The Demon King of Lust

Chapter 38

I watch the storm clouds ahead grow closer as trees and buildings pass by my window, wondering if it's some kind of bad omen. Maybe I'm just paranoid knowing that Vic is out there somewhere doing god knows what. Or because I'm on my way to meet—or, rather, re-meet, Zane and Ava—after our disastrous last attempt.

Kieran wanted to try again, but this time it's supposed to be more casual. Less pressure.

Fingers crossed.

"You sure it'll all be okay this time?" I ask Kieran as he drives. He knows I'm referring to our disastrous aborted dinner date with Zane and Ava.

"It'll be fine. You've already met everyone before and Zane came prepared this time. He shouldn't affect you like before, and if he does, we can walk right back out."

"You sure?"

"I promise. You're not feeling it, we bail. No problem."

"I'm still not sure why it bothered me so much last time."

"Siren emotions are just... next-level, you know? The other Empath I know—your uncle, great-uncle, whatever he is—he said Sirens have the volume cranked up on their feelings. For them it's normal, but for an Empath it's like someone's trying to talk to you by shouting through a megaphone held up to your ear."

"So he found a way to turn down the volume?"

"Apparently. Finn helped him out, I guess. They seem pretty confident it'll work, but if it doesn't, then we leave. I don't want you trying to suffer through anything, okay?"

"Okay," I say with a bit of a chuckle. It's cute that he's being so protective.

After a few minutes, we reach Pike's and head inside through the front doors. I'm used to coming alone when I'm visiting Kieran, so it's odd to have him tagging along with me for once.

It's only 3:30 in the afternoon, so it's mostly empty. I spot Ava's purple hair in a booth toward the back and we make our way over. She's sitting next to Zane and across from a red-headed man that I can't quite see from this angle but who I assume is Finn.

Kieran loops an arm around my waist as we walk up and watches me with nervous hesitance. But I certainly don't notice the same effect of Zane's presence as we approach. Whatever magical stuff he did, it seems to be working.

"Hey!!" Ava calls when she sees us, standing up to greet us when she reaches the table. "Great to see you!"

She gives me a welcoming hug and Zane stands behind her with his hands in his pockets. He gives me a smile and a friendly nod.

"Have a seat, love," Finn says with his friendly Irish lilt, scooting in further to make room for us. He gives Kieran a playful look. "You too, I suppose."

"Oh you know you love me, baby," he says to Finn with a smirk. I slide down next to Finn and Kieran sits beside me. Ava and Zane return to their seats across from us.

"So no difficulty this time?" Finn asks me, gesturing to Zane.

"Oh uh... I guess not," I say. I feel awkward that everyone is going to such lengths to accommodate me after my freak-out last time.

"Don't worry, Sam. It's no trouble really. You should've seen the last time Zane met an Empath. They almost killed each other in a university library."

Zane grumbles under his breath and Ava shakes her head.

"Don't start him on that one," she says.

"Well, thank you for dealing with that," I say to Zane. "What did you do to fix it?"