The Demon's Bargain (A Deal With a Demon #4)(8)

“Friend.” Jack laughs. “Darling, you’re really hedging your bets, aren’t you?” They throw an arm around Lenora’s shoulders, and I have the nearly overwhelming impulse to rip it off their body and beat them to death with it.

Lenora doesn’t shrug out of their grip, her shock changing to a deep yellow amusement. “Jack, this is Ramanu. They’re, ah, also a friend.”

“A horny friend.”

“For fuck’s sake, Jack.”

Jack extends their hand, and I reluctantly take it, just as reluctantly beating back to urge to squeeze too tightly. This is ridiculous. I want the little witch, but she’s not mine. Not yet, anyways. Surely I’m not threatened by some adorable human who’s overly familiar with her?

Liar.

“What Lenora isn’t saying is that we used to bang seven ways to Sunday and now we’re friends, and if you pull some shady demon shit with her, I’ll curse the fuck out of you. I’m the best curse worker in this hemisphere, and so trust me, you don’t want that.”

I’m not certain what it says about me that I find their threats charming. I grin. “If I pull some nasty demon shit with Lenora, she’s more than capable of handling me herself.”

Jack considers me for a long moment and laughs. “I like this demon.” They turn back to Lenora. “You’re sure you want to try this?”

Lenora sighs. “I don’t have a choice.” Gray worry starts to eat the edges of her amusement. “If you’ve changed your mind—”

“I haven’t. Fuck that smug bastard. I know he’s gorgeous and all, but honestly, Len. So is a saber-tooth tiger, and you wouldn’t sleep with one of them.”

“Yes, you’ve already lectured me about it. Several times.”

That strange protective urge rises again. “Surely you’re not saying it’s Lenora’s fault.”

“Of course not. I’m just talking.” Jack curses. “Look, I said I’m going to help, and I will. Don’t try to talk me out of it.”

Lenora gives them a quick hug. “I appreciate you.”

“Of course you do. I’m a gift.” They hesitate. “But this is something you should probably know.”

Lenora goes light orange. “What are you talking about?”

Jack’s a red shot through with a sickly yellow green. I get the impression of round cheeks and hard eyes. “Everyone knows. He’s waltzing around here wearing your family’s amulet and bragging about how you fell so in love with him that you handed it over.”

“That is not what happened.”

“Oh, I know.” Jack sighs. “You wouldn’t part with that thing for love or money, and you’re too cold to let a good fucking cloud your mind enough to pass it over. But knowing the truth doesn’t stop him from spreading the lie.”

“I’m going to kill that motherfucker.” Her orange shifts to a red so deep, it’s nearly black. “Excuse me, Jack. I’ve got somewhere to be.”

“Hey, Len.” Jack waits for her to pause to continue. “Be careful. There’s some weird stuff going on this time around. The opening ceremony was more complicated than normal, and—”

“That has nothing to do with me.” Lenora turns and stalks through the crowd, a sharp knife ready to strike.

“Ramanu.”

I want to follow my witch, but I make myself pause and turn to Jack. “Yes?”

“I don’t know what you’re doing with Lenora or what you’re up to, but I get the feeling you don’t actually mean her harm.”

I focus in on them, narrowing my attention until…ah, there it is. “Telepath.”

“Something like that.” I get the impression of a shark-sharp smile. “Which is why I know you’ve got a thing for my ex. Watch her back, demon. I wasn’t kidding about the curse work.”

I nod and allow the crowd to bear me away from them, following Lenora. She’s the only one deep red in the mix of colors and sensations around me. More than that, I have the taste of her now.

I’d like the taste of her literally.

She veers around a stall, and I follow her through a series of narrow streets that aren’t quite streets. The marketplace gives way to more permanent buildings. A few of them are restaurants and pubs, but Lenora bypasses them all, only slowing when we reach a quieter street that feels familiar. Temporary lodgings have the same sensation regardless of which time or territory or realm you’re in.

Lenora pauses. She’s still angry, but there’s a spiderweb of light gray through the deep color that I don’t like. I don’t want my witch scared. Before I can speak, she holds up a hand. “Is it safe to say I’m not losing you this weekend?”

“Are you trying to lose me?” I’m genuinely curious. She’s powerful enough to banish me if she really wanted to, and not just because she summoned me in the first place.

“No.” That thread of fear in her gets stronger even as she makes an obvious attempt to shake it off. “I have no intention of making a deal with you, Ramanu. But…I’m not someone who fails. I can’t afford to do so with Kristoff. Not again. So I guess you’re the ace up my sleeve, poison though it may be.”

“Lenora.” I slowly close the distance between us. Each step, the gray of fear retreats a little more until I stop nearly touching her. “Seven years of pleasure.”