Page 45

Kara was unusually quiet as we drove home.

She hadn’t said much all afternoon as we kept to ourselves in my office, while I spent a very long time writing a not-very-long e-mail to Lieutenant Myas’ parents.

Iyoni had been on the sofa, absorbed in her phone. Must be a helluva game.

We got back in, and Kara paused inside the living room. “We should find another place, now that Iyoni is here to stay.” She turned to the celestial. “You can’t keep sleeping on the sofa.”

“I don’t mind,” Iyoni said, pulling off her leather overcoat and dropping it over one of the dining chairs. She flopped down on the sofa and pulled her phone out.

Kara’s lips pressed thin as she watched her. “Are you playing your game?”

I walked to the window, leaving them to it. I found the view relaxing, in lieu of my guitar. It balanced the tension we’d brought home.

“I was going to. Why?”

“Why?” Kara said sharply. “Xan bonded you this morning, this is the first chance we’ve had to talk, and you’re … playing your game? ”

Oh. That’s what it was about.

“Yeah. I like it.”

Kara’s reflection in the window crossed her arms and scowled. “Don’t you realize what this means? You’re his now. He … owns you.”

There was a pregnant pause while Iyoni gave it due consideration. I watched the traffic heading home, car lights twinkling in the night.

“Doesn’t sound so bad,” Iyoni said at last.

Kara gave a humph of disbelief. “‘Doesn’t sound so bad’?” she echoed. “You have to do everything he says! He … you … he hasn’t even given you back your free will!” She found my gaze, the window’s reflection. “You haven’t, have you?”

“No … it never came up.” It had been a busy day.

Kara wheeled on Iyoni. “See?”

There was another pause, then Iyoni spoke calmly. “I get the feeling it bothers you more than it bothers me.”

“How can it not bother you?”

That was an interesting question.

“I judged him,” the celestial replied simply. “Maybe it’s difficult for you to understand what that means, but … it’s like knowing and trusting someone. If Xan tells me to do something, I know it would be for a good reason.”

“He told me to empty a drip tray over my head!”

“And did you?”

“No.”

“Well, then.”

“That’s not the point! What if he told you to … I don’t know … do something weird? Something sexual?”

“Kinky,” Iyoni said. “Sounds like fun.”

I blinked a couple of times, and considered going out to get some food. I wasn’t sure I needed to be listening to this.

Kara made a sound halfway between a choke and a huff. “You don’t even call him ‘master’.”

“Well … no,” Iyoni said slowly. “I suppose I could, but I think that’s more a demon thing.”

I winced.

“A demon thing?” Kara repeated, her voice an octave higher. “I don’t call him ‘master’ because I’m a demon !”

I wasn’t sure that was entirely true.

“Oh,” Iyoni said, in a tone of mild interest. “Then is it because you crave the whole dominance thing? I mean, that’s cool too.”

I pushed my tongue inside my cheek, watched the lights in the apartments nearby, and wondered how their evenings were going.

Kara gave a strangled noise. “I’m going to bed.”

Her reflection crossed the window. The carpets were so thick that she really had to stomp to make that much noise.

The door to her bedroom slammed.

I turned to find Iyoni watching me, eyes glinting with quiet amusement, and raised an eyebrow at her.

“What?” she asked innocently. “She needed that. She’s a bit confused at the moment.”

I crossed to the sofa opposite, and sat down facing her. “How so?”

“Well … she wanted you to bond to increase your strength, but she kinda thought she’d be the one to help you choose, given how she was, like, the first. Found a few nice applicants on Vera’s list—all demons, of course.

Pretty girls, too. There was a degree of safety in them being strangers.

She probably figured you’d take a while to get to know them, and she could have you to herself a bit longer.

But she really wants you to get stronger, too, so it’s a kinda want-it-don’t-want-it thing.

” Iyoni paused, looking thoughtful. “Then, of course, you went and bonded me, instead. I’m not a stranger, I’ve been living here, you both know me, and she knows you like me.

” She hesitated just slightly, eyes darting to mine in a brief, questioning glance, before continuing with a gentle certainty.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong—she’s happy it’s me, but still …

things are going faster than she expected, you see? ”

“Oh,” I said, processing. “She told you all this?”

“Oh, fuck, no. She wouldn’t discuss something like that. But it’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Then there’s the whole Dacien-SPAR thing.”

I tensed. “What’s that got to do with it?”

“Well … he’s her dad, right? And you work for him …

kinda? So her dad blackmails her mast— you —into working for him, threatens to kill you if you don’t.

Her mom threatens to kill if you treat her badly, and she’s caught in the middle.

Knows you feel trapped, hates that she’s responsible, feels guilty all the time, and can’t do anything about it.

Then you end up in SPAR, and it’s been downhill from there. ”

I clicked my tongue. “She must’ve told you some of that, right?”

“Oh yeah. We talked.”

I frowned. “ When did you talk?” I couldn’t think of a time they’d been together without me.

“Kara comes out when she can’t sleep, so she doesn’t disturb you.” She considered it, tapping a finger lightly against her chin. “Friday night, I think it was. No, Saturday. Friday we talked about me.”

“Uh-huh.” I got the strong impression they’d talked to each other more than I’d talked to either of them. Oddly enough, that pleased me rather than making me feel left out; it felt good knowing they had formed their own connection.

“It doesn’t help she’s sexually frustrated,” Iyoni added, with sympathy.

“I blame myself for that. I’m sure you guys would be going like bunnies if I wasn’t here.

” Her eyes narrowed mischievously. “You do know I don’t mind, right?

A few moans through the door? The odd slap here and there?

” She smiled dreamily. “The idea’s kind of a turn-on, actually. ”

I coughed, heat rising slightly in my face. “Er … thanks. This has been helpful.” I glanced toward Kara’s door. “I might … give her a few more minutes before I go in.”

“Probably wise.” She picked her phone up again, thumb scrolling lightly.

I watched her for a moment, admiring the gentle, unassuming ease she radiated. “You’re very perceptive.”

She paused and set her phone down. “Well … when you’ve been around as long as I have.” She gave a small smile.

“How long is that, exactly?”

“I’m seventy-four this December.”

“Right,” I said, drawing the word out. Most supes that age wouldn’t look early twenties, even with slow ageing. But then, she was more powerful than most supes. Or it was a celestial thing.

“My birthday’s on Christmas Day,” she said with a hint of exasperation. “So embarrassing , what with being a celestial and all. Lots of expectation, you know?”

I didn’t, but the unexpected glimpse into her vulnerability amused and softened me further. “And … er … how do you feel about being bonded to me?”

“Can’t you tell?”

That was a loaded question if ever I heard one. I decided to go for honesty. “In truth, your poker face is legendary. The only time I’ve seen anything but calm composure was when someone dropped a car on you.”

It made me remember the gash she’d had in her forehead, but it had gone as if it had never been there. Come to think of it, it had gone by the time I’d regained consciousness.

She giggled, light and musical, a completely unexpected, delightful sound.

“Well, yes. I was just getting out to come and help you, and I thought it was quite rude.” She sobered, sincerity replacing the humor.

“Since you asked, I’m excited about it. You’re some kind of new supe—maybe even unique—so that’s interesting.

And as I said earlier, I trust you. Being bonded to you doesn’t concern me in the slightest.”

I shifted uncomfortably, oddly touched by her straightforwardness. “You make it sound like I’m perfect. I assure you I’m not.”

“Oh, I’m well aware.” She cocked her head on one side, studying me with something like fond amusement.

“‘Perfect’ isn’t the right word. It’s more about …

intent. I’m sure you’ll make mistakes, we’re only human …

kinda.” She grinned. “But I know whatever you do will be for a good reason. That’s enough for me. ”

I winced. “A lot of pressure.”

“Maybe. But you’re up to it.”

It was strangely reassuring to hear her say so.

“And if I told you to do something weird or sexual like Kara said?”

“You tease, you.” She smiled coyly, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Maybe you should see to Kara first, and then we can explore that.”

I took a long look at the woman before me.

Insightful, confident, powerful and experienced.

Beautiful, in ways almost the opposite of Kara—light, where Kara was dark.

Slim, where Kara was curvier. Provocative—they both were—but where Kara had been cagey and subtle, Iyoni was playfully overt.

Both were impossible to resist, in their own very different ways.

And now, somehow, they were both mine.

I rose. “You’re right. I should go and talk to Kara.”

“Good plan. I’ll just sit here … on my phone … listening to the moans.”

I shook my head at her, unable to stop myself smiling. “You’re very wicked—”

“—For a celestial?” she finished for me. “Being good is boring.”

I chuckled, liking her all the more for it. “On the subject of being a celestial … are you planning to tell Archon Elaris that I’ve bonded you?”

She gave a small, humorless laugh. “Absolutely not. I’m planning to say nothing at all. There’s no set timeframe on this assignment, so they won’t expect anything for a while.”

“Will it cause you problems?”