Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(31)
Serah shrugged. “I have a destiny. To run the most successful catering company in the River City metropolitan area.” Her sapphire eyes narrowed. “Not sniff out stinky demons like some stupid bloodhound.”
“Is that all you think you’re good for?” Matthias could give a damn about his promise not to touch her. She needed some sense knocked into her. He reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders. The fire leapt across his skin as jolts of electricity ripped through his body and right to his cock. But he needed to say it, and this was the only way to break through. He could forego a little comfort for now. He lowered his intense gaze to hers. Defiance, not usually a trait Matthias found pleasant, swirled in the blue depths of her eyes, but with Serah it was more than pleasant. It was goddamn hot.
He managed to find his voice. “Trust me, there’s more to it than that.”
Serah yanked herself from his grasp. “There always is.” She leaned against the doorjamb. “Let’s just go home. I’m tired and I have a big day tomorrow.”
She still plans to try out for that silly show even after their run in with Balthazar? Is she nuts? “You are not auditioning.”
“I signed a contract. I have to. I doubt I’ll get the show anyway. I’m just a caterer from a small Midwest town. They probably want someone more elegant.”
She was elegant enough. She could get the job on looks alone. Did the woman not know how beautiful she was? Unfortunately for Matthias, that only added to her innocent charm.
“Would you like me to audition?” Minerva smiled. “Then again, I never was any good in the kitchen. That was more Edesia’s specialty.”
“As much as I would love a goddess in the kitchen, I think I can handle it. I’ve got demon-boy here to protect me if anything goes wrong.”
“What did your friend say about this?”
“Lucy? She doesn’t know.”
He didn’t like it one bit. “Why haven’t you told her? Don’t friends share important news like this?”
Serah twirled a curl around her finger. “The rules of the contest were very specific. I signed a confidentiality agreement. I’m only telling you because, well, you’re my employee.”
“Fine. But as soon as anything otherworldly happens, I’m pulling the plug.”
“Fine. As for demons, the shop is warded. And they can’t come in if they aren’t invited. Trust me—I won’t be inviting them in.”
“Glad you both got that settled. Now, you haven’t got all night,” Minerva said. She held a blue stone, with laces of gray flowing across its surface, in her hand. “Take this stone. It will help you travel.”
He’d never seen such a beautiful stone. “I’m unfamiliar with this stone.”
“It’s a fairly new discovery—to humans at least. It’s called angelite.”
Matthias stifled the cough deep in his throat. He glanced at Serah. She simply rolled her eyes.
“I should have figured,” Serah said. With a reluctant sigh, she took the stone, allowing Minerva to close her fingers around it.
Minerva took three slow steps backward and clasped her hands together. “To activate the stone, close your eyes. Take five deep breaths to clear your mind. Then simply visualize yourself where you most want to be.”
“Nothing is that easy.” Serah let out a hearty chuckle.
Minerva shrugged. “With that sort of attitude, you’re right.”
If only Serah would acknowledge just how important she was. How powerful she could be if she just believed in herself. Matthias tamped down the desire to throttle her then and there. He wasn’t angry. He was frustrated. He balled his fists and clenched his teeth. His words, meant to be firm, came out as an angry growl. “Stop trying to fight it, damn it.”
“Fine!” Anger swirled in her eyes. “But seriously, I might be able to smell demons, but this whole Pure-Blood shit… it’s a bunch of… well, shit.”
“Try me,” Minerva said with finality.
Chapter 13
The words came out like a challenge. Anything to prove this goddess wrong. Then again, her being the goddess of wisdom would only add to the challenge. The anger simmered away, as determination took over. She clenched the stone tight in her hand and slammed her lids shut.
So she could go anywhere she wanted, eh? She’d always dreamed of lounging on a Tahitian beach sipping mai tais. “I know exactly where I want to be.”
“Is it just like normal Peragrans?” Matthias asked, as if in tune with her devious thoughts. Then again, the way he invaded her fantasies, he probably was.
Minerva nodded. “Yes, minus the Ice Capades routine.”
Oh well. Didn’t hurt to try. The rules of Peragrans were pretty straightforward. You could only teleport to a place or person that you were familiar with. At least she wouldn’t freeze her ass off. “So that means my back-up trip to Matthew McConaughey’s place isn’t going to happen either, huh?”
Matthias blew out a breath of air. “Correct.” Ice laced his voice.
“Bummer.”
She inched an eyelid open and snuck a covert glance at Matthias. Still wearing the wrinkled linen shirt and loose cargoes, he stood tall and proud; his lips remained straight and severe. Biceps bulging, he crossed his arms as he leaned against one of Minerva’s oak bookcases. Her breath caught. Even the loose linen shirt couldn’t hide the pure strength that rippled through his body.