I glanced at Samael, and my gaze got stuck. He was looking out my bedroom window, his wings tucked in behind him. He glanced over his shoulder at me, his silver eyes glinting, and I was struck by the picture he made, both completely out of place but somehow at home in my bedroom.
“Um, I wanted to thank you. For the food. I don’t like the thought of it going to waste.”
He smiled as if I was the cutest thing he’d ever seen, stepping toward me. My room was so tiny that within a second we were practically pressed together.
“I’ll have it sent to someone who needs it.”
“Thank you.”
He raised his hand and cupped my face. “I would like to point out that I have not slung you over my shoulder and hauled you back to my tower where I can be certain you are safe.”
I eyed him. “And I suppose you want brownie points for that?”
“Brownies are annoying little creatures. No, I want you to acknowledge that I am attempting to live up to your expectations of me.”
I winced. “Samael…” I didn’t want him to have to live up to my ‘expectations.’ That wasn’t how relationships were supposed to work.
“I’m attempting to be a better man. For you.”
“I’m not asking you to change who you are.”
He smiled but there was no humor in it.
I hunched my shoulders and he brushed his mouth over mine.
“Come, bounty hunter. No matter the circumstances, I must admit I’m pleased to be able to sleep beside you in my own bed once more.”
I rolled my eyes at that, but Evie and I followed him back downstairs, where the human police had already arrived.
I groaned as I spied Detective Roberts walking toward me. He was with another cop, who nodded to me as they approached.
“This is my partner, Detective Nelson. We have a few questions to ask you.”
Nelson seemed to be in his early thirties. His skin was a golden tan, and his dark green eyes said he’d seen it all before, and was anticipating worse around the corner. He nodded to me and I nodded back, glancing at the uniformed cops who were going over the crime scene. I had to hope that the demons had already gotten everything they needed.
“Did you take anything from the car?” Roberts asked, his tone biting.
“Us personally, or the demons?”
He sneered at me and Nelson shot him a look. I had a feeling he didn’t like his partner much.
“How about you question the human witnesses?” Nelson suggested. Roberts shook his head in disgust but stalked off.
I glanced at Samael, but he was near the SUV and paying the cops no attention as he spoke to Bael and Sitri.
“This isn’t really a good time,” I started, and Nelson angled his head.
“A human was killed,” he gestured to the woman who was still crumpled on the ground. I wished I could move her, even as I knew the body couldn’t yet be touched. “Not to mention your attackers.”
Evie let out a choked sound and I reached for her hand. Nelson shot her a sympathetic look.
“They’re working with paranormals,” I said. “They used a darker-than-night spell.”
“Investigations involving both humans and paranormals can get messy,” Nelson acknowledged. We both know this can easily devolve into a pissing contest. So I have a suggestion.”
“What kind of suggestion?”
He gave me a faint smile. “You show me yours, and I’ll show you mine.”
