Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(104)

Serah wrapped her arms around Kalli and drew her into a hug. “I really appreciate you helping Farquhar. I don’t know what I would have done if he had been vanquished.”

“No problem. That’s what friends are for.” She straightened the collar of Serah’s sweater. “I think you’re ready to go.”

“You planning on riding over with us?”

“Only if we can come tae.” Farquhar said, sitting in the hall with a cigar poking out of his mouth.

Already back to cigars. He was indeed on the road to recovery. Serah scowled. “Farquhar!”

“It isnae lit. Jeez.”

“Fine,” she said, her hands on her hips. “And my answer is no.”

“Ye’r nae fun.” Farquhar whipped his tail back and forth. “Kalli has given me a clean bill o’ health. Right, Kalli?”

“Yeah, he’s fine.”

“Do you forget? You’re a cat.” Serah reached down and scrubbed behind his ear. “Having a cat running around a professional kitchen isn’t going to go over well.”

“Ah can sneak in later on. Ah ken how tae fight.” He jumped up in the air and flipped backward. He ended with a quick kick and a punch. “See?”

“Kalli, what do you think?”

“Seriously, I think you’re going to need all the help you can get.”

“Great! Ah’ll go an’ git Inanna.” He swiveled around and sauntered down the hall, tail swishing in victory.

“Thanks a lot, Kalli.”

“It was nothing.” With a sly grin, she winked. “I’ll go see if Matthias is ready to go.”

Serah took a deep breath. It was almost time. If there was one thing to be thankful for it was her nerves. Luckily she could pawn it off on the cameras.

“Okay. I’m ready,” she replied, her breath hitching. She flipped the switch on the bathroom lights and closed the door behind her. There was no turning back now.





Chapter 40


The drive was slow and tedious. Matthias wanted to have some alone time with Serah. He wanted to speak his mind. But then Kalli, Farquhar, and Inanna had decided to come along for the ride.

“I didn’t feel that a Peragrans would be in good form, especially with humans nearby.”

Matthias nodded. She had a point. They needed to exercise caution. They couldn’t afford any mishaps so close to the show.

But the cats? Why? They wanted to remain discreet. Having two extremely intelligent felines around would certainly bring up suspicions.

“Ye need tae relax, Matt,” Farquhar meowed out. “Inanna an’ Ah will be safe.”

Serah sucked in a deep breath. There was no mistaking the nervousness. She turned into the parking lot and pulled into an empty parking space. Putting the SUV into park, she clenched the steering wheel tight.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m scared.” She turned to Matthias, her bright sapphire eyes swimming. “What if it doesn’t work? What if they don’t eat it?”

Matthias shook his head, brushing a hand over her shoulder. He didn’t care if Kalli was in the car with them or not. He leaned in close. “Shhh. Don’t worry. You’ll do fine.”

“How do you know?”

Matthias allowed his lips to curve into a reassuring smile. “You stood up to me—and lived.”

“You’re so full of yourself,” she said with a chuckle.

“There, I got a laugh out of you.”

“So you did.” She glanced up at him, her gaze warm. “I’m glad you came to protect me. I don’t think anyone else could have survived.”

She wrapped her arms around him and brushed her lips across his cheek. How in the hell could he let her go when his mission was done? He loved her. Maybe he could make it work.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“It was a thank-you kiss.”

“Yeah right,” Farquhar mumbled from the backseat. “Get over yerselves.”

Inanna swatted him with her tail. “Now now, baby.”

Both Serah and Matthias whipped their heads around. Serah narrowed her gaze. “Seriously. Can’t I thank my bodyguard for doing an awesome job of protecting me?”

Kalli blew out an annoyed huff. “He did more than protect you, and you both know it.”

“He’s not interested in me.”

“She’s not interested in me.”

The words came out in unison. He shook his head. He needed this mission done ASAP. Serah was completely wrong. He was more than interested in her.

“Ye two are actin’ like eejits.” Farquhar sighed. “Let’s go.”

Kalli nodded. “I was just about to say the same thing.” She yanked open the back door and stomped off toward the building.

Farquhar and Inanna followed, their tails swishing behind them. “Bluidy hell. Stupid arses,” he heard muttered in the distance.

“Has she always been a matchmaker?”

“Well, she did try to get Frankie and Gerardo together once.”

“What happened?”

“World War Three almost happened.”

Matthias nodded. “I see.” He swung the door open and hopped out. He’d do anything to ease her worry. “Well, we’d better get going. You have nothing to be afraid of.”