Page 48 of The Music Demon

“So you might say this is a proposal?”

“Yes.”

“Of what?”

“Mating!” He said it like there couldn’t possibly be more than one interpretation of his meaning.

“Aye. I supposed ‘tis what you were gettin’ at. But what do you mean by, em, mating? Talk it out like I’m human and do no’ fully understand all the implications of what ye mean.”

“It’s like the human of marriage, but forever isn’t easily overturned. Forever means forever. There’s devotion. Loyalty.”

“Affection?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“But no’ love.”

“What’s the difference?”

Shivaun laughed softly. “People smarter than I have been tryin’ to define love, well, probably for as long as you’ve been alive. ‘Tis the hardest thing to do. Maybe even impossible.”

“Then how do you know what it is?”

With a deep sigh, she said, “I’ve ne’er been in love.” She wasn’t entirely sure that she hadn’t gone and fallen for the demon with the arresting smile and the silver tongue, but she let the statement stand. “So I can no’ tell you from firsthand experience, but people say ‘tis when you care more for the happiness and welfare of the other person than for yourself.”

Lyric cocked his head. “That’s impossible.”

She grinned. “Aye. Maybe. But you can no’ hit a target you do no’ aim at.”

A shroud of heaviness was beginning to settle around Lyric as he realized the human-turned-demon understood humans. But not demons. “How can I be something other than I am? A fish is not a bird.”

“What are ye lyin’ about?”

He blinked rapidly. “Nothing.” His protest sounded sincere.

“I call gornishit on that. You lied about somethin’ just now.”

With a quick mental rewind, he snagged on the fish is not a bird thing. “Oh, well. In Narlshead Dimension, there are fish with wings. They can fly for a short time until they need to submerse and breathe. That wasn’t lying. It was an oversight.” She smiled and shrugged as if to say she accepted that explanation. “You want me to put you first. And, if I do, you’d be satisfied that I would make a suitable mate?”

“Well, aye, ‘twould be a good start. What was it you had in mind when you took my sister? Did ye think she was goin’ to fall in love?”

“I… Honestly, I don’t remember. The idea of a female demon was fascinating. As rare as blood-red painite. Forming a union with a female? None of us ever expects such a thing. So. I couldn’t let the chance escape without a little detour from same old same old.”

“But she was the one you grabbed.”

“Only because I didn’t know you existed. Like I told you, the first time I heard your name I knew I had the wrong female.”

“Look here. I like you, demon. You’re very attractive. Fun to be with. And a good kisser. At least I think so. Perhaps I should just say your kisses are pleasurable since I do no’ have much to compare with. You have good ideas for dates and I think your heart is in the right place with your, em, projects. If Doo Darby is typical. But I’m no’ committin’ to anything less than love. My mum got it. My sister got it. And I want it.”

Lyric felt his spirit sag along with his shoulders. If he could have lied to get what he wanted, he wouldn’t have hesitated. Unfortunately, the female he’d set his sights on knew when he was lying. It was a conundrum, but demons don’t say die easily. Demons are hard core dealmakers which calls on problem-solving skills. He’d figure it out.

“We promised to take your project to breakfast and outfit him for a new life. We should be goin’ now,” she said. “’Twas a nice evenin’ even if we did no’ have the chance to do damage to miscreants.”

She rose and brushed off the seat of her dark gray jeans. That simple action reminded Lyric, once again, that Shivaun was far more human than demon. It would take a long time before she took for granted that dust wouldn’t dare try to stick to her clothes. In fact, she might not ever shed such things completely. She was a fully formed adult, physically and mentally, when she underwent a change that he imagined was unimaginable. She might always be an elfess in a demon suit.

He let that fully sink in. If that was the case, he was the one who was going to have to do the changing. Great Paddy.

“Come on,” she urged. “Do no’ squat there and pout like a gargoyle. Cheer up. I said yes to bein’ your girlfriend. I’m just no’ interested in bein’ your mate.”