A Darker Past (The Darker Agency #2)(82)

“Something else?”

He rolled his eyes. “Something your father said…” When I didn’t answer, he prodded, “About the loophole?”

Then I understood. “You’re totally here to cause trouble, aren’t you?”

He clutched his chest and tilted his head back in mock insult. “How could you say such a thing?”

I wanted to let it die there, but he had me pegged, and I couldn’t resist. The can of curiosity worms had been opened, and they were crawling all over the place. “Fine,” I said, trying to sound as casual as possible. “What about the loophole?”

He grinned and picked at the corner of my comforter. With a shrug, he said, “I don’t know of any loophole that would allow a demon to marry a human.”

A chill rushed through the room. “I don’t understand…”

He stood. “I’ve been Lucifer’s Regent a very long time, Cupcake. He has never given someone permission to break one of the rules. Never.”

“You’re saying he’s not going to let them get married?”

“I’m not saying anything. I’m merely suggesting you proceed with caution, as there is still much you don’t know.” He clapped his hands. “And that brings us to your task. The rules. You need to learn them. You will spend an hour each day with me until you do.”

I opened my mouth to object, but thought better of it. There was no point. If I said I didn’t want to, he’d ignore me. If I didn’t show up, he’d simply drag me there. Or worse, show up here. “Fine.”

“Good,” he said, and snapped his fingers. The room flickered, and my ruined pillow and demon drool–stained sheets were replaced with new ones. “Those are sheets worth sleeping on.”

And he was gone.

I went to the bed and ran a finger along the pillow. Wow. He was right. The material was satiny soft. Great. Mom complained when I overslept already. Catching Zs on these wasn’t going to help that any.

I kicked off my shoes and slipped into my pajamas—the I love Mashin’ tank Mom had made for me a few years ago and my favorite flannel pants—and slid into bed. The second I got myself all snuggly under the covers, the cell started to vibrate.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me…” I grabbed it and answered without looking. “This better be someone offering massive amounts of chocolate or a subscription to Weapons Weekly…”

“It’s me,” Kendra said. She was whispering, and there was an odd sound in the background. Like she was outside, standing by the side of the road. Every few seconds I’d hear what sounded like a car passing by.

I sat up and threw off the covers. “Ken? What’s wrong? Why does it sound like you’re playing in the middle of traffic?”

“I’m fine. I ran to the store. I needed some supplies.”

I glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight. “And by supplies I guess we’re not talking about milk and cookies?”

A horn honked. “It’s for a spell.”

I rolled my eyes. “Figured. What kind of spell?”

There was a short pause, and then she sighed. “Promise you won’t yell at me first.”

This should be good… “Sure,” I lied.

“It’s a demon banishing spell…”

“Kendra!” I snapped, trying to keep my voice down. Mom and Dad weren’t home, but it was habit. “Are you crazy?”

“I didn’t go looking for trouble. I swear.”

I believed her. She had enough on her plate without going digging for demon gold. Still, I was intrigued. And she knew me so well.

“So what do you say? Sneak out and go kick some demon ass with me? You know you wanna…”

She was right. I totally wanted to.

“Come on,” she prodded.”Come out and play. Be my Charles.”

I sighed. This newfound confidence and heightened power of hers was going to get me into a ton of trouble.

And I had a feeling I’d love every minute.



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Acknowledgments

I’m extremely lucky. I may not have had a ton of friends growing up. I didn’t earn ribbons or sports awards, and I never had the hottest toys. But I had a family that loved and supported me. To this day, if I tell them I’m going to do something—no matter how crazy/insane/impossible it sounds—they’re right there to cheer me on. I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for them.

Then there’s my extended family. I am grateful to them, as well. Without the people at Entangled— from my editors Liz and Robin to the multitude of promotion, art, and editing specialists—Jessie and Lukas would be nothing more than shadows stashed away in the corners of my mind.

And of course, my crit partners and beta readers. Gia, Lynn, Mary, and Caz. You guys are my rocks, never failing to call a plot hole or, if necessary, kick an entire character to the curb.