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His brow slid up.“And who is the fool who rejected you?”

“Jagger.He’s a hellhound.You probably know him?”

His eyes sparkled.“Oh yes, I know him.”He slid his phone from his pocket.“Before we get to the business of why you’re here, shall we take a photo and send it to him?Shall we see if we can make steam come out of his ears?”

“What kind of photo?”

“One that makes him jealous,” he said, those pale eyes still glittering.“A male who spits in the face of the fates, who rejects such a precious gift, should be made to suffer, don’t you think?”

I snorted.“He doesn’t get jealous over me.I mean, he showed up when he thought I was hanging with someone dangerous, but it’s just the hound in him.You know, like an animal thing, instinct to protect me.It’s not actually because he wants me.Anyway, I’m pretty sure he’s gone back to Hell.He won’t care about a picture.He won’t respond.”

“Would you like to make a wager?”

“What kind of wager?”

“We send him a photo, and if he loses his shit, you win.If he doesn’t reply, I do.”

Hadn’t he been listening?That was the opposite of what I said.Why would I make a bet I’d lose?

Rune was dangerous, but only to demons who broke the rules.There was no way Jagger would be worried about me being here.I was part demon, Rune was the male in charge of demons in the city.He was no real threat to me, not if I was behaving.“I’ll definitely lose, and it’ll just hurt again when he proves he doesn’t care.”

Rune tucked my hair behind my ear and snapped a picture, then held it up.I was staring up at him, my face all flushed and eyes bright, and Rune’s tattooed hand was against my cheek.

“He won’t reply,” I said again.“I don’t think we should send it.”

“Would you like to hear my terms first?”

I shrugged.“Sure.”

He chuckled again.“If he replies in a way that shows jealousy, I’ll give you whatever it is that you’ve come here for, and I won’t charge my usual fee.You’ll get the friends and family rate, how does that sound?”

“I mean, it sounds great, but it won’t work,” I said.

His lips twitched.“Don’t be so defeatist.”

“He literally rejected me in a room full of people.I am defeated.”I felt drowsy and rested my head against the back of the couch.“You obviously know I’m right because why else would a demon risk pissing off a hellhound.He could hurt you.”

He winked.“Only Lucifer can call me home.The hounds have no authority over me.”

“They don’t?”

“Nope.And you said yourself he showed up when he thought you were in danger, that it was an animal reaction, right?I’m a powerful demon, you’re here all alone.Some would consider that alarming.So you have just as much of a chance as winning here.”

I shook my head.“This’ll be an easy win for you.”

“Only one way to find out.”

“What happens if I lose?”I realized he hadn’t shared that when he’d given me his terms.

“No friends and family rates for whatever brought you here tonight.Full price.”

I didn’t know what Rune’spricewas, but I’d come here prepared to pay it, so it wasn’t like I’d be losing anything.

“Shall I send it?”he asked, tilting his head to the side.

A sad, reckless, and yes, desperate little part of me hoped Jagger would get jealous.“Fine.Go for it.”

He typed something, then hit send.“Now we wait?—”