Page 70

“You only use semantics when it suits your argument. And you wield humor like a weapon.”

I pushed out my lip and pretended to pout. “I’ve run out of faults to comment on. All I got left is that ya kiss like a man who knows what he’s doing. I really like that about ya. We might do a bit more of it if ya survive.”

Rasmus rolled my hand and thumbed my knuckles. “You’re fearless when it comes to doing what’s right, no matter what it costs you.” He lifted my hand and held the back of it to his lips for a kiss. “I’m afraid of what’s going to happen. Part of me wants to tell the demoness to leave me like this. But... I can’t. If I turn evil on you, what will happen?”

“I’ll put ya in a cage in Katie’s basement until I can talk some sense into you. That’s what friends do.”

“I thought you said we were frenemies.”

“Well, we are, but every friendship has to start somewhere.”

His head dropped. “I’m glad you went through with the divorce. If you were still married to Jack, I wouldn’t be able to admit how nice it was to kiss you.”

I giggled... and lied. “That little lip brush was a kiss? Goddess, I barely remember it.”

Rasmus smirked and tugged me tight to the table as he leaned forward. “Next time I’ll do better.”

“How about this time?” I asked. “I mean... next time seems a long way off and we don’t know what surprises tonight will bring.”

His lips found mine with an ease that surprised me. He must have been thinking of kissing me again as much as I had thought of kissing him. My left hand rose to one side of his face to keep him where he was. His mouth was hungry, exploring, and yet gentle as he pulled my bottom lip between his teeth.

Yielding to my desire to really kiss him, I opened my mouth to let him inside just before he pulled away. I blinked in shock, and then noticed Conn stood in the kitchen doorway smirking at me.

“I know we were all having a good time—you two kissing and me watching—but we have to go. It’s eight-thirty.”

I nodded and pulled my hand away from Rasmus. “Alright.” A horn honked outside the house. “And that’s our ride. Let’s go then.”

We gathered our things and went outside to the car. Conn sat up front with the driver. Rasmus and I sat in the back. His hand sought mine and held it tightly.

Was this the beginning of something? It didn’t feel like it. It felt more like a desperate goodbye.

We walked to the park from the bar and found Lilith sitting on a park bench waiting for us. Ten or more of her guards surrounded her on all sides.

Rasmus stopped in front of her. “Did you do what you did to protect your people from me?”

One of Lilith’s eyebrows arched. “Does it matter?”

“Yes. It matters to me. I don’t want anyone to see me like the guy who attacked us,” Rasmus said.

Lilith gazed at him for a long time. “When a female carries a child, she is vulnerable. That is true no matter how powerful she is. The expectant mother will compromise much to deliver her baby safely. The same mother will later prostitute herself and her morals to keep her child safe. When humans could not siphon power from demons to improve themselves, they found an even older source and stole its power. You are connected to that source. If I knew its name, I would tell Aran and Conn, but the truth eludes me.”

“Am I a thief who stole some ancient creature’s power?”

“I don’t know what you are. All I know is that even your demon hunter keeper feared you. They destroyed many of their own trying to create beings like you. I can’t explain why they kept you alive or how they did it.”

“Did they fear me the way all demons fear Conn?”

Lilith shook her head and laughed. “We do not fear Connlander of the Fir Bolg. We love and loathe him equally. He gave away his freedom so we could all keep ours. He is our savior whether we like that fact or not. He will command all our kind as our one true king forever.”

Rasmus looked over at me but spoke only to Lilith. “Will I remember talking to you? Or to anyone?”

“You will remember what the gods wish you to remember,conflicted one. It is the same for all of us. However,” Lilith said, turning to smile at me. “No one forgets crossing the path of a child of The Dagda. Even when she’s a witch with poor taste in men.”

I grinned at the demoness. “Are ya throwing stones from the window of yer glass house?”

“Only this once, Aran ofThe Dagda. Remember you asked me to do this.”

“I won’t forget,” I said, bowing my head.