Slip Song (Devany Miller Series) by Jen Ponce Read Free Book Online

as Tytan stepped away from him. “I need some help with this Skriven stuff. All of it.”
    He slumped, his lip curling. “You aren’t asking much, are you? Thousands of years worth of magic and lore and you want. All of it.”
    “ Yes.”
    With a wave of his hand he gestured at his house. “Change it back, then. I can’t work in a ... human hovel.”
    “Seriously?” He didn’t speak so I sighed. “I don’t know how to return it back to whatever it looked like before. Why can’t you set it?”
    If he had eyes, he would have rolled them. Not sure how he managed to look so annoyed without them. “It would cost me. You making me your Draw took every last erg of power I had and more. I’m in hock up to my eyeballs with Amara.”
    “You can live with it,” Tytan said. “Don’t let him bargain with you. He’s your servant.”
    Right. “Fine. Live with it. You want to have your house returned to its former unglory, you need to earn the right.”
    The door jamb beside his head splintered. The rafter above mine split, sending a shower of splinters and dust on top of me. I covered my head and leaped out of the way as it crashed to the floor.
    Tytan threw him against the wall, which left a dent in the peach-covered plaster the size of Medusa Head’s cranium. “Take him to Earth. He’ll cooperate after a week or two there.”
    I didn’t have a week or two. Still, I didn’t want to stick around while Medusa Head had his fit. I formed the hook under his and Tytan’s struggling forms and they dropped through out of sight. I jumped in after them.
    We came out downtown, near a homeless shelter. It was freezing, my flesh pebbling with the cold. No, I didn’t like Medusa Head―what was his name? I knew it once. Vasili. Right. I didn’t like Vasili, but I didn’t want him to die of exposure. One problem. He still had tentacles. “How do I camouflage him?”
    Tytan put his hand on Medusa Head’s arm. There was a tugging sensation from the middle of my belly as he pulled magic through me. When he was done, Vasili looked like a sixties hippie with dreadlocks. Ty stepped back with a smirk. “Suits you.”
    “ Take me back.” He reached forward, to clutch my hand or kiss my ass or something but Tytan blocked his movement. His now brown eyes pleaded. “I’ll be your devoted servant. I’ll do anything you ask. Don’t leave me here, looking like this.”
    He sounded so lost, I almost gave in. Almost. “The homeless shelter is there. I’d go get in line if I were you. They only can take in so many each night. I’ll be back in a week to find you. Right here, in seven days. If you aren’t here, I won’t come looking for you and I’ll find someone else to teach me. Understand?”
    Shivering, his teeth clacking together, he could only nod hopelessly. Good. I hoped he’d tow the line when I came back for him. He turned and slumped away, his shoulders rounded and small in his thick blue coat.
    “ Let’s get out of here.” Tytan reached for me and I backed up a step.
    “ No. You don’t need to touch me. I think I can get us back. Then I have to go home.” I shut my eyes and concentrated. It didn’t come as easily here but with the feel of it fresh on my mind the hook did come and we stepped through. All without having to touch him. Yay me.
    The Slip was still set to my version of my old hometown. So strange to see it in 3D the way I always saw it in my dreams. “Why, when they were discussing my training, did they suggest I learn from Medusa Head? Why not you?”
    “Because spawn aren’t willing to help their parent. It’s all about survival of the fittest up here. If I help you, I’ll never find my soul and then I won’t ever ascend.”
    “ Oh.” With that light shining on the situation, I realized how much more dangerous Tytan was than I thought. I eyed him. “Why are you helping me, then?”
    “ I already told you why.”
    “ Because you’re horny? I don’t think so.”
    His eyes clouded. “You