Page 3 of Demon's Desire

Dante’s jaw muscle ticked. “Ash and I are busy tracking Lucifer, and I’m trying to see what I can teach my flock about recognizing demons when they’re hiding their power and we don’t have specific descriptions to go on.”

Of course they were conveniently occupied. “I’m busy too.”

“Planning parties?” Ash sneered.

Onyx might actually kill him one of these days. Not permanently, but still. “I’m busy running a renowned gallery.”

Nico stepped closer. Did the witch have a death wish? “It would be good to have your help. You can make sure Rowan doesn’t find out anything you don’t want him to know about you, and you’ll be up to speed on exactly what’s happening.”

It would be nice not to be left out of the loop for once.

Onyx shook his head. “I’d be up to speed if people updated me.” He shot a look at Dante.

But Nico wasn’t done. “You’re good with people, and your skills would be beneficial here.”

Onyx whipped back around. “How the hell did you come to that conclusion? Good with people? I barely held back from setting you on firewhen we met.”

Nico swallowed again. Excellent, the nervousness was back. Nico gestured to a painting. “You run Gallery Four. You must be good with people. We need someone adept at moving between the magic and human worlds.”

“Intermingling isn’t exactly Ash’s strong suit,” Harper added, though kindly.

Ash had lived like a hermit for decades, so that was an understatement, and Dante spent too much time with his shearwaters.

“I am better with humans than either of you.”

“See.” Dante clapped him on the shoulder, and Onyx shook him off. “You’re the best demon for the job.”

Dammit. A tiny bit of praise, and he’d walked right into that. Now he was stuck.

2

NICO

Nico shouldn’t have been satisfiedto see the fight in Onyx fade, but it felt like a win.

“Fine. I’ll come with you to talk to the vampire and be the demon face of this bullshit. But I don’t want magical beings showing up here willy-nilly afterward. My life in the human world is separate, and the gallery is off limits.” Onyx’s stare bored into Nico, the chill palpable.

“Anyone with concerns can see me at The Herb Emporium,” Nico assured him. “I’m more approachable anyway.”

Onyx sniffed, and his lip curled. “Only because I aim for unapproachable.”

It was funny that Onyx thought helping might bring him unwanted attention. Beings in the magic world finding out he was not only the aloof owner of a business catering to the elite, but a demon, would make him more intimidating, not less.

Onyx had nothing to worry about. Witches weren’t going to come to him for help, especially when he acted like he was on the verge of biting everyone’s heads off.

Nico shouldn’t have found his viciousness hot. He wasn’t usually into danger, but maybe a little fear would do him good.Something had been missing in his life, and he didn’t hate the idea of working with Onyx. Nico liked a challenge.

“Now that’s settled, can we get lunch?” Ollie asked.

Onyx’s hard edges softened as he turned his attention toward the human. “Great idea. Ash, Dante, you’re dismissed.”

Ash rolled his eyes and stormed out.

Nico wasn’t sorry to see him go. He couldn’t figure out if Ash liked him or not. Ash never passed up an opportunity to intimidate, seeming to love subtle and not-so-subtle threats alike. He acted as if Nico was about to betray Harper at every turn, even though Ash had to know that wasn’t true by now.

Dante kissed Ollie and said goodbye, following Ash.

Onyx turned to Nico. “You can go too.”