Chapter 914

But there wouldn't be time to ask anyway as a fairly feral cry sounds within the yurt. My head snaps towards it, shocked, as all five pups start barking with increased fervor, Chase even beginning to spin in eager circles at the sound.

"What is happening?" I whisper.

"Oh, just watch," Jesse murmurs, wicked and delighted.

I do as he says, my eyes trained on the yurt as Midnight suddenly appears, whipping the tent's flap back, her face furious. "You pups!" she shouts, holding out a toy gun with what looks like a thousand soft foam darts attached. "I told you to stay away from my yurt! You're worse than the whores!"

The pups yelp in delight as they dash for her, playing, pretending to leap at her and then dashing away as she sprays them with foam bullets, shouting at them to get away from her house, and to never come back again, that they'll rue the day they ever crossed her door and disturbed her solitutde.

I burst into hysterical laughter, leaning against Jesse for support as the pups come again and again, clearly delighting in the game - although it becomes immediately aware, at least to me, that to Midnight? It is not a game.

"Jesse!" Midnight shouts, frowning desperately at him and waving the gun in the air. "You said this would make them go away!"

"No," Jesse calls over, laughing with me, his arms crossed as he beams at his funny little mate. "I said it would help. But you misinterepreted me, I meant it would help me have a great deal more fun."

Midnight scowls at him, narrowing her eyes, her shadows beginning to overtake her form. "You get these mongrels you call siblings away from my house!" she snaps, glaring at him hard. "No children allowed! No pups!"

Jesse whistles, long and sharp, and the pups all go still before seeming to sigh and turn towards him, obeying even though they're sad that the game is over.

"Mids is tired," Jesse says to them all with a shrug. "You can come bother her again tomorrow. Go downstairs and make Aunt Ella give you chocolate, okay?"

The pups all glance at each other, clearly considering their options, and then Caleb barks and leaps for the door, all the rest of the pups following after him and flowing down the stairs, leaving the rooftop shockingly quiet.

"How come they don't listen to me when I tell them to go away?" Midnight Sulks, pouting at Jesse, her toy gun still hanging from her hand.

"Because they just love you so much, Mids! esse says, grinning at her and striding for the little wine fridge we keep up here, pulling out a bottle. They don't want to leave your side, but they don't mind leaving mine, as I am both cruel and boring."

"True," Midnight says, cocking her head to the side as she considers this point. Then, perhaps for the first time tonight, she turns her eyes to me Hello, Blonde Rat. It is nice to see you."

I perky up a little, curious. "Blonde rat?"

She just shrugs like it's a fact, her eyes moving to my neck. "I like your new mark." "Thank you!" I say, cheerful and beaming.

"Is it from Jackson?" she asks, cocking her head. "Or the fancy one?"

"Both, actually," I say, holding out my wrist so she can see my bandaged arm.noveldrama

“Lucky,” she says, scowling and shifting her eyes to glare at Jesse as he comes over with three glasses and a cork screw.

He ignores her. "You going to invite us in, Mids?"

She narrows her eyes at me. "Are you going to use all your blue fire to take away my darkness and my magic?"

"Oh!" I say, kind of shocked by this question - honestly, the thought never crossed my mind. "Um, no? Not if you don't want me to?"

"Then yes!" Midnight says, breaking into a smile, quite pleased, gesturing grandly towards the inside of her yurt. "If you promise not to take my magic then you are more than welcome, Ariel. Please come in."