Page 25 of Bond of Passion

Chapter 8

“Deja!” Ronnie ran out of the kitchen in the upscale Sydney apartment they shared with two other roommates, a tropical drink in her hand. “You’re just in time.”

Deja barely had time to toss her work bag onto the entry bench before Ronnie took her arm and led her onto the deck overlooking the park, where several demon families were doing demon things with their kids.

All of Australia had been claimed in the name of demons now, and most of it was overrun by the worst demonkind had to offer. But Sydney was an oasis in the desert, a growing, modern city run by demons who wanted to fit in with humans instead of kill them. The demons who lived here desired respect, not scorn.

Too bad humans had a long, ugly history of not welcoming those who looked different.

Although…in this case, they had cause to be wary. Most demons were evil.

But still.

Chelanneand Eileen were at the patio table, talking to someone via a Zoom call on Chelanne’s laptop.

Eileen grinned. “It’s my sister’s birthday. We’re singing an appropriate song.”

The song turned out to be a raunchy and bloody Sheoulic wish for good eating, drinking, sexing, and vanquishing of enemies, and when they finished with the celebration, the topic turned to work and all the cool stuff they’d gotten to do in their first week at UG.

Ronnie had assisted with the deliveries of four infants, one of which had been a medical emergency. Eileen had worked on a cardiac arrest, two severed limbs, and a half-dozen infected bite wounds. Chelanne had treated a lot of broken bones and emptied a bunch of bedpans.

“You got the shaft,” Eileen said to Deja. “You’ve been stuck with one recovering patient.”

“Yeah, but have you seen him?” Ronnie fanned her face. “Seminus demon. She might have gotten the literal shaft.” She shot Deja a knowing wink, and Deja rolled her eyes.

“Ooh.” Eileen leaned forward. “Have you been helping him in more ways than one?”

She laughed. “Of course not. How unprofessional.”

“But you’ve thought about it.”

“No.” Yes. It wasn’t her fault, though. Tavin had been lying there, a massive tent in the sheet. She couldn’t help it if her imagination had gotten away from her.

It also wasn’t her fault that she’d brushed his muscular ass with her hand as she’d helped Shade turn him over. If his ass hadn’t been so touchable, she wouldn’t have done it.

Totally his fault.

Liar.

Ronnie sipped at her drink and batted her eyes. “I hooked up with his brother.”

All heads cranked around to Ronnie. “Grim?” Deja gasped. “You slept with Grim?”

“Oh, there was no sleeping involved,” Ronnie said, and everyone laughed. “Don’t be surprised if he shows up tonight. We’ll try to keep the noise down.”

“Don’t you dare,” Eileen said. “I have to live vicariously through you.”

While human in appearance, Eileen’s species couldn’t have intercourse with any but theirs. Something to do with vaginal teeth.

Shudder.

Chelanneplucked a chip out of the bowl at the center of the table and waved it at Deja. “So...are you going to pay him back for saving your life?” She scooped up some salsa. “Wink, wink.”

Smiling, Deja took a beer from the bucket of ice near the railing. “Oh, I’m going to pay him back,” she said. “I promise you that.”

* * * *

Tavin had never been as excited to go home as he was right now. As the Harrowgate flashed open, he inhaled the damp, chilly Irish air and smiled in anticipation of a hot fire and a cold beer. He might love vacationing in tropical settings, soaking up the sun and swimming in the ocean, but daily life had different requirements.