Page 78 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse

“I am.”

“Then how about we ridethat.” He pointed toward the Ferris wheel.

“Really? But who will operate it? There’s no one here.”

He narrowed his eyes at me as if saying,who else but me?

Once more, he took my hand and guided me across the park. A vision of hoofed feet and a large bull’s head flashed before my eyes, and I quickly detangled my fingers from his. I jumped into one of the baskets, knowing this was the coolest thing anyone had ever done for me but feeling unable to enjoy myself. It had been hard before when I was only worried about being in love with a sexy devil. Now that I was wondering if he looked like a monster, relaxing seemed impossible.

Drevan joined me, and the Ferris wheel started turning gently. We went around a few times, and the ride left me feeling speechless. The many colors bleeding into each other on the horizon, the dark ocean sparkling as if with Christmas lights, the sharp briny scent in the air. I had almost started enjoying myself when we came to a sudden stop, our basket directly at the apex. The chilly wind blew through the rigging, whistling and making me shiver.

Drevan drew closer, wrapping an arm over my shoulders and offering his warmth. I shrank against the side of the basket, staring straight ahead at the darkening sky.

“Lucia?”

“Huh?”

“Why won’t you look at me?”

Because I won’t give a damn if underneath all that hotness you really look like a slug.

I turned my head and peered into his golden eyes. He caressed my cheek with the back of his hand. “Are you still cold?”

I shook my head. How could I be when he was made of fire?

“Good.” He smiled contentedly, those eyes roving over my face and pausing at my mouth.

A forked tongue slipped past his lips and tasted the air. I blinked in a panic, realizing my overactive imagination was playing tricks on me. I cleared my throat and jabbed his side with my elbow, pushing him away.

“Actually, I’m getting overheated,” I lied.

He looked hurt once more and slid away from me while I cursed inwardly, wishing my life had never taken a turn straight into such a fiery star.

At this rate, I was going to burn in a flash.

27

Mydetachedbehaviorkilledwhatever mood Drevan was trying to create, and five minutes after the Ferris wheel stopped at the top, it started moving again.

“Is it time to talk business?” I said, trying not to sound ungrateful for the time and thought he’d spent on planning this evening.

Whatever vulnerability I’d sensed in him was gone and replaced with his usual nonchalance—the one that always made me doubt whether or not the emotions I perceived across his face were real.

“That, it is.”

“So what happened?”

“I was wrong about Lunar. It wasn’t entirely her fault that she was discovered.”

The ocean breeze blew strands of hair into my face. I pushed them out of the way and behind my ears. “Jophiel had something to do with it, didn’t he?”

“Indirectly, yes. He sent LeBeau. She actually posed as a maid and casually dropped gossip about a certain Hollywood celebrity Lunar used to date.”

“Damn, so she went downstairs thinking she would run into this person.”

“Mind you, she was stupid enough to think she could go down to the lobby without being spotted.” Drevan shook his head and let out a tired sigh.

“She might have,” I said, “but I’m sure Jophiel and LeBeau made sure she was. But what about Khargon?”