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When I was in magickal school, they explained that demon ability was something science-y having to do with slower vibrations and their frequency differing from humans. I don’t recall all the details, but even as a teenager I understood not all demons were equally frightening.

Sorting them out in the work I did, though, was definitely best left to magick professionals like me. They were tricky, irreverent, and had skills in the plane that could turn those like Rasmus into their puppets.

“Are we sure this is the right place?” Rasmus asked.

I watched him reach up and rub his ear in the very spot I’d discovered the first compulsion mark. He wasn’t grabbing at his crotch like Michael Jackson yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he did that next. The memories were obviously still in his head. He just couldn’t reach them.

“Conn is going to check around to see if he finds any demon trails. He says they shed energy and it creates tracks.”

“Effluvium,” Rasmus said.

I chuckled in the dark. “That’s right,” I said.

We waited another ten minutes. An unmarked cop car drove by and turned to make another pass to check us out. I grabbed Rasmus by the shirt and pulled him close. “Boost me up on the car,” I ordered.

“What?” he asked.

“We’re not moving from this spot until Conn returns. Lift me up and set me on the car. When that cop comes back, I want you to stand between my legs. We need to make him think we’re hanging out and flirting.”

“What about Jack?”

Yesterday, he barely mentioned Jack’s name. Talking about him now was solid proof Rasmus was still under a compulsion. I either missed finding one or the suggestions about Jack hidden in the one behind his ear had returned full force.

“My ex-husband is not here. Ya’re the one here. Do as I say.”

The cop’s lights swung around the building and headed our way. Rasmus saw him, reached down, and then boosted me onto the hood like I was light as a feather. He slid himself between my parted thighs, which made me laugh genuinely and not have to fake it.

“Ya’re a big guy, aren’t ya? It’s been a long time since I spread my thighs this wide for a thrill.”

“Hush,” Rasmus said, watching the cop instead of me.

His hands squeezed my hips and nearly covered my butt. Everything about this man was extra-large. I laughed and felt sixteen again. I told myself any woman would feel girlish with a good-looking man standing in such an intimate position with her.

The cop car slowly creeped by us, but sped up as he went by. Seconds later he tossed his light on the top of his cruiser and sped off through the night.

I stayed where I was, enjoying the moment even though the threat was gone.

A regular car rounded the corner shining its lights on us too. Rasmus pulled me across the hood until he leaned into me. My gasp of surprise seemed far too loud to my ears. I hoped he hadn’t noticed it.

His head bent to mine and a little shiver passed over me as his breath tickled my ear. “Why aren’t we going inside the church?” he asked.

His comment had me blinking, but I snapped out of my lust-fueled daydream when a mongrel dog growled nearby. Rasmus stiffened and pulled me closer. Even a demon compulsion couldn’t quite stifle his male urge to shield me from potential danger.

Not that Conn was a danger to either of us.

“That has to be the ugliest dog form ya’ve ever used,” I said, looking down at Conn.

Conn responded with a disgusting doggie sneeze.

I patted Rasmus on the arm. “Down, please.” I had to pat harder before he actually did it.

I missed the heat of him when I was standing alone again, but I couldn’t be thinking about my needs just yet.

“Are they inside?” I asked.

The dog barked.There are more of them than I expectedand not all from the same caste.You will need the mantle. Draw on me for it.

I nodded that I heard.