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Surprise flashed in the demon's expression "Youcan't lie"

"I told you I was interested in your mind Your divine body and blood are simply the cherries on top"

For longto make a decision, the demon said, "I think it's time to celebrate"

TWENTY-TWO

"DRINK!"

At a crowded table inside the Red Flag, Cas and the vampire raised their cups, then emptied them

Earlier, when Cas had pinned the bounty parchment on the board for completed jobs, all the hunters had clamored to buy him and Mirceo rounds

For a few hours Cas had been able to forget his history with the prince and enjoy his coht he'd been proud of Mirceo--as only a friend would be

Lie to yourself, Cas

To

the very fucking end

"Come on, vampire," said one of the demon hunters "Divvy how you stole into the sorcerer's lair"

These pros had been stunned to hear that Cas and Mirceo had taken out os And that'd only been the first step

Mirceo cast therin "Trade secret" His words were slurred--because the va demon brew

That libation provided an even buzz, right up until the bo his own consumption In the past, one of them had always remained a touch more sober in case they ran into threats

Earlier, Cas had taken hi him, "You don't have to drink every time they toast us And you sure as hell don't have to down brew It gains on you with every drop"

Mirceo had grazed his finger over Cas's collarbone, saying, "My aim is to impress your friends"

He already had "Color them impressed Besides, Bettina is the only friend I care about, apart from you"

"Are we friends?"

"We could be, if you were content to remain that way"

"Hmm" What did that mean? "Even after what happened in the cave?"

He'd had no answer for that

"Ad fun with me Just as ays used to"

"I don't deny that" The va Made each second taste better If he was honest, Cas would adht be the best day of his life

Unequaled bounty Unequaled pleasure

Unequaled mate? No! There was still hope for self-preservation

"Can I tell them you're mine?" Mirceo had asked

"Sure you don't want to keep your options open, tulip?"

Mirceo had grabbed Cas's balls

GULP "Easy, vampire"

Mirceo had given the to his toes "I'd like to tell the world that these are s to me"

The va

Now a lion shifter leaned in toward Mirceo and said, "At least tell us how you got past the sand scyllas" That shifter was irritatingly bewitched with the sophisticated prince

In fact, all of the rough-and-tumble hunters were, which made Cas's own possessiveness--already off the charts--spike even higher

Mirceo had pointed out that Cas's derow more volatile Too true