“What’s your end goal here? Just to mess with people’s lives?” I asked.
Faust sighed. “I really thought you were smarter than that, Sagitta.”
I ground my teeth. Being called stupid by my younger brotheranda demon in short succession was starting to piss me off.
“By the way, I don’t really care if you punch your brother or not,” Faust continued, his tone as casual as ever. “I thought you’d regret it later. But, not my problem, and not my choice to make. That’s my bad. I hate sex, but I do like violence.” He flashed a brilliant, fanged smile. “Please punch your family to your heart’s content.”
“Thanks,” I said sarcastically. Then the gears turned in my mind. This was as good a time as any to seek answers. “Why do you hate sex?”
“Oh my. What a rude and invasive question.”
I blushed, but I couldn’t muster too much shame over a demon’s sensibilities. Besides, I didn’t think Faust actually cared that much.
“Sorry. But let’s not beat around the bush here. You know I’m trying to exorcise you, andyoudropped the hint about the dildo store. Why bother if you’re not going to leave Chase’s body even after we... you know?”
Faust tapped his chin and put a hand on his hip. The flamboyant gesture looked out of place on Chase’s body. “I didn’t say I’dneverleave.”
I straightened up. Was he considering it?
“What do I have to do?” I demanded, growing frantic. “Is it sex? How much of it do we need to have?”
For all his apparent sex-hatred, Faust certainly looked amused when I brought it up. “Why don’t you keep trying and find out?” he teased.
“Damn you,” I said, scowling.
Faust let out an airy, carefree laugh. “You flatter me. Now dear, I think it’s best you go rest. You’re looking pale.”
I huffed. “A demon is worried about me? Now I’ve seen everything.”
“Yes, yes.” He shooed me away by waving his hand. “Go take a nap. We’ll talk later.”
I raised a brow at his overly familiar tone. It had to be another one of his tricks. Faust wasn’tactuallyworried about me... was he? Because that would be ridiculous. A demon, concerned for a human.
But truthfully, I really was tired. The adrenaline had long left my system, and now I struggled to hold back my fatigue. Fighting an imp, getting stitched up and drinking Hartford’s weird medicine, arguing with Cygnet, and nearly watching Chase die... it all hit me at once. I was exhausted.
“Maybe I’ll take a nap in my quarters,” I conceded. “But what about you? You can’t just walk around. For one thing, you’re a demon. And for another, Cygnet’s trying to kill you.”
“I know,” Faust said, totally unbothered. “How about I return the body to Chase, and he comes along with you? Sound good?”
I squinted. “Yes. Too good to be true.”
He groaned, flagrant and loud. “Ugh, you are so stubborn! Fine! Take him.”
Chase’s eyes rolled back. He stumbled forward, unsteady on his feet. I rushed to catch him.
He blinked a few times. When I saw that his eyes were blue again, relief swept over me. Faust had returned control, just like he promised.
Why? What is his purpose?
Chase rubbed his head. “Hey.” He sounded groggy but lucid.
“Did you catch any of that?” I asked.
“Yeah, I heard it all. Nap time at your place?”
I nodded, then shot a scrutinizing glance down the hall. I didn’t see Cygnet anywhere, and he hadn’t followed us. I wondered if Hartford instructed him to give us space after that fiasco in his office. If my brother listened to anybody, the ornery doctor was probably at the top of the list.
We passed the heated outdoor pond on the way to my quarters, paused to feed the blue betta, then reached my room.
