Page 146 of His Retribution

Shouldn't I?

I should probably hate him, let alone fear him, to be honest, but I just… don't.

"No, I guess I don't."

He smiles, eyes still closed. "You did not fear me before you held power over me either."

I shrug. "Maybe it makes me stupid but I have a feeling there's more to the story, more to you than I know just yet."

"Then where shall we begin, my queen? What answers would you like me to give first?"

"How did you get into the compound? Havok and Andrej protected every inch of our land, no one detected your presence until I saw Joyce. How did you get here?"

"Your land is indeed heavily protected but not from humans and most definitely not from the likes of me." His eyes flip open and find mine. "Can you scent me now, queen?"

"No." I frown. According to Bozidar's book, fae aren't quite like shifters or vampires when it comes to scenting others. We can have the ability to identify other species as what they are by scent alone but we rely more on sight and what we see beyond. And I don't see any kind of essence coming from Zan nor do I smell anything but Havok's mark, the dampness of the basement, and rose water.

"Ah, but you are wrong, my little gem. You scent me, though you think you do not."

I frown harder. "Really? So which are you then, damp cold or rose water?"

Zan laughs."I believe you just answered your own question. The only scent out of place is the rose water, is it not?"

Well, I'll be damned.

"Your scent is rose water?"

"Were you expecting something more like charred flesh or sulfuric stone?"

"Yes, actually." Then I giggle way too inappropriately. "No one knows what a demon is supposed to smell like."

"Nor do I, my gem, I just know whatIsmell like and it is rather ironic considering the fact that my nature is rather nasty."

"Agreed." I nod and cross my legs. "So you went undetected in the valley because your scent is organic and not out of place outdoors. Why didn't we notice Joyce?"

"Because she was my host. If I had allowed the idiot female to make an appearance as herself you would have noticed her vile stench." Zan shifts and mirrors my position again. "It is also how I was able to breach your home and tamper with the electric window coverings."

I nod because yeah, I pretty much figured it was him. "Did you use Joyce then too?"

He shakes his head. "I did not. Her body would not have been capable of the strength or agility needed to do what I did." He grins. "I used the male bartender. Young bodies work best for feats of that nature."

"Don't tell my mate you did that. He already wants to kill Travis for several other reasons, don't need to fuel that fire." I reach over and slide the picnic basket in front of me, dig through it. "Are you hungry? Do you eat?"

Zan chuckles. "I am and I do. You and I, your mate, his brothers, we're not so different, my gem."

"I'm getting that." I pull out a bottle of water and toss it to him then fish out a few sandwiches. "Turkey and cheddar on rye, ham and Swiss on sourdough, or salami and provolone on Italian?"

"Ham and Swiss." Then he grins. "And one of those banana honey sandwiches you have in there as well. Please."

My brows raise as I toss them over. "I have so many questions."

He chuckles then makes a rather adorable yummy sound as he bites into my favorite kind of quick snack sandwich. "I don dow ih."

This is all too fucking weird.

I'm sharing a meal with a demon who tried to kill me and my mate; chatting with him like we're long lost friends while thinking he's adorable and not scary.

Cora McCrazy-pants. That's me now.