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“This little demon is trying to ensnare you,” Rome explained.

“It looks all snuggly and acts babyish because that’s what it sensed would entice you closer.

Sure, it can’t use any Diabolical power right now, but it’s already done the damage.

You feel something for it and it’s feeding on that.

And if you cry when Kerry or I kill it, it’ll go back to the Pit with a full stomach. ”

Mira’s face went slack with shock, but her eyes showed a deep hurt.

“It’s … using me?”

“That’s all demons do, baby girl. Use people.

They take anything they can, from your compassion to your soul.

” Rome released her hands and his palms on either side of her face.

“I’m sorry. I wish you would have asked me to help you with your experiment.

I would have found a way to do it that spared you this. ”

“It’s my fault, too,” Jax said, lowering George. “I went along and helped her. I’m sorry, too, Mira.”

“You only went along because I made you,” she said with a washed-out smile.

“Neither of you need to apologize. I brought this all on myself. In fact, I apologize to both of you. And Kerry, you smelled him … it … as soon as you walked into the building, didn’t you? It must have panicked you. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about that.” I waved one hand. “You learned a good lesson, so it was worth a little panic.”

“I learned several.” She lowered her eyes to the floor.

I hated that she was upset, but there was nothing I could do that I wasn’t already doing.

“Oh, hey, here.” I tossed Rome a small glass jar. “One of Josef’s people was kind enough to share a little healing. Take care of your headache.”

Turning to Gigi, I saw she was still holding the reaper like it was a baby. She stared down with a soft look on her face.

Not good.

“Can I hold it?” I moved closer to her and held out my arms.

She swung her eyes up to mine and backed away, her face white.

“No! You’ll hurt him!”

“I’ll make it quick,” I tried to reassure her. “It won’t feel a thing, I promise.”

“You can’t kill a baby!” Her eyes wild, she pressed the demon tighter against her body. “I won’t let you!”

Oh, not good at all.

Jax tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t let even him get close. She dodged away whenever he came within a few feet.

“Okay, okay,” he finally caved, “no one will hurt it. Just give it to Kerry.”

I shot a glare at him. I couldn’t keep that promise.

Or could I?

Hmm. Maybe there’s a way.

“How about I return it to where it came from?” I offered. “Would that be okay?”

Gigi stared down at the sleeping demon and started to cry.

“You can’t keep it, Tennessee.” I felt bad for her. “And it should be with its own kind, don’t you think?”

She shook her head so hard, her black curls bounced.

“I doubt it, but did they give you a receipt, Mira?”

I turned and saw Rome had swung her up in his arms. Her face was pressed into his throat as she clung to his neck.

“No,” she muttered.

“How much did you pay for it?”

“Two hundred bucks. I really am stupid!”

“You are not stupid.” Rome laid his cheek against the top of her head. “You were fooled, like hundreds of thousands of others have been. It’s what evil does.”

“How did you pay for it?” I was curious. Surely the seller hadn’t accepted Rome’s Council credit card!

“I have some money of my own.”

Rome growled and I knew what he was thinking. She couldn’t have a lot—and she’d wasted it on this.

“Maybe I can get a refund.” I grinned, trying to lighten things up. “I can be pretty persuasive when I wanna be.”

“Persuasive or destructive?” Rome gave me a look.

“Whichever gets me what I want,” I smirked.

Jax talked with Gigi until she finally agreed to the plan. Mira untangled herself from Rome, went to the couch, and picked up a square basket with a lid that latched. She took it over to Gigi.

“Here’s what it came in.”

Very carefully, Gigi laid the demon in the basket. With one hand pressed over her mouth, she backed away, then spun and ran into the girls’ bedroom. Jax stood there with his mouth open.

“Hey!” I shoved his shoulder. “Get your butt in there and let her slime up your shirt!”

He looked at me blankly for a second, then took off in a blur.

I scrubbed my hands over my face.

“Guess that coulda gone worse. Boots, where’d you buy it? And how did you find a shop dealing in demons? Don’t tell me you went to the Diabolical Market!”

“Of course not. I called Mimi and asked where I could buy a little demon. She said Valhalla’s research lab could give me one for a donation, while a shop would charge me an arm and a leg.

I said okay and she sent Titus to escort Jax and me over there.

I picked one that seemed the least likely to cause trouble, donated the suggested amount, and brought it back here. ”

I am going to kill Titus Wray .

“Did you say what you wanted it for?” Rome asked Mira.

“No.”

“Guess we can’t blame him if he didn’t know,” he shrugged, meeting my eyes over the top of her head.

I scowled, not sure I agreed, but took the basket and headed for the door. Mira reminded me to come back with the demon blanket, then I got out of there before I slipped up and she saw through my act.