“Oh! Sorry to bother you.” She hurried away.
“We're friends are we?” he asked, a smile lifting one side of his mouth.
“Until we're not,” I said and waved him into my office.
He chuckled as he stepped inside.
While I shut the door, he looked around, but it wasn't out of interest. I'd seen the look before. On warriors. A quick check of the area. Safety first.
“I'm Lora Hermokrates,” I said and held out my hand.
He yanked the curtains across the huge window that overlooked the gallery before he swung around and wrapped my hand in his. “Hermokrates?” he asked as we shook. “You belong to Hermes?”
I yanked my hand free of his. “I belong to no one.”
He snorted. “Your name says differently.”
“And your name is still missing from this conversation.”
“My apologies. I'm Rune Demos.”
“Demos,” I murmured. Just as he recognized my name as one given to the chosen of Hermes, so I recognized his surnameas one chosen by the Hounds of Hades. For themselves. “You're a Cerberus.”
Rune grinned wickedly. “That I am. Now, back to your name. Are you his or not?”
“I am both,” I said.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that Hermes gave me eternal life, but it's stillmylife, to do with as I wish.”
“Oh? So, if I were to ask you on a date?”
I blinked.A date? With a Hound of Hades? Holy shit.
I cleared my throat and lifted my chin. “I would agree to go. If I wanted to.”
“Do you?” Rune drew closer, close enough for me to see the golden striations in his eyes.
“Are you asking?”
He licked his lips. Breathed in deeply. Said, “Yes.”
“Then my answer is yes as well.”
Rune grinned. “I'll be here at seven tonight, Lora.” He even said my name right, heavy on the O to differentiate it from the common Laura.
“Very well,” I agreed.
He brushed against my arm as he opened the door, then walked out.
I stared after him.
What had I done? I don't even know why he walked into my gallery. What was a hound doing here? And what was I thinking, saying yes to him?
“I'm thinking that I deserve some fun,” I said.
Chapter Two
