Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(45)

With the sous-chef in his arms and the key gripped tight, he took determined steps to the door. He twisted the key into the lock and kicked it open.

“Ohhh,” Edie murmured as she twisted in his arms.

He needed to act fast.

This was not how he wanted to start his mission. He’d promised Serah no enrapturement, but she’d seen the Peragrans—demon travel. Even that little glimpse could be too much. He’d learned a lot in his centuries as a mercenary. The less humans knew, the better.

And what he needed to do wasn’t enrapturement. All demons could enrapture. What he could do was something far more powerful, something that had kept him hidden in the shadows for many years. It could be dangerous, but he had no choice, for Edie’s sake. If humans knew the truth of what was out there, the consequences were too great. He had to do this. There was no other choice.

Serah would understand—he hoped.

He carried Edie to the side office and placed her on the couch. Smoothing back her hair, he took a deep breath. He made a vow to himself to never use his skill, after what he’d done to Serah. He hated breaking vows, even if it was necessary.

“Humans cannot know about the evil that surrounds them.”

He clenched his fists. He hated doing this. He reached out and took hold of Edie’s shoulders and closed his eyes. The words rolled from his lips a little too easily for his taste. “You will forget the events that transpired this morning between when you pulled into the parking lot and now. You were up all night working on a recipe and fell asleep.”

Edie rubbed her eyes and sighed. “Vhere am I?” she mumbled. Slowly, her lids fluttered open. “Vooo are you?”

“I’m Matthias Ambrose, the security guard.”

Edie stretched her arms. “Mon Dieu! I came in early and must have fallen asleep. I vas up all night verking on a new recipe for my boss. I am very sorry!”

He still had his touch, unfortunately.

***

“What the hell happened here?” Kalli swept a purple dreadlock from her face. She sniffed the air. Smoke still rolled from the kitchen door. “This is worse than I thought.”

Serah groaned. “Let’s just say I learned a lesson.”

“Which is?”

“Don’t let a demon cook breakfast.”

“Some demons are good cooks, you know.”

Serah stifled her chuckle. “Let me guess. You were a master chef in one of your previous lives?”

It wouldn’t surprise her one bit if she was.

“Hell no. I can’t cook a meal to save my life.”

“Lucky for you, you’re immortal.”

“And the fact that I don’t need regular food for nourishment.”

All demons had to keep up their strength some way or another. Lucy’s kind fed on sex. Some needed the sun. Others needed a full moon. She never pressed the subject with Kalli. It wasn’t any of her business anyway.

“I still eat occasionally.”

“I owe you a meal then. What would you like?”

“Steak tartare.”

Serah shuddered at the thought. She’d only made the dish once before in culinary school. Raw meat mixed with raw eggs wasn’t her thing. Neither was E. coli. “I should have figured you’d be the carnivorous type.”

Serah pulled at the sleeves of the dress that seemed to cling to the wrong curves. Despite the fit, it was a pretty dress. Blues, turquoises, and greens swirled together and blended perfectly. She yanked at the waist, trying desperately to adjust the belt wrapped tight against her body.

“If you keep tugging at that dress, you’re going to rip it.” Kalli grabbed Serah’s hands and pulled them from the fabric. “I’m not a seamstress either, if you get my drift. And you look awesome.”

Did she really? Or was Kalli just saying that to stroke her ever fleeting ego? “You sure?”

“Seriously, Serah.” Kalli shook her head. “I don’t give compliments lightly. Just ask Rafe.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Kalli smiled. “You better.” She reached down and picked up a pair of Matthias’s cargoes from the chair and unfolded them. “Bigger than I expected.” She waggled her brows. What was the deal with her and Lucy? Were they trying to play matchmaker? Well, she wasn’t interested. She had news for them. He wasn’t either.

“Bigger?”

Kalli plopped into the sofa and kicked up her combat boots. “I was expecting someone a little leaner. He always slipped from my grasp like an eel. I’m surprised someone so bulky could sneak away so well.”

“Yeah, he’s quite… uhh… massive.”

Kalli smirked. “Massive seems to be an understatement. So what’s he like?”

“Worse than Rafe, if you can imagine that. If Rafe had a stick up his ass when he first came here, this guy has the entire tree.” And that’s all she would say. Like Kalli would want to know about her naughty fantasies and the kiss they shared. So his stick wasn’t wedged as far up as she let on.

Kalli cringed. “Ouch.” Scratching her chin, she leaned against the sofa. “But something tells me there’s more.”

“You better not be reading my mind.”

Kalli shook her head. “Whoever blessed you did a damned good job. I couldn’t break through even if I tried.”