Page 49 of The Music Demon

The demon rose to his full height already calculating how to win her over. “You mean for now. You’re no’ interested in bein’ my mate for now.”

“Aye. ‘Tis a fair statement.”

“But the answer would be the same to any other demon. For the same reason. Right?”

She pursed her lips and looked away. “’Tis hard to say. Black Swan may be turnin’ other knights. They’d be like me. Demons with human hearts.”

The idea of competition made Lyric’s blood heat. In a bad way. “You mean that figuratively.”

“Whate’er.”

“Do you love me, Shivaun?” he blurted.

The look she cast his way was withering. “You have no right to ask for what you can no’ give, demon.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“’Tis the only one you’ll be getting’. Can ye no’ be pleased with what ye have?”

The answer was no. Definitely not. He couldn’t say what she wanted to hear. So silence was the best option. Even he understood that.

“I need to check in with Sher,” she said.

“Right now.”

“Aye. I’ll go with ye to the past with Doo Darby. I’m curious and I have an outfit.” She grinned.

Lyric chuckled. “You needn’t look so ecstatic about the ‘outfit’. I don’t approve because you already draw enough unwanted attention in understated clothes.”

“Who says attention is unwanted?”

“Therein lies the problem.”

“You go feed your lad and do that final thing you were goin’ on about while I enjoy some twin time.”

“Alright. I’ll take you to… Dublin?”

“Do no’ know for sure where she is at the moment. Maybe the Abbey. I’ll check there first. And you do no’ need to take me. I know the way.”

“I know you do. But it would be ungentlemanly to see you go unescorted.”

Shivaun thought she might have caught the slightest wisp of a lie, but it was gone before it took form in her mind.

“I’ll be seein’ myself back here after. What’s the difference?”

She had a point. “Call me. I’ll pick you up.”

“I’m no’ a child.”

“Actually, in a twisted way, the part of you that’s demon is a child.”

She huffed, but had to agree that was probably true. “You have a phone?”

He chuckled deeply. “You know better.”

“Then how would I call you?”

“Turn your back.”