Azareth kept her eyes on Gerald. “May I?”
Felix raised an eyebrow. “May you…?”
Gerald bowed —bowed!— his head and stepped onto Azareth’s outstretched hand. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she stared down at him.
Azareth held very still, letting the pigeon settle on her palm. She didn’t coo at him or speak in baby talk. Just regarded him with something that looked like utmost respect.
“You’ve seen a great deal,” she said quietly, as if Gerald could understand her. Perhaps he could. Her eyes seemed unfocused. “Survived what should have broken you. That takes strength.”
Gerald cooed again, softer this time.
The moment stretched, Azareth standing in the middle of a shabby kitchen, holding a rescue pigeon with the same care most people reserved for religious artifacts.
“Okay,” Ramona said slowly. “Well. This is Felix, and Felix, this is—” She paused. She couldn’t just introduce this demon as Azareth. She needed some kind of undercover persona. Something distinctly more human. “This is my friend Zara.”
Azareth’s gaze snapped to her. Something flickered across her face. Surprise, maybe.
Azareth — Zara — was very still. Just staring at Ramona with an expression that was hard to read. Then, quietly: “Zara.”
“Yeah. She’s from out of town,” Ramona began explaining, giving the same excuse to Felix as she had to Cammie. “She’s crashing in my room for a bit.”
“A friend.” Felix gave her a small, knowing grin. “Hmm. Bit of a small room to be crashing in.”
Ramona resisted the urge to stomp on his toes.
Zara gently transferred Gerald back to Felix’s shoulder. The pigeon cooed mournfully, staring back at the demon.
“You can visit him whenever,” Felix said. “He’s clearly smitten.”
“It would be my honor,” Zara said with solemnity.
Felix looked just as puffed up as Gerald by the compliment.
Posey emerged from her plant room, soil under her fingernails as always. “Did someone say we have a guest?”
“This is Zara,” Ramona said. “She’s visiting for a few days. Weeks. She’s from…” Ramona waved uselessly in the air, noticing that no one was really paying her much attention in light of the gorgeous woman standing in the room.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Posey.” She smiled, warm and genuine. “Any friend of Ramona’s is welcome. There are vegan muffins on the counter if you’re hungry.”
Zara glanced at the muffins, then back to Posey, making a noncommittal sound.
“Well, if you change your mind.” Posey grabbed one for herself, retreating. “Here’s hoping Princess Buttercup doesn’t try to steal my second breakfast, too.”
“Princess Buttercup is a plant.” Ramona shook her head as Zara’s mouth opened, then closed. “It’s better we don’t get into all the lore just yet.”
Posey disappeared back into her plant room, leaving Ramona, Felix, Zara, and Gerald standing in the kitchen.
“Well,” Felix said. “Nice meeting you. See you around.” He gave an unabashed wink to Ramona, then a thumbs-up, and mouthed,She’s hot. Good job.
Ramona briefly considered if dying from embarrassment would be enough to break the tether, or if they’d just become tethered in Hell. Did Zara have roommates? Surely Hell would be an improvement.
Once the room was empty, Ramona lowered her voice. “Okay, you may have been right. They might not have noticed the whole demon thing immediately.”
“Mortal, are you trying to apologize for doubting me?”
“Definitely not.” Ramona rubbed at the bridge of her nose. “I have to go to work,” she said.
“Yes, Mortal. I’m aware.” Zara was already straightening her jacket. “Which means I’m coming with you.”
