Page 7

Thankfully, I was no longer as stupid as I once was. Or maybe I only found him attractive because most people who visited were half my age. I admit I was lonely for company who could relate to me as an adult. I had too much time to analyze things in life these days and there was no one around to talk sense into me.

Over-thinking, which is what I called my tendency to dwell, did nothing but frustrate the saner parts of me.

My fantasies about the man’s hair for sure were a sign that it was time for me to resume a life that included having some male company now and again. Grateful for the epiphany he’d provided, I sipped my tea and stayed silent when he still didn’t offer to introduce himself.

Eventually, I had to speak because the silence was simply too awkward to stand.

“Ya don’t have to tell me yer name, of course. Everyone magickal knows there’s power in the label we receive at birth, so I understand yer hesitation.”

He lifted an eyebrow again, like he’d forgotten he hadn’t responded. I snorted but didn’t laugh.

“My name is Rasmus.”

His name sounded like the long rasp of a file as it slid across metal and hearing it told me my initial instinct was spot on about him. Since he appealed to me on some womanly level that felt ignored in the worst way, I suppose I secretly hoped to be wrong this once. But I was rarely wrong in intuiting what a person did for a living.

I lifted my cup to drink the last of my tea. The honey hiding at the bottom wasn’t enough to sweeten the bitter conclusion I had to force down my throat before I told him what I knew.

“Ya’re not a warlock, but power simmers along the edges of yer energy. It’s sharp and deadly, just waiting for a chance to be released.”

Rasmus grunted into his cup. “When you’re done guessing, let me know and I’ll tell you.”

“Oh, I know yer kind all too well, demon hunter. I was stalling while reminding myself not to cut yer throat until I discovered why ya came.”

He lowered his guilty gaze as he sipped the last of his tea. After a few seconds, his gaze lifted to mine again. His eyes reflected a sober unhappiness, and he looked resigned.

“Should I apologize for my entire profession?” he asked.

“Not for all,” I replied, pushing my empty mug around with twitchy fingers. “Yer work probably serves a good purpose as long as yer original purpose is good. Despite my husband’s threats to kill me and my family members, I don’t consider all yer kind to be arses of the lowest order. But I find that powerful males like yerself are often incapable of comprehending the gray areas of life.”

Rasmus shook his head. “That’s quite a denigration of my character when you really don’t know me.”

I put the strainer with the tea leaves back into my cup and glared at him. “Guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree on that point. My desire to know more about ya ended with yer confirmation of what ya’ve devoted yer life to doing. I haven’t forgotten my husband put his work above my well-being. Surely ya can’t be surprised by my mistrust.”

ChapterThree

My patience with his wordplay was wearing thin. It was time for him to get to the point before I lost my temper. “Why are ya really here, Rasmus? My husband hasn’t visited me in the whole seven years I’ve been trapped here. No demon hunter but yerself has darkened my door.”

Not bothering to dunk his strainer again, Rasmus pushed his cup of hot water in my direction. “Thanks for the tea, Aran... and you’re right. I came here to make you a deal. If you help us with a demon problem, the council will reduce your sentence.”

Never in a million years would I say yes to that sort of deal because my freedom was non-negotiable. I wanted their acknowledgement of my innocence as much as I wanted my property returned.

“Help ya how and with what?” I asked.

Rasmus blew out a breath before taking in a deeper one. “Demons are showing up in greater numbers than we can destroy. We haven’t been able to locate the Underdark portal where they’re entering this plane of existence. Jack said you might help us if we showed you leniency.”

“He’s right that Icouldhelp ya, but ya’ve given me no good reason to yet. And I’m not in the mood to play word games with ya. Offering me leniency when I did nothing wrong is a joke.”

Rasmus glared at me for all he was worth. “Demons are hurting some people and killing others. Why wouldn’t you help us just because it’s the right thing to do?”

I snorted. “Yer words and opinions can’t be trusted. Didn’t ya hear what I said about why I’m here? My husband threatened to kill me and someone else in my family. As if that wasn’t reason enough to hate ya all, one of yer council women stole my personal property. So take yer pick of those reasons, Rasmus. My actual list is much longer, but those are the top reasons why I’ll never agree to help ya for so little gain.”

Rasmus slapped a palm down on the table. “Look, we’ve exhausted all our efforts to find the portal. Twenty-seven demon hunters died last month because we failed. A bigger infestation of demons might be more evil than all magickals working together could eradicate.”

I softly chuckled at his dramatic claims. “Yes, well, I know only what the average magickal does about a demon’s goals, but I’d bet my supply of sweet biscuits this portal problem of yers is limited to this side of the ocean. Do ya know why, Rasmus? Because all other countries in the world have their own methods of dealing with the Underdark. There’s nothing for me in yer offer of alleged leniency except a lot of personal risk. So no thank you. I’ll be returning home as soon as I’m able and leaving ya to solve yer demon problems on yer own.”

Rasmus sighed. “Fine. Name your terms then. I know you have to wantsomethingbadly enough to help.”

I widened my eyes at the offer. “Seriously? Can ya grant me three wishes like a bloody djinn?”