“Eva’s friend Skye is here.”
“Hm.”
“Apparently, she asked Eva about you more than once. Ash told me.”
“Is that so.”
“I don’t think Eva wants you to hook up with her though.”
He didn’t blame her. Eva’s best friend was fully human, oblivious to the supernatural world, and not gifted with the Sight. Eva knew well how unstable Bel was and what happened when he lost his temper.
Raum shot him a look. “So, are you gonna go for it?”
Bel’s jaw shifted. He didn’t respond. He wasn’t talking about this with Raum. Or anyone.
Raum shrugged and turned to observe Eva explaining how to use the spongy earplugs to Sunshine. When Sunshine continued to look confused, Raum stood and went over to assist. Bel watched with mild amusement as two different people demonstrated squishing the orange foam and shoving it into the ear canal while Sunshine looked mildly concerned.
A small human woman dropped into the chair across the table from him. She had tanned skin and shiny black hair, and Bel knew instantly who she was.
“Remember me?” she called over the loud music, a grin stretching her face. “We met one night like a year ago and—”
“I definitely remember you.” He flashed a brief smile.
How could he forget? Skye was the one who’d inspired his self-inflicted celibacy in the first place. The night they’d met, she had told him she’d decided to forgo any sexual contact for six months. Bel, sick of breaking promises to himself and giving into Naiamah’s manipulative sex bargains, had decided to join her. He’d left their conversation feeling like he was finally taking control of his life.
Now, he felt more out of control than ever.
In his peripherals, he saw Eva watching him with a frown. Asmodeus took her hand and led her toward the stage. She whispered something in his ear, and Ash shook his head and continued walking. Eva allowed herself to be led, but not without shooting another concerned glance over her shoulder.
“So?” Skye asked. “How did your pact go? Did you succeed?”
Naiamah laughed in my face, and it turned me into a horny ball of rage instead of just a regular ball of rage. Now I’ve become a recluse because I’m afraid I’ll kill a bunch of humans if anyone so much as breathes wrong around me.
“I succeeded.”I’m still succeeding, even now, whether I want to or not.
“Congratulations!” She laughed. “I succeeded too.”
“And? How did it go for you?” Hopefully at least one of them got something productive out of those six months of self-inflicted torture.
“It was amazing! It changed my life. I feel like a new woman.” She grinned, and he could see in her eyes that she meant it.
He tried to grin back but failed miserably. He was genuinely glad to see her thriving, but he was also a grouchy old bastard who’d forgotten how to make his smile muscles work. “I can tell,” he said. “You look good.” It was true. She did look good.
“Thank you.” She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “You know, I was hoping I’d run into you at some point.” She had to shout to be heard over the music. “I’ve seen Ash’s other brothers a bunch of times since that first night we met, but not you.”
“I don’t go out much.” Not anymore, anyway.
“Well, I’m glad you came out tonight.”
“Me too,” he replied, but he wasn’t sure yet if he meant it.
He kept waiting for the urge to flirt to hit. Skye was attractive, youthful and lively, but with an edge that made it clear she wasn’t innocent or naive. She was exactly the type of woman he would’ve gone for in the past.
The thing was … he was on edge around humans now. He couldn’t help it. He didn’t trust himself, and he knew his control was shit.
He glanced up and found Sunshine watching him. There might as well have been a spotlight on his head.Gather ’round, folks! Belial is talking to a girl!
Unlike Eva, however, Sunshine gave him an encouraging smile and a wink. At least someone believed in him.
