Page 85 of The Devil May Care

“You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know.”

“You didn’t even tell me you were going to try.”

“I wasn’t sure I could.

I swallow. “You still haven’t told me how you managed it.”

“No,” he agrees. “And I don’t intend to.”

“Why not?”

It’s a battle of wills I don’t intend to lose, staring him down as I wait for his answer.

That should bother me. And maybe it does, a little, but more than that, it stuns me. Because whatever it took—whatever cost he’s not naming—he paid it. Not for power. Not for duty. For me.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” I say.

Caziel just watches me.

“You don’t have to. I rescued your beast of my own volition. You did not ask and therefore it is not something that requires repayment”

I don’t know what to say to that. Instead I clutch George to my chest as he grumbles. Some time later, George is finally eating. His food is in a small ceramic bowl Caziel must’ve conjured—or stolen—because I don’t remember seeing it before. I sit cross-legged on the floor nearby, running my fingers through his orange fluff and trying not to cry again. Caziel stands near the hearth, arms folded, gaze flicking between me and The Beast like he’s still expecting another act of violence.

He’s not wrong.

“Okay,” I say eventually. “I have to ask.” Caziel looks over. “Did you dress like that to go to Earth?”

He raises a brow. “No. I wore traditional Earth attire.”

I blink. “You what?”

He exhales. “I acquired garments appropriate to the local climate and customs.”

“You went shopping?”

“I am not entirely useless. I have bartered at the Ember Market.”

The snort that escapes me is rude and sudden and deeply satisfying.

“I need pictures.”

“There are none.”

“A crime.”

“I did not wish to draw attention.”

“Oh yeah, nothing draws attention like a 6’5” grim reaper in jeans.”

He sighs. “I followed visual patterns from your memories. I chose denim pants. And a dark jacket.”

“Denim,” I repeat, wiping my eyes. “Caziel. You went to Target in dad jeans.”

He doesn’t respond which means I’m right, and that knowledge will sustain me for years.

“Let’s circle back to that, though,” I say. “So you went to Target.”