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I was no death singer, but I considered myself a good friend. My alleged criminal status meant nothing to Katie. I knew she wouldn’t take a penny from us for staying at her inn, so the gifts were the least I could do.

The inn lurched from side-to-side a bit, then settled into place with a thud.

“I believe your hostage has arrived,” Katie said, reaching out and hugging me.

“Enjoy yer tea and music,” I said. “I’m going to head to the basement and play good cop.”

Katie’s mouth quirked up at the corners. “Was Connlander playing bad cop? Oh, I bet he loved that.”

ChapterEleven

Isquared off with the ginormous red-skinned, black-horned being. He towered so tall over me that his head nearly touched the basement ceiling, which was at least twelve feet high. It was rare for Conn to go this large. He must have felt like his size made a stronger impression.

“Katie called ya by yer whole name when she spoke about ya. That’s two people in less than twenty-four hours, Conn. Who else knows yer name? Am I going to spend my life mind-wiping people I like to save yer arse? Stop laughing at me. It’s not funny.”

Conn’s demon chuckle sounded exactly like a creature who enjoyed bringing death. He vibrated with an ominous energy like the kind that tormented a person in their nightmares. I was immune, thank the Goddess, but I noticed Rasmus had pushed back into the corner of his cage to glare at both of us.

Eventually, Conn turned away from me to walk off his amusement. Getting his jollies had probably made my job a lot harder. “Stop laughing, Conn. It’s seriously not funny.”

“No, it’s hilarious.”

Realizing he would not explain himself, I gave up and dropped my hands. Conn morphed from his demon form back into his “Aran’s brother” persona and shoved his hands in his pockets as he turned back to me.

“Looking contrite changes nothing. People knowing yer name is a serious matter. I hope ya didn’t tell them lightly.”

His mouth quirked with humor. “Contrary to the way you make it sound, I don’t go around passing out business cards with it written on it. And they would need more than my name to do any harm. You know that.”

“Theoretical knowledge doesn’t count. Mulan and Katie are both magickal. You should be respectful of their power.”

Conn’s grin was my undoing. I could never stay mad when he did that.

“Katie is a lovely soul, but Mulan isdelectable.”

I held up my hand. “I’m not taking yer bait and asking what ya’re up to with Mulan. I don’t want to know.”

“I’m not up to anything,” Conn said, putting a hand over his heart. “I like her.”

“Katie or Mulan?”

“I love Katie the same as you. The Wu Shaman is in a whole other category.”

Since I agreed Mulan was unique, I decided it was best to let my interrogation go. Pretty much every conversation Conn and I ever had was like this. If I’d had a genuine brother, I’m sure I’d have worked just as hard to keep him out of trouble.

Raising my hand to signal defeat earned me another laugh. I turned away from Conn to look at my prisoner. “Hello, Rasmus. Sorry for the abduction, but knowing yer penchant for betrayal, I took extraordinary steps to keep the rest of yer kind out of my business.”

“You control a demon. I know that for certain now,” he said from the corner of his cage.

I smirked at him. “Conn is a witch’s familiar, just like I told ya. Controlling him would be a full-time job so I don’t even try to do it. We’re partners who share our life’s work. That’s how I think of him.”

Behind me, Conn snickered. “I love that you defend me to people who lack the ability to hear you. It almost makes me mushy.”

I glared at Conn. “This is yer fault. Ya said Rasmus knew where the demon portal was.”

Conn raised his finger and grinned. “No, I said your ponytail guy reeked of demon energy and that hemightlead us to the portal.”

“What’s the difference?”

Shrugging, a still grinning Conn found a wall and leaned against it.