“I need to see a picture of them. Oh, better. You need to wear them to work tomorrow.”
“I wasn’t aware galoshes were dress code for a reserve officer.”
“Oh, I think they’ll be just fine for the day. Perfect.”
Just thinking about Than in those boots helped take the hardest edges off my mood. I didn’t feel like I was shivering under cold water any more. Because I knew, somehow, I’d find a solution to our newest, gravest Bathin problem.
His hands warm and roughened, stroking ever so gently down my arm, my hips, wrapping around the top of my thigh and burying there between my legs.
The blush was back, heating me further. Stupid heart. No matter what I heard about Bathin, no matter what truth was handed to me on a platter, my heart still wanted to make excuses. He couldn’t be that evil. There had to be something more to him, something kind and strong and good.
My heart might be a fool, but my mind was not. As for my body—
—The flash of dream memory winged behind my eyes, lifting my heartbeat. His eyes curved as he laughed, his head thrown back, throat exposed.—
—yeah, my body had it bad for him.
Two against one, I guessed. But my body and my heart were not going to win.
“I’m happy with my life just the way it is,” I said, even though it had nothing to do with Death and his boots, and everything to do with the demon I could not keep my mind off of.
Than had already tucked his badge into his jacket, and seemed nonplused by the sudden change of subject. “Of course.”
He didn’t believe me.
Problem was, I didn’t believe me, either.
Being disastrously attracted to a man who was going to either devour my sister’s soul and rule the earth, or sell my sister’s soul to a different demon who would devour it and rule the earth, wasn’t the makings of a happy life.
And in what way could that end? Would I have to kill Bathin to save my sister?
“I don’t like killing people,” I said.
“I find it relaxing,” Than murmured.
“Me too,” the unicorn sighed.
I’d almost forgotten she was still in the cruiser. What I needed right now was more information. Solid data. The tug in my chest was warming, and instinct whispered it was time to visit the library.
“All right,” I said to the unicorn, “out.”
“But I’ll be bored!”
I threw the car into park, got out, and opened the door for her.
She hesitated.
“Nope.” I pointed at the house.
“But…”
“Out.”
She huffed, then lifted onto her dainty little hooves, and hopped out of the car. “I hate you.”
“Yep. We’ll find you another host who can entertain you. I think a couple of the Muses have room.”
“I refuse to be downgraded to a mere Muse. I shall give you one final chance to do better by me, Myra Reed.”
