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I bit back a retort. Of course a human wouldn’t get it. Especially not the one at my back. Asher guided me back down into the subterranean floor of his house, and I was helpless to do anything but let him lead me on.

Brad glared at me from one of the couches. A moment later, he seemed to realize I was topless, his face transforming from annoyance to surprise. My lips thinned. He, I noticed, had found some clothes.

I passed Brad, and then I was led back into the cell. Back to the metal toilet and the rickety bed. Back to being trapped in a cage below the earth, deep in the enemy’s den.

Asher released my wrists. I swiveled around just as he stepped out of the cell and slammed the door shut.

Gods above, I was living a nightmare.

Asher

“Did you forgetshe was ademon?” Pacing in front of Brad’s miserable self on the couch, I jammed my fingers through my hair. “Are youinsane?No, seriously, are you literally insane?”

“Oh, shut up.” He zipped up his fly and reached for his shirt. “I thought she was being serious. They’re supposed to be crappy liars.”

“Have youseenher try to lie?” I gestured toward Lana’s cage. “She’s got like a billion tells. She’s a freaking open book. But no, you weren’t thinking with your brain, you were thinking with your dick.”

Reinstated in her cage, Lana shielded her chest as she stretched on her skintight jumpsuit, her lower lip quivering as she tried not to cry.

For a split-second I felt bad for her, and it made me bristle.

I jabbed my finger at her, averting my gaze with a clenched jaw. “Lana, put your goddamn clothes back on and quit trying to make us feel sorry for you... I know your tricks.”

“I’mnot... I’m not doing anything,” she whimpered.

Brad frowned. “What’s your problem, man? She’s a freaking healer. She had no problem with humans until you went and made a problem. Now she hates us. All of us. You know, it’s people like you, you and your stupid hate... and you wonder why demons despise us.”

“Brad, even if, by some fluke, you did score a quick lay,” I said, doing my best to ignore the shame and sadness wafting off her, “demons mate for life. She would have been bonded to you. You think Dominus hates us now, imagine how he’d feel after you boned his daughter. I mean, shit, compared to you, I’d seem like a saint.”

“You would have fallen for it too, you ass.”

“No, I wouldn’t, because she’s a demon and she terrifies me, and I’d rather be stuck in a cage with a giant Anaconda.”

“Look, my bad, alright? At least we figured out her minor affinity is seduction.”

“Seduction?” I shook my head in disbelief. “No, you oaf, her minor affinity is taking on other people’s bodies. Major affinity—healing. Minor affinity—taking on different bodies.” I counted them off on my fingers. “Two affinities accounted for. No seduction. That’s not even a thing. Why? What’d she say to you, anyway? What got you all hot and bothered?”

“Uh...” he scratched behind his ear, “to be honest, she was spitting some pretty mad game there, she might have thrown in some hypnosis, kind of lost track...”

I peered at the demon, who was slumped forlornly against the bars like a wilted flower. I could hardly fault Brad for falling for it, for her.Just look at her.Unlike other demons, she hardly seemed capable of evil. Watching her fall apart, I had to fight the sudden urge to comfort her, to protect her, like I would a human girl.

My nostrils flared.Careful, Asher.

Like a siren, it was her very nature that was seductive, tempting, poisonous.

I opened my mouth, but never got the chance to respond.

The ceiling creaked.

I stilled and pressed my finger to my lips, my senses on high alert.

Slowly, footsteps crossed overhead, loosening thin streams of dust.

“What’s up there?” Brad whispered, easing himself to his feet.

“We’re right under my bedroom,” I replied, licking my dry lips.

The footsteps halted, and after a moment of silence, trudged on.