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I grab one of her pillows and tuck it under my chest. “I already know how this will play out: you’re going to screw him then screw him over, and then he’s going to be huffy, and he’ll take it out on me because I’m your best friend.”

She gives me the side-eye, taking a swig from her bottle. “It would serve you right, you know. I’ve had to deal with Eli since you broke things off with him, and that man has had a bone to pick with me ever since.”

Oops. Temper has a point. Our business, West Coast Investigations, contracted some work out to Eli, who was a supernatural bounty hunter. I assumed our relationship—or lack thereof—wouldn’t affect our work.

Clearly, I assumed wrong.

“So,” Temper continues, “does he have a girlfriend?”

“Eli?” I lift a shoulder. “I wouldn’t know.”

She gives me a look. “Callie,” she says emphatically, “you and I both know I’m not talking about Eli.Malaki.”

Poor, poor Malaki. Seems he’s going to have more to do with Temper in the coming days whether he knows it or not. She’s charming as hell when she wants to be.

“No clue,” I say.

I don’t even know if fairieshavegirlfriends or boyfriends. They seem like the kind of creatures to have courtships rather than dates, and betrotheds rather than significant others. And apparently, if you’re a ruler,harems.

I suppress my shudder.

“Hmm…” Temper takes another swig from the bottle, completely oblivious to where my mind is.

The urge to drink rises in me. Damn Des for forcing me to be sober. I could use a little liquor for this conversation.

“Is the eye patch real?” she asks.

I just give Temper a look.

“It is, isn’t it?” She says this like it’s some great revelation. “I want to see what’s under it.”

“Has anyone told you you’re seriously disturbed?”

“Says the girl who loves to fuck bad men. Howisthe Bargainer in bed? I bet he’s got really good tongue game.”

I coulddefinitelyuse a little liquor for this conversation.

“Temper, I don’t want to kiss and tell.”

“What? Youalwayskiss and tell.”

That was back when the men didn’t matter, and it was fun to laugh about some sexual situations I got myself into. But intimacy with Des…it feels different,sacred.

“It’s the best I’ve ever had,” I admit primly, “and that’s all I’m going to say.”

Temper eyes me over the bottle. “The best you ever had?” She whistles. “And here I thought this guy was a bad influence.”

“Oh, he’s still a bad influence,” I say, my eyes going distant.

Des may be my soul mate, but he’s still the man who tricks me into jumping off buildings, who kills remorselessly, who still intends to collect repayment from me.

“Whatever you say.”

The two of us talk for a bit more. It’s only once the alcohol hits Temper’s system and makes her sleepy that I tuck her into bed and steal away from her room.

I spend an extra few seconds quietly closing her door.

“You have some explaining to do.”