Page 79 of Bond of Passion

“But you haven’t told us where you live.” Her father stopped in front of her. “What you’re doing.”

“I live with three friends in Australia—”

“You live in the human realm?” her mother said in a rush, all kinds of scandalized.

“I told you it’s awesome,” Malifik butted in. He glanced over at Deja. “I’ve been thinking of getting a place in Melbourne. The nightlife is off the hook.”

Melbourne had been taken over by the worst demons, and Deja refused to step foot there. Most of Australia had been claimed by evil since the demon world had been revealed to humans, but Sydney stood out as a relatively orderly place. Some humans even remained there as relations between demons and humans worked themselves out.

“I live in Sydney, but I work at Underworld General Hospital. I’m a nurse.”

Both Malifik and her mother grimaced. The idea of helping people instead of hurting them was a foreign concept. Deja had always believed her father felt the same way, but he was looking at her with admiration.

Her eyes stung with emotion, and she had to scoot before she revealed more weakness than her mother and brother could probably tolerate.

“I really do have to go. Tavin is probably getting worried, and he’s definitely—” She broke off at the realization of what she was saying. She was actually worried about Tavin being concerned. And she’d also almost told her parents that her mate was getting horny.

Her mom looked at her in horror. “Are you…do you…have feelings for this assassin? The male who killed you?”

“I know how it sounds,” she said, still in disbelief that she was defending the guy. “But he didn’t want to kill me back then. He had to.”

“Oh, he had to.”

“He loved me, Mother. And I loved him.” She rolled her bottom lip for a second. “I still do.”

Her mom threw up her hands in frustration. “This is ridiculous.” She rounded on Deja’s father. “This is your fault. You and your Neebless goodness.”

Her father snarled, got up in her mom’s face, and growled, “Enough, my queen. Or I shall have you strung up naked on the east wall for all to whip as they pass by.”

Father? Taken aback, Deja stared in horror as her mother laughed. “I love when you threaten me like that.”

Pyre smiled, a slow, intimate expression that made Deja wish she was anywhere but here. “Why do you think I do it?”

“Ew. Is this…your foreplay?” She waved her hands. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

Her father swung around, his fangs still bared. “You will let us know what happens between you and this…Tavin?”

“Of course. And if I decide not to kill him, we’ll all have to get together.”

And wouldn’t that be fun…?