Page 50 of Devils Don’t Deal

“Unless it’s confidential,” I said quickly. “Or just something she wouldn’t like you talking about.”

“Control over her beast. She accidentally killed a lot of people and didn’t like it. She had decided to end her life or control the beast. I help her do the latter.”

“In exchange for…?”

“She has to work here a certain amount of time every month. Basically, a full-time job. Otherwise, I’d lose control of her cat.”

“She’s not here all the time?”

He gave me an amused glance. “No. I’m the only one who’s here all the time. Except for my soul’s mistress. She has to stay close.”

That was when I missed my rabbit for the first time. “Oh. Is it okay that he’s not here?”

“Of course. He’s probably running through shadows. What would you like to drink?”

I blinked at him. “I have no idea. Not fairy wine.” And what about the rabbit running through shadows? What did that mean?

“And probably not blood wine, either.”

I made a face. “Unless it’s your blood.”

He smiled. “It can be arranged.”

“No, no, no! I was joking. Obviously. I don’t want your blood like some unhinged vampire who can’t get enough of some random guy’s blood. I have no interest in anything but my bakery.”

“Are you sure? Because it really would be no trouble. I’ll just lie on the counter, and Rawley can uncork one of my veins.”

“I bet she’d like that.” I grinned at him.

He grinned back, and for a second, I felt like I did with my dad sometimes when we were joking about things my mother would not approve of like bloodthirsty goblins.

Chapter

Fifteen

He walked ahead of me toward the bar, and the crowd magically parted for him. Should I be touching him so it looked like we were together or would that be weird here with all these people? The way females looked at him was kind of annoying. Longing disappointment mostly. They shouldn’t want to touch my devil. Not that he was mine, but I was his soul’s mistress, and we had made out in the garden. Right. I was full of his energy. That’s why I felt possessive, not from the kissing, but the mystical energy connection.

We got to the bar, and he slid into a seat then pulled me onto his lap like that wasn’t weird. It was so weird. I was super stiff as I perched there, tilted so my wings wouldn’t get in his face.

Rawley came over and shook her head slightly. “What do you want?”

“She’ll have an Over The Rainbow, and I’ll have the Duke’s Court. Also, will you keep these safe for me?” He handed over his jacket and shirt without having actually taken them off, but then he was in only his vest with all his pocket watches, and I got to stare at the scars all over his arms and chest. So many scars.

“It’s rude to stare,” Rawley said, breaking through my horrified fascination.

I blinked at her and smiled as she handed me a drink made of rainbows, different colors of liquid staying separated magically. “Thanks.” For the drink and reminding me not to stare.

The devil’s arm came around my waist, pulling me up against him. I couldn’t feel any lumps in his pockets from his magical pocket watches, just him, strong, warm, solid through my gauzy dress.

I sipped my drink through my straw while he raised his elixir, which smoked ominously. It smelled like cinnamon and the souls of the damned. Mine tasted like happiness and unicorns. Hopefully not real unicorns. They were so poisonous but supposedly tasted delicious.

My thoughts were a riot of nonsense as I tried not to notice the way he felt against me, the way everyone in the club was watching us, especially the females who wanted him. Amazingly enough, I hadn’t thought through the end of this tangle when I’d said I wanted to go to the club with him. And had him take off his layers. Why did he have so many scars? I’d never seen anyone so scarred unless they did it for fashion or to mark their social standing.

How had he gotten such scars, and why did he keep them covered up?

“Gray. You fought in the infernal cages?” a large, red demon said as he came over, eyes brimstone and rain of fire.

“I did. You?” my devil said, glancing at the other demon through the smoke that curled from his glass. I felt like one of those females perched on the lap of a mob boss. He needed a mob boss hat. Anna could help me find one. Or five.