“…which might as wellbeHell, for all the demons and demon spawn coming through those vortexes—which also try to suck people into them, by the way.”
“And turn them into frogs.” He nodded. “I was there.” Was he amused? Was there something funny about this?
I planted my fists on my hips and glared at him. “You have a better idea?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t assume so. But I am curious as to what you think will happen when you summon a minor creature of darkness.”
Spud was absolutely fascinated by him, tail wagging slowly, stopping, then wagging again as he listened to every word that fell out of Than’s mouth.
“For one thing,” I said. “I’d expect it to be less judgmental than the current creature of darkness in front of me.”
His eyes glittered. He didn’t smile, but he did narrow his eyes in something like glee.
“You will order the minor demon to wield the scissors against Bathin. The Prince.”
“Yes. I’m going use a demon to cut Delaney’s soul away from Bathin.”
“Who is a creature you harbor feelings for.”
“I harbor feelings for a lot of creatures,” I said evenly.
Thantsked.I ignored him.
“Listen. My sister is in a coma. I’m done waiting for a better solution. This isn’t ideal, but I don’t care. Waiting for perfect isn’t going to work anymore.”
He was silent, dark eyes intense as if there were nothing else in the universe as interesting as me. It was disconcerting and welcome. If I was going to pull this off, I’d need him engaged and on my side.
“Delaney Reed is in a coma?” It was said softly, but there was enough power behind it, I fought not to step back, turn, run.
“Just happened. Ryder and Jean are with her. She’s stable.”
“But unconscious.”
I nodded, not trusting that I could get the words out. My throat was closing up. It was fear, it was instinct. Survival instinct.
He blinked, once, and the terror pushing at the back of my throat eased.
“I see.”
“So I’m going to get her soul back,” I said. “Now. Before the next vortex opens.”
He stroked his palm over Spud’s head, once. Spud leaned his whole body into Than’s knee.
Than tipped his head downward, the slightest of movements. It made him look like a predator catching the scent of its prey.
“You will not entrust Delaney’s soul to some low-level demon, Myra Reed.” The words were soft, but they were deep and sonorous, and a shiver feathered down my spine.
“I’ll do anything I have to and you can’t stop me. Not here in this town where I’m the law.”
Than lifted one eyebrow. Right. He was also sort of the law. But he was a god on vacation who had to follow the rules.
“Let me clarify,” he said. “It would be foolish to summon an unknown demon to do your bidding when you have other options.”
“What options? I can’t use the scissors, I can’t trust Xtelle to use the scissors. Who else do I have?”
“Me.”
Spud wagged his tail while I tried to get my brain around that. “You can use the scissors?”
