“Mostly?” Focusing on the conversation intended for my benefit takes effort with Amazra staring at me.
“William is a somewhat-distant family member of mine,” Dauphine says. “He’s not fully elven—human and elven physiologies are alike in most ways, but not all. William wasn’t aware of his elven heritage or the existence of any sentient nonhumans before I brought him to live in Fate’s Falls after…an incident. Amazra very kindly hired William so I can help him adjust to life here.”
Elven. That explains her pointed ears, porcelain-fair skin and hair. She’s breathtakingly beautiful. Yet, Amazra’s eyes haven’t strayed from me for even a second. As ifI’mthe mesmerizing one, not the stunning blonde at his side.
Dauphine’s eyes sparkle like pale-blue crystals. “I’d guess William is around your age. He’s twenty-five.”
“Close. I’m twenty-seven.”
“Lovely! You have a long life ahead of you.” She glances at Amazra as she says it, subtly shrugging when he doesn’t acknowledge or join the conversation. “If you’re interested, Lilah, I can introduce you and William after hours sometime.”
I open my mouth to answer, closing it before a single syllable passes through my lips.
BecausenowAmazra’s attention shifts to his elven employee. His steady, serious expression doesn’t change, but his red eyes glow brighter.
Dauphine doesn’t seem bothered. Her friendly smile transforms into a mischievous smirk as she directly meets his glare.
Beside me, Holly covers a laugh with a small cough. “No rush, Lilah, but whenever you’re finished here, we can head over to the clinic and see if you’re compatible with Dr. Daemon.”
Amazra’s head turns sharply in our direction as he levels his attention at my host. Then his gaze meets mine again. Serious and narrowed beneath his thick brow, but minus the glare. “You desire compatibility with him?”
“Ideally, yes. I’d really like to continue working as a veterinary technician, and he’s more likely to hire me if our personalities jibe.”
“I do not know this word ‘jibe,’” Amazra says.
“He’ll hire you because he needs a good assistant, and because I’m going to tell him he has to,” Holly says with a laugh, ignoring Amazra. “And of course, Daemon will likeyou. It’s basically a question of whether you want to work with him. He can be a bit…well, forward.”
“Forward how?” Needing a reason to move so I’m not fidgeting, I shimmy my small card wallet out of the secret pocket in the back of my leggings’ waistband.
“Basically, he lacks a filter,” Holly says. “Just says whatever’s on his mind, appropriate or not.”
The seams of Amazra’s snug-fitting t-shirt are further put to the test when he crosses his arms over his chest. “He is a hell demon who cares only about his pleasure.”
“That’s not entirely accurate.” Pink blooms across Dauphine’s high cheekbones. “It’s true he’s very focused on pleasure, but notjusthis.”
This time, when I say, “Oh?” it’s with personal interest. If the veterinarian is a hell demon and Dauphine has been physically intimate with him, maybe there could be something between me and Amazra in the future. If he ever wants to do more than stare at me, that is.
“Daemon will want to fornicate with you.”
I nearly choke on my tongue at Amazra’s deadpan comment.
Dauphine and Holly, on the other hand, simply nod their agreement.
“Well, I’m not interested in”—I clear my throat—“that kind of relationship.”With the veterinarian, are the words I don’t say.
Holly pulls me in for the kind of side-hug that long-time friends share. “You will be one day, when you’re ready and it’s the right person, which will never be Daemon.”
This would be a good spot for a funny comeback if I could think about anything other than the demon staring at me from across the counter. I already know I want Amazra to be my right person one day, unlikely as that reality might be. “How much do I owe you for the scones? You put quite a few in the box.”
“Nothing. They are a gift.”
“Thank you. I know I’m going to enjoy them.”
His gaze follows the pink box as I slide it off the counter to hold it against my chest. Against mybreasts. When his eyes rise and meet mine, they’re glowing again. A different kind of brightness this time. One that sends tingling warmth to all the right places.
“Return tomorrow. I will bake cinnamon scones in the morning and set some aside for you.”
“What’s a good time to come?”
