Page 24 of Forever Found

He raised his brows. “Oh, you mean before I became an angel?”

“Yes. That.”

“I was an accountant.”

She wrinkled her pretty nose. “Not my idea of fun.”

“It was work, not fun. But I still liked it. I enjoy spreadsheets and statistics. When you put in the right information, the right numbers, you can trust the results.”

“Where’s the creativity and adventure in that?” She lifted her wineglass, peering over the rim at him with her big brown eyes.

“Not everyone is as creative and as adventurous as you are. I’m just a simple man.”

“You are an angel. That’s not so simple.”

“You’re right.”

She nibbled on her lip for a moment. “Did you hate me or my mother for what happened to you?”

“No. Not for a second. There were other forces at work. I learned the driver was a demon.” He scraped the last morsel from his plate and finished it. “Him, I can’t forgive.”

Her silverware dropped from her fingers, rattling on her plate. “Now we’re talking demons? I can’t believe it.”

He held his hands open. “If there are angels, then there are demons.”

She swallowed, seeming to keep her last morsel from making a reappearance. “I hadn’t given that any thought.” She toyed with the silverware, positioning the knife and fork neatly on her plate. “I can’t eat another bite. It was delicious.”

Like that, she dropped the subject of demons. He couldn’t blame her. “Tank and the girls will be happy you have a light appetite.”

“Who?” she asked, confusion sweeping her face.

He laughed. “My dogs.”

She smiled, then took another sip of wine. “I haven’t seen them.”

“They stay in the den most of the time. That way, they don’t bother other people and visitors.” Speaking of visitors… “I’d like you and Justin to stay here until we get rid of Caleb. I worry about your safety.”

She tilted her head, her lips turning up at one side.

“Both of you,” he hurried on. “Humans are more vulnerable than supernatural creatures. You don’t have the same defenses. If a demon is dangerous to paranormal beings, he is lethal to humans.”

Swallowing, she scooted her chair back. “We’ll see what Justin thinks.”

“Fair enough,” he said. But he wasn’t concerned. He was sure her cousin would see reason.

* * *

A great benefit of having a lifeless body was he could take any shape he chose: a rock, a mouse, a man. A raven was one of his favorites. Not only did he blend in with the many ravens in Terror, but he also liked flying. And they had damn good eyesight.

He sat on a telephone wire overlooking Thurston Mansion, alongside several other ravens. Lyndsey had gone into the house with David. He was becoming more and more a thorn in Caleb’s side. It seemed the angel had taken it upon himself to watch over the woman.

Eventually, though, he would make a mistake. And Caleb would be ready for it.

They always misjudged his capabilities. There weren’t many creatures who truly understood demons. Witches were the closest, but angels? Their thought processes were too…nice.

He’d be able to take the girl to Lucifer soon.

After dinner, David drove her into town to experience Terror up close and personal. Fortune’s was a lively pub set in the middle of the block within the Misery Hotel. They joined Diego and Justin, who had already grabbed a table sizable enough to accommodate friends. It wasn’t near the fire, though, which she would have liked, but heat drifted over to her, warming her from the chill outside.