Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(9)
“I didn’t know it was secret. My apologies.”
More importantly, how did he know her real name? Maybe it was his demonic talent common one at that. At least two demons she knew had the ability to read minds. One of which was in the kitchen working her magic.
“Guess it isn’t anymore.” Poor Nonni. She always told Serah to keep her name a secret. Heck, she was all for that. She hated that name. It made her feel like one of those chubby-cheeked little angels. Who would’ve known her secret would be let out of the bag by a six-foot-four wall of pure male muscle with dark, black, swimming eyes.
Damn it! This was nuttier than she originally thought.
“You know so much about me, yet I know so little about you.”
“I am Matthias Ambrose. I’m here on a mission.”
More missions? What now? She angled a teasing glance at Lucy. “Don’t tell me you opened another box of demons.”
Lucy snorted. “Nope. I added not opening up creepy chests on my list of New Year’s resolutions. Remember?”
“Oh yeah.” How could she forget those crazy resolutions? Serah’s was to avoid buying anything creepy. So far, so good. It was almost December and she’d managed to avoid A-Line Road Antiques, the New Age shop, and the local mission store. Wherever creepy things abounded, she tried her hardest to stay away. She even found a way to block Amazon and eBay on all her computers at home and at work. Who needed fire walls and Internet security, when you had Demonware 2.0?
“Well, I have a kitchen to run, I’ll let you all go off to wherever demons go to discuss their missions.”
“We’re discussing the mission here,” Rafe said, his gaze stern and steely. “With you.”
“But I’m not a Paladin. Heck, I’m not even a demon.”
Matthias’s eyes sparked, albeit only briefly. “But you are something.”
“Of course, I’m something. I’m one kick-ass caterer.” No way in heck would she be anything else. She saw what Lucy went through. Even though everything worked out in the end, she didn’t wish the same for herself. Lucy was smart, if not a little lucky. Serah, on the other hand? She wasn’t so fortunate. She struggled all throughout grade school and high school and the closest she’d ever come to Lucky were designer jeans. And after looking at that $100 price tag, she didn’t feel quite that lucky at all.
Matthias drew his lips straight, his dark, abysmal gaze penetrating. “I didn’t come here to play games, Ms. SanGermano.”
Despite the anger and frustration welling inside, Serah returned her own penetrating gaze. “Well, that makes two of us, Mr. Ambrose.” She turned her gaze to Lucy and Rafe. “What the hell is going on?”
“Since you won’t tell us, and we can see you are in obvious danger, the Fore-Demon Council, Lucy and I have decided you need protection.”
“From a few imps? Come on. I’m fine. Really. Look. Kalli got it all cleaned up already.”
“No, Serah. There are forces out there worse than imps and goblins. Neither of us were harmed when my shop exploded like Old Faithful on steroids. Not a scratch on any of our heads when glass went flying. Tell me that’s natural?”
“I’m lucky?”
“More than lucky,” Rafe inserted. “You can speak with imps. I’ve seen how you act when a demon is near. You hesitate. Your eyes widen. You become more alert than any other human I know. You are Pure, and Matthias is here to protect you.”
“Pure?” It might have been a while since… well. But she certainly wasn’t pure. “You definitely got the wrong girl.”
“Your blood is pure.” Matthias’s onyx eyes continued to swim, hinting at her other not so pure portions. Her body shook and shivered, goose bumps popping from her skin.
She struggled to tamp down the sudden rush of adrenaline. Something about this guy sent her body into overdrive. Her heart thumped, sending more waves of electricity. She sucked in a deep breath. “Now I know you all are out of your gourds.” She forced a chuckle. “I’m on the River City Blood Bank’s ‘Do Not Drain’ list. Apparently not pure enough for them.”
“Or too pure,” Matthias muttered. He raked a hand through his shorn dark blond hair. Despite the militaristic facade, something in his face sparked. He angled a glance at her and just as quickly jerked his head away.
“If I’m so pure, why do you keep looking at me like I’m a zombie ready to eat your brains?”
His face filled with alarm. “You’ve seen a zombie?”
“Dude, this is the twenty-first century. Ever heard of a thing called a movie?”
“Zombies are no laughing matter, Serah. They are mindless humans controlled by demons.”
She should have known. It seemed every monster or supernatural being was actually a demon or some sort of minion. Sirens, faeries, and vampires—to name a few more. “I didn’t know.” Although she probably should have. “Are there any monsters that aren’t demons?”
“Look at the world,” Rafe added. “Every culture, every continent, every religion has a belief in demons. It isn’t a coincidence.”
She wouldn’t argue there. “Coincidence is something I’ve learned doesn’t really exist.” She crossed her arms. “However you all are overreacting. Seriously.”