“Fine. One photo. But the autograph is fifty dollars. I knew fame would ruin my private life. Now I’m being harangued. Bullied. Ordered around by dirty photo-popping sharks out to make the glossy pages of every greasy celebrity magazine.”
“I am not a paparazzi. Where were you this morning at sunrise?”
“I was in my bed. Queens such as I do not rise before the sun. It gives us wrinkles.”
“Is there anyone who can attest to you being here in bed?”
“No. Hogan holds horrendously early hours at his shop. I was all alone.” Her lip wobbled and fake tears glossed the bottoms of her eyes. “So very alone.”
“Was Avnas not present?” Than asked. He had pulled out a little notebook that looked an awful lot like the one Myra kept on her.
“He was…busy. I’m sure.” She inched toward the door again.
“What was he doing that early in the morning?” I asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. Walking. Roaming. What is it humans do outside before dawn?Jopping?”
“Jogging,” I told her. “Avnas was out jogging. In bull form.”
“Really, Delaney, why are you asking me? It’s like you’re obsessed with him. Avnas this, Avnas that.” She gasped, and her mouth fell open. She pressed her hoof to her chest.
“You’re in love with him!” she said.
“I am not in love with him.”
“Youare. Why else would you show up here and demand of me, his one and only love, what he was doing in the morning? Was he with you? Did you lure my man away?”
She drew her head up and back, wrinkling her neck so it looked like she had triple chins.
“You floozy! You keep your Delaney mitts off of my man!”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Xtelle. I have no interest in your man. You can drop the outrage. Where is he right now?”
“Youarein love with him. You’re going to take him and leave me alone. Bereft. And I will have no choice but to stealyourman. Tell me, what size of wedding dress do you wear, because I am going to buy the exact same one and wear it tomywedding to Ryder…” she made a little gagging sound. “…Bailey.” She shuddered.
“The demon, Avnas,” Than said. “Tell us where he is. Now.”
It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t even all that unfriendly. It was, however, a command.
Xtelle stilled, and the drama-queen facade fell away, leaving the shrewd, calculating glimmer of demon queen in her eyes.
“You think you can command me?” she asked. “Having dropped your powers off to be stored on the shelf with other, cheap powers, like discount jars of pickles? You think you can command me to bow to your will? You are no god to me, Thanatos. Go fly a kite.”
“Xtelle,” he said, even more quietly. “Truth is required. These are Ordinary’s rules.”
He didn’t have power to wield. Not god power. He could tap into magic if he wanted, but this wasn’t that either. This was just…age, I thought. Aeons of him carrying the power of death, the finality of life.
It was heavy, weighting the air, as if the corners of the sky had been gathered into his fist and cinched tight.
“We’re asking as law enforcement,” I added. “You need to answer us.”
She narrowed her eyes, and the heat in her gaze was all demon. Then she blinked and once again appeared as innocent as a unicorn disguised as a pony. “He’s in the house.”
Than leaned back, just a fraction, and the oppressive weight in the air lifted. A light breeze stirred the warming day, and I swear the sun got just a little brighter.
“Lead the way to him,” Than said.
Xtelle tossed her mane again. “This is private property.”
