Page 23 of Devils Don’t Deal

She nodded knowingly. “Curses can be so inconvenient. I’ll go tell Sato that you’re here.” She lumbered off, leaving us standing there attracting the looks of several other officers. It had been hard to notice anyone when the ogre was staring us down, flirting with my devil.

Lewell offered me a slight smile. I returned it, feeling stupid in my ridiculous fluffy skirt. Also standing there with the devil like I was one of his slaves. Which was true enough.

“How’s everything?” he said, coming over and looking at my rabbit.

“Great! I’m opening a bakery called The Rabbit Hole, as in down the…because it’s part of the Wonderland theme. He’s sponsoring the shop.” I nodded at the tall, muscular devil next to me.

“Sponsoring?” He gave the devil a skeptical look, almost like he knew he was a devil. Maybe it was the tiny horns poking out of his dark hair. Maybe it was the way he oozed deliciousness.

Philius gave him a sleek smile. “Are you looking for a sponsor? I’m always scouting for fresh talent.”

Lewell took two steps away from him, giving me an even more concerned look. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“So far so good. Ask me in five years.”

Sato popped out of her office and waved at us. “It’s the punching fairy! Come on in. And you’ve found a tall, dark delicious for backup. Apparently, he has a conscience?” She looked like that was possible. Amazing. No one else in the whole world would believe such a thing. She must be an incurable optimist.

We sat in her office across from her, and I carefully handed the cake over the desk. “This is a thank-you cake for your help. I’m opening a bakery. I don’t know if the cake will taste good, but it should be exactly what you like and need.”

She opened the box and peered into the chocolate depths. She sniffed a few times, and her eyes flickered goblin-gold before going back to her usual brown with violet flecks. “It smells like thanks and strength. Nice combo. You have baking magic? My mom has ordering magic. That’s why she’s so amazing at The Cat’s Pause. You’re the one opening a bakery next door? I’m glad you aren’t a dining place. Treats will be perfect after someone orders a nice sushi boat. You should serve tea with it. It would go with the Wonderland theme, tea parties, right? So, what really brings you here? I take it you’ve found your dad, because my mom’s been stalking your shop and is quite sure your dad’s staying there with you.”

“Oh. Your parents own The Cat’s Pause? No, I don’t want to compete with them. I just want to make an amazing bakery. But, no, that’s not why we’re here. The thing is, there was a…situation in Wonderland yesterday involving this…person…” I looked at the devil for help.

He pulled the pocket watch out of his coat and placed it on the desk next to the cake. “The Lady of the Wild Woods. I was keeping her in this watch as a deal for a few hundred or so years, but I released her yesterday. Miss Kesty has informed me that it’s irresponsible for an upright citizen of Singsong to do such a thing without alerting the proper authorities.”

Lieutenant Sato frowned at him, at the watch, and then at him again. “You released this Lady of the Wild Woods in Singsong?”

“In Wonderland, which isn’t technically part of the city proper, but I’m fairly certain she left my domain and entered the city.”

“Why did you release her?”

“I made a deal with someone who wanted her freed.”

Her eyes tightened. “Who wanted her freed? Or is that confidential?”

The devil shrugged. “Confidentiality wasn’t part of the deal. Goblins, a band called the Riku, who oppose the goblin king, wished for her release.”

“Goblins who oppose the goblin king?” Her eyes turned fierce in a flash that made my skin prickle. “And you just released her?”

“Indeed.” He nodded soberly, but his eyes were amused.

“And you’re here to tell me because…”

“Miss Kesty was concerned about the situation.”

“I thought it was your conscience.”

“Miss Kesty is my conscience.”

“Mm. That sounds likely.” Sarcasm dripped off her words, heavy and thick. She pulled out a dangerous-looking knife and cut into the cake viciously, putting a slice on a sheaf of papers and handing it over to me before she sliced two more pieces, one for each of us.

“Take a bite so I know it’s not poisoned,” she directed me.

I blinked then bit into it with my face, getting some of the glazed icing on my cheeks. Mm. It had the perfect crumb, and the chocolate was decadent without being too strong.

When I looked up, Sato was also eating her cake with her face. The devil pulled a fork out of his coat and ate like the only civilized person there.

She drank a cup of something then licked the chocolate off her lips. “So, this Lady of the Wild Woods is now my problem?”