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Cassiopeia giggled, finding the way Nic just moved her around as he wanted exciting. ”What about my eyes?” she asked, knowing she was setting herself up to blush and be embarrassed.

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Still frowning, Avery took the offered dagger and looked into the reflective side of it. His eyes widened and he groaned. ”Oh my god. Are you serious?”

He examined the words and the overly done make-up. He rubbed at his cheeks, but the blush barely smudged. He was going to have to shower, but the permanent marker on his head was going to be more difficult.

”For fucks sakes,” he grumbled and tossed the dagger onto the table. He crossed his arms and looked at Kimiko, ignoring Nero all together.

”Can we talk? Alone.”

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Caden laughed and showed Avery photos he had taken when Avery had been sleeping. ”You can thank Cass for the word choice,” he added before putting his phone away.

Caden wrapped his arms around Nero from where they stood and pulled him into his lap. He kissed the back of Nero’s shoulder, watching Kimiko and Avery.

”Kiki, I can have some food sent up for all of us instead if you want,” he said, offering her a way out if she wasn’t ready to talk.

Avery pulled his gaze away from Kimiko and glared at Caden. Caden raised an eyebrow and shifted his eyes up to Avery’s forehead, then back. Avery sighed and rolled his eyes, remembering that he was the one who fucked up and had no say here.

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Nic kisses her head and rests his arm around Cassi. “Well, I’m sure everyone compares your eyes to the ocean or the sky or ice,” He starts off with, trying to find the right words. “But now that I’ve learned about your alias, your eyes are definitely mini storms. Just as entrancing as your prowess.”

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Kiki tilts her head as she considers her choices, catching Nero as they grab their phone. “Send me a copy of that when you can, please. It deserves to live on for prosperity’s sake.” She says before looking back at Avery. It’s hard to keep a straight face though and her shoulders shake in silent laughter.

“There’s makeup remover in my bathroom - get rid of the makeup otherwise there’s no way we can have a serious conversation.” She tells Avery, turning back to her laptop in an effort to give him more of the cold shoulder.

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Nero saves the video with a happy wiggle from Caden’s lamp, sending it to him so he could share with the others. “You should take some of the food we still have here, though. Wouldn’t want you to go hungry while scrubbing your face of that masterpiece.” Nero doesn’t look up from their phone as they say this, still chuckling under their breath.

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Cassiopeia sipped her tea, nodding her head in agreement with Nic when he assumed what she had heard in the past. She freezed though when he mentioned her nickname. Cassiopeia sipped her tea but it didn't taste as it had before. She leaned forward and set her cup on the coffee table.

"I always hated that name," she confessed. "Bana-bhuidseach stoirm. Storm Witch. People started whispering that name when they saw what I could do. It was always whispered in fear. Some people were fanatics and said it in reverence, but that never sat well with me, either."

She shifted in Nic's lap, so she was sideways and could see him better. She was fine with Nic comparing her eyes to a storm, though. It was true. On cloudy days like this, they seemed more gray to her. When she called the storm to her they seemed to shift and crackle, mirroring whatever storm she called. When she was happy or excited, they were usually a vibrant blue. When she was sad, they were a deep, dark blue.

"I'm glad you're not afraid of my power, though." The relationship would never have worked out if Nic was afraid of her.

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Avery shifted his attention from Kimiko, feeling a pang from the easy way she had dismissed him. He looked at Nero and frowned. The 'food' they suggested was barely scraps. There wasn't a lot left.

"I had some extras set aside for you, Avery. It's down in the kitchens if you want it," Caden offered.

Avery nodded his thanks. He looked back at Kimiko but she was already buried in her work again. He sighed, knowing he deserved it, but hating it all the same. He slipped out of the library without another word.

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Nic takes note of Cassi’s reaction to the name Crowley used, making a decision to never call her by it even before she starts telling him where it came from. He kisses the top of her head while she talks, wanting to make sure she knew he’s there for her and smiles gently when she turns to look at him.

Using his other arm to reach, Nic cups Cassi’s face and rubs his thumb along her cheek and orbital bones, tracing the shape. “Don’t get me wrong; your prowess is intense.” He says, thinking back to the dinner at Caden’s place. “But I also know if you ever use it against me, I definitely deserve it.” He swipes away some of her fly-away hairs, smoothing them down.

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Kiki bites her lip, feeling like Avery’s gaze is searing into her very soul. Every fiber of her being wants to turn back around, help him remove the makeup, hug him tightly and talk things through, but she fights it. She doesn’t move a muscle until she hears Avery leave the room.

“Argh,” Kiki releases the breath she had been holding with a frustrated noise as she puts her head on the table. “That was incredibly difficult. Am I a bad person?” She rolls her head slightly to the side to peek at Caden and Nero.

Nero shakes their head, traces of laughter still evident in their expression. “You’re far from being a ‘bad person’.” They chide before they set their phone down. “I hope the prank helped you though - kind of takes away his brooding angst when he looks like a fairy princess.” This elicits a soft snort of laughter from Kiki.

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Cassi shut her eyes and focused on Nic's touch. She smiled when he mentioned how intense her powers were. It was one of the reasons why she set up blocks in her home. It gave her a break.

”I don't mind you being a little intimidated,” she teased. Cassi opened her eyes and pressed her forehead to Nic's.

”I hope I'm never that mad at you,” she said honestly.

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”The prank helped but I think your reaction is what sealed the deal,” Caden said, looking at Kimiko. ”He looks like a wounded dog, and he only ever gets quiet like this after I've reemed him out and he knows he was wrong. It's hard to see, but he needed to understand just how bad this one's,” Caden said with a nod.

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Now that Avery knew what his face looked like, he couldn't bear the thought of going downstairs to beg for food. Even though his stomach was rumbling painfully. Instead, Avery retreated to Kimiko's room to scrub his face.

He stared at himself in the mirror, his makeover looking even worse in reflective glass. He groaned and stared up at the ceiling. He had to hand it to Nero. When they decided to prank someone they pranked someone.

Avery rummaged around until he found some makeup wipes, and having looked it up on his phone, oil and rubbing alcohol to help with the permanent marker.

Avery scrubbed and stubbed his face until it was red. The permanent marker was still present but it had faded a bunch. Hopefully by tomorrow would be completely gone.

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“I intend to make it my goal that you’re never mad at me.” Nic says, leaning in to press his forehead a little more to Cassi’s. A corner of his lips quirks up in a small smirk as he adds, “Unless you’re being stubborn again.” He closes the distance between them with a soft kiss before pulling back again.

Nic gazes into her eyes, still completely enchanted by them. “So, will I have to deal with a gaggle of stormy toddlers at one point?”

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Nero leans back into Caden with a satisfied little wiggle and what seems to be a permanent smirk. Honestly, the prank on Avery helped them just as much as it must have helped Kiki. Their smile disappears as that inevitably leads to more sour thoughts. “I need to prank more often.” They declare.

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Kiki gives a nervous smile, still feeling that insatiable pull to go to Avery. “I don’t think I’ll be able to keep up the act - it was hard enough just to turn around and not look at him.” Nero makes their pranking declaration and softly laughs, but the sound comes across more like exhaustion.

“I know he needs to learn this lesson and all, but… Is it okay if I forgive him? I’ll make him apologize, of course…” Kiki pauses not knowing how to explain it and instead rolls her forehead back onto the table and groans again.

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”Oh, I'll definitely be stubborn again,” Cassi said, not bothering to deny it. She kissed Nic back before pulling away. She reclaimed her tea and sipped it.

Nic's imagery of toddlers running around zapping things made Cassi's eyes sparkle, and she nearly choked on her tea.

”Oh my goddess, could you imagine? We'd have to follow them around to keep them from burning the place down,” Cassi laughed and then sobered. ”Oh, we'll definitely have to live in the middle of nowhere by that time,” she said, remembering how she nearly set her home on fire when she was young. ”And they might not have the same power set as mine. Generally speaking, powers used to skip a generation or show up depending on what was needed. Since I'm the only one, I'm not entirely certain if or what powers our children may have, but one of my jobs was helping the children in the coven hone their skills. I'm certain I'll be able to handle whatever pops up,” Cassi said reassuringly.

The idea of having children with Nic didn't even phase her. The idea seemed right, natural. Cass didn't even pause to think about what she was saying. In her mind, it was going to happen one day.

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Caden chuckled and kissed Nero's forehead. ”Please no,” he joked before yawning again.

He looked at Kimiko and smiled tiredly. ”You can only let him stew so long. Besides, it might be a long conversation for you two. He needs boundaries and he needs to trust you. Go to him, Kiki, if he isn't already on his way back. I need a break anyways,” Caden said before yawning again.

He stood, holding Nero and walked over to Kimiko. He squeezed her shoulder. ”Suivez votre cœur.”

As they left, they came across Avery. ”We're going to bed. It's been a long day. If you want, have Kiki tell you have the events unfolded, or I can fill you in later. Good luck.” Caden patted Avery's shoulder before heading on back to the room he was currently sharing with Nero.

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Avery nodded and watched them go before he looked back at the library. Now what? He stood in the hall, feeling very nervous. At least Caden and Nero had been there before as a sort of buffer, but now?

Avery scratched at his forehead, hoping Kimiko wasn't going to be laughing at him the entire time. That wouldn't make for great conversation. He walked into the library but hovered by the doorway, unable to walk further inside without her permission.

Avery's wolf pulled him to go in, to hold her and breathe in her scent, but Avery couldn't bring himself to do it.

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Nic stops himself from asking what happened to those children, knowing that the answer would not be pleasant despite his curiosity gnawing at the bit. “So, we should have at least four kids, that way we have earth, wind, fire, and air… right?” He grins, adoring how easy this conversation is with Cassi.

“Well… Now that you know what happened, what would you think of maybe moving back to Scotland to raise them?” Nic asks. “I hear these days you can buy a castle for basically nothing there.”

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Nero pouts, crossing their arms in indignation. As much as Nero wants to tell Kiki to make Avery suffer, they now knew how difficult life is when it comes to love. They gave Kiki a head pat before Caden carries them away. When they come across Avery, Nero grins at the fact that the permanent marker was still there, but stops themself from teasing the wolf. Instead, they just wink before flashing him one of their tongue out, eyelid dragged down expressions over Caden’s shoulder as the two left.

“I wanted to stay and watch.” Nero says teasingly as they enter their temporary bedroom.

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Follow her heart? Kiki gives Caden a thumbs up, not lifting her head but still appreciative of his support. She listens as the dragon and imp leave before another pair of footsteps enters but stops. “How did it go with the makeup remover?” She asks, hoping he’ll take that as a sign to enter the room. Her face is still on the table, her hair splayed out in all directions. Unbeknown to her, the roots of her hair had turned white due to all the commotion today.

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”And spirit. But can you handle five kids with my attitude?” Cassi challenged. She finished her tea and set the glass down while she listened to Nic's suggestion.

Ideally, raising her children in her ancestral lands would be how Cassi wanted to do it. The connection to the land would help hone their powers while giving them strength. But could she go back and raise a family on the land where she lost hers?

”Maybe we should visit first before we think of buying there…” Cassi understood this conversation to be hypothetical, but if it did become true, she at least wanted to know she could go home before raising a family there.

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”Oh? You didn't leave your phone in there set to record?” Caden kissed Nero's cheek before he set them on the bed. Caden crouched in front of them with his hands on their legs. ”Privacy is important, my little imp.”

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”Make-up came off but marker is there still. Faded but better.”

Avery hesitated in the doorway another moment longer before he walked over to Kimiko. He pulled out a chair and sat next to her.

”Are you okay?” he asked lamely. Her position told him she wasn't, but he didn't know what to do for her. He didn't know how to help her since he was the one who did this.

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Nic’s grin turns lopsided. “I’ll just throw them over my shoulder if they won’t behave.” He says with a chuckle as he watches her reaction to possibly moving to Scotland. He kisses her head when she suggests visiting first.

“Of course we can visit first - I’d have to see what kind of jobs I could apply for so that I have work by the time we move, of course.” Nic knows she’s worried about returning and he’ll take it as slow as she needs him to, but the image of little rugrats running all over a decent plot of land excites him.

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Nero tilts their head and smirks. “Of course it is, that’s why I didn’t leave me phone in there.” They say before leaning forward to kiss Caden’s forehead. “Make sure to send that video to Cassi and Nic, please.” They add after pulling back.

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Kiki takes a deep breath before she sits up and finally looks at Avery. Unable to stop herself, she reaches out and runs her thumb over Avery’s forehead, noticing the little note Nero left and smiles sadly. “I will be, I’m sure.” She says in answer to his question before pulling her hand back.

“Did you…” She glances away from him, afraid of the answer she might receive before she continues. “Did you do it on purpose?” Kiki’s voice breaks and she feels her eyes gloss over. Tugging on her earlobe, she bites her lip while staring at the pile of books on the table.

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Cassiopeia looked at Nic, a tender smile forming on her face. She could picture the image so clearly in her head. Nic coming home from a long shift, a little black haired boy running out of the garden to greet him, and Nic picks him up to toss him over his shoulder. Cass in the garden with two little girls picking flowers and vegetables, a newborn in a basket by the window. The image filled her with such love and joy it nearly broke her.

Cassiopeia rested her hands on Nic's cheeks and kissed him deeply. She focused on how his lips felt on hers, and how her heart beat for more than just her.

”I love you.”

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”Yes my little imp.” Caden rose up on his feet and kissed Nero's forehead. He stood after and stretched while he yawned. Caden pulled out his phone and sent the video to Cassi before he set his phone aside.

Caden sighed, the full weight of the day settling onto him. He kicked off his shoes and socks unceremoniously before stretching out on the bed.

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Avery shut his eyes when Kimiko's hand brushed his forehead. It was a simple touch with nothing behind it, but Avery craved her touch in such a way that she could have slapped him and he would have been grateful. He opened his eyes when she questioned him and he looked at her, the pain in his eyes genuine.

”I… Yes, but I didn't intend for it to be a full block… I just wanted some silence, I didn't think. God, Kimiko, I didn't think. I'm so sorry.” Avery slid forward in his chair, bumping knees with Kimiko and rested his hands on her leg. He hadn't intended to touch her until she wanted him to, but selfishly he needed to reassure himself she was with him.

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Nic smiles, kissing Cassi back when their lips touch and wrapping both arms around her again. When she pulls away, his hands move up and down her back as he rubs comfortingly. “I love you too.” He doesn’t feel like he needs to ask what spurred that on - he has a feeling they were both feeling their futures becoming brighter.

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Nero hums happily, lying back and rolling onto their side to look at Caden. “I love you.” They say with a smile before they wiggle their way to cuddle him. “Do you want to take a bath? To help relax?”

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Kiki had hoped the answer would be different and her shoulders sag with disappointment that her fears are correct. Maybe if he was new to all of this like she is, then she could understand, but he had been trying to teach her the correct way to block just last night. She doesn’t understand how she isn’t starting to sob right now, her tears just falling down her cheeks silently despite how hurt she feels.

“I don’t know what to say.” She says finally as her chin wobbles just lightly. With what Caden and Cassi had explained about bonds… The confirmation that Avery had done it on purpose wears heavy on her. “Why couldn’t you just talk to me?”

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The sorcerer smiled, brushing her thumb along her nurse's cheek in time to his rubbing her back. She kissed him softly again, savouring the moment before she pulled back.

”Do you want to call your dad and check-in? We can tell him that we found a way to break the contract. Then we can watch a movie, or we can gather what we need to summon the demon,” she suggested.

Cassi's phone rang in her bag by the door. She slid off Nic's lap to get it, but Nic wasn't left alone for long. Wayland jumped into the vacated spot on his lap, and nudged Nic for pets.

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”Honestly, I'd probably just fall asleep in the tub.” He wrapped an arm around Nero when they moved in closer. Caden shut his eyes and rubbed Nero's back, feeling like he would fall asleep any second.

”I can run you one if you would like though,” he offered with a yawn.

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The look at Kimiko's face broke Avery further. He pulled his hands away from her and ran one over his head.

”I wanted to. I thought I would calm down, but I couldn't…When he threw you over his shoulder I just saw the warehouse. I couldn't get the image of you in a cage out of my head and I lost it. And then I got angry and you got angry which fed my anger and I stopped thinking and just reacted.”

Avery's headache started to get worse with the increase of emotions. He shut his eyes and tried to breathe deeply but it wasn't helping.

”And then I tried to reach you and I couldn't. I detached from my wolf and just felt… empty. Caden forced me back, but it took so long to find you again. I thought I lost you, that it was too late, but then we felt your fire again. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. What I did was unforgivable but would you consider giving me a second chance?” Avery rubbed a fist over his heart, feeling tension as he waited for Kimiko's answer.

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Nic chuckles, taking his phone out of his pocket as he scratches Wayland’s head. He sends a text to his asking when would be a good time to call. He sets his phone down on the couch on the opposite side of where Cassi was previously. “When do you wanna come sleepover, little guy?” He asks before shifting his gaze to see what Cassi is up to.

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Nero shakes their head with a smile. “I’m trying to think of ways to help you.” Using the tip of their finger, they rub down the bridge of Caden’s nose gently. “I know you put on a big front, but you’ve been putting a lot of your energy in helping everyone else lately.” They lean in and kiss his cheek before resting their head on Caden’s chest.

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Kiki misses the warmth of his hands almost immediately after Avery pulls away. She finally looks at Avery again just as he closes his eyes. She leans forward and holds the hand he’s using to massage his chest with both of hers. “It’d be stupid of me not to, but just know if you ever pull something like this again, I will not take it this kindly.” Her heart squeezes too tightly for her not to give him a second chance.

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Cassi looked over at Nic and smirked.
"If he could speak, I'm sure he would say now." She walked back to the couch and handed Nic her phone. ”Avery is awake. Looks like they got a good video of him.”

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Caden nodded, holding Nero closer. He smiled, turning his head and kissed Nero's head just by knowing where the imp usually sat against him.

”I just need you and sleep,” he murmured. Caden had been using more of his power and today was perhaps the worst of it with getting control over Avery. Caden usually put on a strong front but when it came to his loved ones, like Nero, he felt important to let his guard down, so they knew how he truly was.

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”This is kind?” It's a reflex question, wanting to bring humour into the situation. There's a smile on Avery's face from the moment Kimiko takes his hand. Thank you god.

Avery felt his entire being relax when she did that. At least Avery knew she still liked him or at least wanted him.

He opened his eyes and looked at Kimiko. ”I will never do that to you, to us again. Not only do I feel like I've been hit by a train, but when I couldn't feel you anymore… that was the worst feeling in the world.” They hadn't been bonded for long, but Avery truly felt like he had lost himself after he blocked her.

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Nero giggles softly, cuddling more into Caden for a moment. “How about getting out of our power suits?” They asks, lightly tracing random patterns on their shirt before they teasingly add, “Unless you want to sleep in a suit?”

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Kiki snorts despite her best not to laugh at Avery’s joke, so she takes one of her hands and smacks him on the shoulder, not holding back any of her strength. When he opens his eyes to look at her, she tries to hold a glare but her expression softens as he speaks. Does being a wolf make him better at pulling a puppy dog face?

“We’re both still trying to recover from what happened to me, and that’s okay and valid. She starts as she reaches her free hand to hold Avery’s face. “But screaming matches and blocking each other out - figuratively or literally - won’t heal us.”

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”Mmm, too sleepy… Help?” Caden asked. He cracked his eyes open to look at Nero, a cheeky grin adorning his face.

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”Owe! Damn, girl.” Avery rubbed his arm where Kimiko smacked him. Imagine if she had punched him instead. He pouted at her, but couldn't keep the sparkle of joy from his eyes that they were starting to get back to their old selves.

Kimiko's last comment sobered him and he looked down. Her hand was soft against his cheek and he sighed. ”I'm sorry,” he said, and looked at her through his lashes.

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Nero returns Caden’s cheeky grin with a smirk before they sit up, getting rid of their own clothes before they help him take off his. Nero decides they’re not going to stay up late reading tonight - the only reason they’d stay up would be if there is something more fun on the table.

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Kiki can’t help the smirk that slips onto her face in satisfaction of actually hurting Avery a little. She soothes her own guilt by thinking he definitely deserves it. When he looks up at her through his lashes however, her heart squeezes. “Putain de chiot…” She mutters, looking away as her ears warm.

“You’re lucky you’re cute.” She says, avoiding meeting Avery’s eyes.

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”And you love me?” Avery asked, sliding his fingers under her chin to make her look at him.

His smile was soft and easy now, nothing left of the fear and sadness earlier. His heart beat easily, knowing things were right between them.

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Despite her best attempts not to give him the satisfaction that her feelings are still very strong, but Avery making her look at him by her chin causes her heart to thrum quickly in her chest. She glares at him, but she can’t really put real hatred into it. “Maybe.” She says instead to tease him before sighing.

“Of course I love you still… you’re just on very thin ice.” She flicks Avery’s nose, but not with any strength behind it. “Now I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted and as someone pointed out, I need a wolf to sleep so let’s go.”

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Nic combs his hair as he’s in front the mirror before he pulls out his phone and sends a text to Cassi. They had talked about going to the hardware store to pick up things for his apartment, so he figures they can kill two birds with one stone.



He doesn’t say anything about summoning the demon, hoping Cassi could read between the lines as he heads downstairs to drive Caden’s SUV and pick her up.

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Nero sits with their legs up on a chair in Caden’s library, their back on the floor as they read one of the books. It had been slow progress the last four days, but luckily Crowley had delivered some good news; Mundus was still in his cage. He didn’t have information on how he was sealed in there, but regardless, it was a little soothing to know Nero’s ‘abusive ex’ wasn’t the one stalking them. However, they still don’t know who’s following Nero around.

With a groan, Nero lets the book fall on their face with a loud thud, making Kiki pause in her typing and look down at the imp. “I’m going to take that as my cue to steal Avery and go to the diner he likes.” She announces, standing up from her chair. Nero watches from the floor as she leaves, not telling her that she still has pens and pencils twisted into her hair to hold it in a bun. They’d let Avery do that.

“Maybe we should go get breakfast too?” Nero says, shifting their gaze to look at Caden.

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Kiki had let Avery sleep in today, knowing he had pushed himself to patrol the property the night before. Caden isn’t taking chances, even with knowing this Mundus person is still in a cage. She’s slips into her room and lets the door shut loudly. “Morning sleepyhead.” She practically sings. Although forgiven, Kiki is still finding small ways to punish the wolf for what happened to soothe her need to be petty.