it settle in his chest and kept it safe as he picked up the first jar of ink and began instructing.