It was past six o’clock now. Ryder would know something was wrong when I didn’t show up. He’d come out here looking for me.
Or would he?
He’d been staying out until three in the morning without checking in. He’d missed countless dinners. Hell, I’d missed dinners, too.
This wasn’t unusual. If I missed our date by a half hour, by an hour, it wouldn’t be unusual. I didn’t even think he’d worry if I missed our date by two hours. He’d just assume work kept me away. Or worse, that I was staying away because I was angry.
Okay, who else might know something was wrong? Jean? Myra? Not unless their gifts clued them in.
And that was it. Everyone would assume I was where I was supposed to be—off work, with Ryder, on a date.
There would be no one riding to the rescue. This damsel was gonna have to un-distress herself.
Chapter Fifteen
“Pick up the Feather, please.”
The demon stood directly across from me, the table between us. Since demons could choose to appear any way they liked, he was no longer in a uniform but instead wore a plain brown suit trouser with a white T-shirt tucked into it. He’d rolled the sleeves on the T-shirt, and instead of a belt, black suspenders buttoned at his waistband.
I took a second to really try to imprint him in my memory. Salt-and-pepper hair, dark brows, he resembled Jon Hamm, if the actor had gold eyes.
“Delaney, please pick up the Valkyrie Feather.”
I locked my arm tight against my ribs, but my hand reached out, lifted the Feather.
“Lay it across the bowl.”
My gaze shot up to him again. “No.”
He frowned. “Do it carefully.”
“No.” I said the word, but my hand was moving. “No,” I repeated, a little panicked.
He sighed, and my hand stopped moving.
“Why not?”
I blinked. “What?”
“Why don’t you want to place the Feather across the bowl?”
Here it was, where my words would be weapons, not shields. Carefully, oh so carefully, wielded.
“I want no part of this spell.”
“That’s non-negotiable, unfortunately. I give you my word that if this could have worked with any other person, I would have chosen that path.”
“Why does it have to be me?”
I was buying time. But no one was coming, so hopefully time would give me a chance to think up a way to escape. Or better yet, a way to trap him.
“I am a demon. The only way into Ordinary is by your agreement.”
“I didn’t agree to you being here.”
“True. I seized upon a small opportunity most demons would not have seen.”
“Let me guess. My wounded soul?”
