Misty

You should enjoy college life, sleeping in, going to parties, getting blitzed off your ass, and randomly showing up to class when the mood strikes you. Never in a million years should you deal with a crazy ass demon trying to flatten you like a pancake in the library. Demons can't read since quiet signs are plastered all over the walls. Maybe the demon needs to attend college so it can read signs and leave us the hell alone.

We're in our second year of school, trying to fend off a crazy demon while attending class. Sanity has left the building, folks, and it's never returning.

The girls and I sat around a table in the bakery and feasted on baked goods while drinking coffee. It was the one reprieve I had from Nash. Not that I don't mind spending time with my beloved, but a girl needs female bonding time that doesn't involve testosterone.

"The school closed the library until they finish the repairs," Kat said.

"What else is new? Something is always getting destroyed," Macey said.

"Yeah, but it doesn't help when it's a slimy demon causing the chaos."

"I thought college was fun," Marcy said.

"What planet are you from? College isn't fun unless you're getting drunk and sleeping with randos," Bria said. "We came here with boyfriends."

"Are you thinking of breaking up with Nolan?"

"God, no. Nolan is way better than these meatheads that attend here. I'm just saying you're expecting too much from college life."

"What about you, Maggie?" Kat asked me.

"Is it sad that I'm trying not to die?" I asked.

The girls knitted their brows in concern.

"I joke about Nash up my ass, but he's kept me from dying a few times. I thought Eden's ex would kill us."

"Nash was beyond pissed that day. It even scared the shit out of me," Macey admitted.

"Well, Nash's temper is infamous. I heard stories about it from Nix," Kat said.

"Nash doesn't scare me," I said.

The girls looked at me.

"These demons do." It was the first time I admitted the demons terrified me. What else did they have planned for us?

"Maggie, no one would fault you for your fear. It's the same fear that plagues Nash. He fears losing you," Kat said.

"What if Nash can't stop the demon from succeeding? Then what?"

The girls furrowed their bows.

I wasn't stupid. Ever since we returned, this thing has targeted me to get to Nash. If you want to destroy the person who can demolish you, you target the person he loves the most.

*******
Valentino

I jolted awake as an ache developed in my chest. I rubbed the spot over my heart. Fear slithered around my heart and gripped it.

Nix poked his head into the bedroom. "Nash, it's Maggie."

I didn't hesitate to shove my feet into my boots and pull on my winter coat before leaving the house with Nix. We started walking to the bakery before we picked up the pace and ran toward it. Once we reached it, I flung open the door and hurried toward Mags.

Mags glanced at me as I crouched beside her. Her lips curled into a smile, but her eyes showed fear. I pulled her to me and held her. Mags wrapped her arms around my neck. I rubbed her back, soothing her.

When most people look at Mags, they see a confident person. But she feared what this demon could do to us. I understood her fear because I felt the same way.

Nix grabbed two chairs and placed them at the table. I moved onto the chair beside Mags, slid my hand into hers, and interlocked our fingers. These past few months have been chaotic for us, and we wondered which demon had planned next. It didn't help that Christmas break was coming.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I had a moment of insanity," Mags said.

"Mags, it's okay if you're scared. No one will fault you if you are." I moved a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Everything's been chaotic since we returned. Throw college into the mix. It's been a little overwhelming."

"Is this because of what happened last year?"

"I won't lie and say it didn't scare the hell out of me. But you came for me."

"I will always come for you. You're it for me, Mags."

Mags' lips curved upward, giving me a genuine smile, not the one I saw when I first got here.

"Maggie, none of us will let anything happen to you. We understand how important you are to Nash," Nix said.

Mags nodded in understanding. I put my arm around her shoulder and pulled her to me. Mags snuggled into me. Nix and the girls watched, knowing how much Mags and I loved each other.

*****
Misty

I might joke about Nash being up my ass twenty-four-seven. But I realized why he's always around me. It's like we orbit each other constantly. Our souls had connected through time, finding their way to each other. We just hadn't realized it at that time.

Nixon got up from the table and headed to the counter. A few minutes later, he returned with two coffees for Nash and him. Nash and Nixon grabbed a pastry from the box on the table and bit into it.

Eventually, Nathan, Noah, and Nolan joined us. The ten of us had a unique bond. No matter what happened, we could rely on each other. The pranks were optional.

"Did you hear Nana and Grandpa are hosting Christmas this year at their house?" Nathan asked.

"What about your and Nolan's mom's sides?" Nash asked.

"We're seeing them on Christmas Eve," Nolan said.

"What about Mags?"

"What about her? I thought she was joining us since your dad and her dad are besties," Noah said.

Nash arched his brow.

"Plus, Grandpa Elias wants to see West. Our family is so weird."

We laughed at the table.

*****
Nash and I left the bakery and headed to his house. We removed our boots, coats, and hats and hung them up. I ran to the couch, plopped on it, and covered myself with a throw blanket. Nash joined me and pulled me to him before wrapping his arms around me. I snuggled into him to get warmth.

"You don't need to worry, Mags. I won't let anything happen to you."

I turned my head to look at Nash. "Nash, you can't stop things from happening. Do you plan to wrap me in bubble wrap?"

"If that keeps you safe, I'll wrap you in cushions, too."

I snorted a laugh. "You're a nut."

"Yeah, but I'm your nut." He grinned.

I shook my head, laughing. Only Nash could make me smile with all the chaos in our lives.

******
Valentino

Sitting on the couch with Mags reminded me of when we would hang out at each other's houses and watch movies while growing up. Our parents always had snacks, movies, and blankets ready for us. At least they knew we weren't getting into trouble.

"We should build a fort," Mags said.

"A fort?" I raised my brow.

Mags turned in my arms and grinned at me. "Yeah, a fort like we built when we were little."

"What made you decide to build a fort?"

"We haven't built one in years." She shrugged.

"Then let's build a fort."

Mags' face lit up as she scrambled to get up. We gathered blankets and moved furniture around before draping the blankets over the furniture. I tossed couch cushions inside and arranged them so we had something to lay on before adding a blanket. We crawled inside, covered up, and stuck our heads through the opening.

My cousins came into the house and stopped when they saw us.

"I would ask what you're doing, but I don't want to know," Nix said.

I rolled my eyes as Mags giggled. "Mags wanted to build a fort. So we built one."

Nix hung up his coat, kicked off his boots, and got on his hands and knees at the fort entrance. "Move over."

We rolled our eyes and parted ways. Nix crawled inside the fort. My other cousins followed suit so much for hanging with Mags alone.

"This fort is pretty spacious," Nolan said. "You would make my dad proud, Nash."

"Who do you think taught me how to build a fort?" I asked.

"Uncle Marty is the only guy who enjoys building forts. I loved spending the night at his house," Noah said.

Nathan lay on the cushion with his head propped on his hand. "Only because your dad questioned every little mark you got."

"How did I get a five clinger for a dad?"

"Dumb luck on your part," Nix said.

Noah rolled his eyes.

"At least your dad cares about you. If you think about it, we got lucky with our parents," Nathan said, rolling on his back. "Our dads and moms care about us. We could have ended up with asshole parents."

"True," we agreed.

"So Nash, are you playing Santa's delivery service again?" Nix asked.

"What do you think?" I asked.

Yeah, I should have rethought my question.