“They are both females, actually,” Deirdre said, surprise and amusement in her tone.
“Really? That’s the best news I’ve heard all night.” I laughed. “I could use a testosterone break.”
“Couldn’t we all.”
“Sparkle and Sunshine,” I said suddenly, the names Sophie had always imagined for our non-existent dogs now coming to mind. Her words replayed in my memory.
But don’t let their sunny disposition and happy-go-lucky names fool you. Our dogs are someseriouslybadass bitches…
With a smile on my face and a little more lightness in my heart, I got to my feet and joined Deirdre once again.
“Sparkle, Sunshine. Come on, girls.” The dogs padded closer, pressing against my calves. I wouldn’t go so far as to call them doting pets just yet, but it seemed we’d made a little progress.
“Well!” Deirdre said, astonished. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The hounds belong to Sebastian,” she said. “All of them. They’re assigned to demon sworn souls as needed, but their loyalty has always been to him. This is the first I’ve ever known them to bond with someone else.”
A human couple loaded down with shopping bags bumbled past us, inadvertently nudging Deirdre closer to the hounds. Her hand brushed over one of their heads, and the beast let out a contented yelp, licking her wrist.
Deirdre laughed. “Well okay, then. Hello there, Sunshine.”
“She’s Sparkle,” I said. “Sparkle has the underbite, see? And Sunshine has this notch in her left ear.” It looked like something had taken a bite out of it, poor thing.
Deirdre stared at me for a beat, her eyes sparkling, her smile broad. In that moment, she really did look like a grandmother. Like someone who wanted to bake you cookies or teach you how to play bridge.
I was pretty sure I would’ve liked that.
“Would you like to get some coffee?” she asked. “I know the perfect place.”
At the mention of coffee, my stomach did a full on summersault, letting me know just how hungry I was. Shockingly, I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d eaten real food. The safe house? It seemed like a thousand years ago, and suddenly all I wanted to do was wolf down a giant cheeseburger, six orders of fries, and a chocolate shake. And maybe some apple pie, too. And possibly some cheese sticks. And also bacon. So, so much bacon.
I smiled at my grandmother, linking my arm in hers. “Throw in some dinner, Grams, and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Careful mentioning the d-word around here,” she said with a wink. “Deals are what got us all into this mess in the first place.”
Fifteen
Gray
Deirdre took me to a quaint little fifties-style diner a few blocks away from the casino, tucked down a side street just far enough off the main strip to give us a break from the crowds.
I wasted no time in ordering a full-on feast, and after I shoveled in enough greasy goodness to give me heartburn for a month, I finally felt human again.
Finally felt ready to face some of the questions swirling around my head.
Deirdre must’ve sensed the direction of my thoughts, because she ordered herself a double bourbon, then looked at me sternly and said, “Ask away. Now might be our last chance to talk freely in this city—Sebastian’s goons don’t come down this way. The place is spelled against demons.”
The ominous tone in her voice made me shiver. I hoped she was wrong—that wewouldget another chance to talk. Despite the immediate chaos I had to deal with, including but not limited to the epic disaster formerly known as my love life, part of me hoped that my grandmother and I would get the chance to spend more time together. Maybe not right now, and maybe not even on the material plane. But she was beholden to Sebastian, too. I wanted to believe our paths would cross again, even if it was in this city.
It would’ve been nice to have an ally here.
It would’ve been nice to learn more about my family—my father—her son.
It would’ve been nice if we’d been reunited under any other circumstances but the ones that had actually brought us together.
I sighed, trying to mask my disappointment. The clock was always ticking, and right now, I needed answers. Answers that would help me understand what Sebastian really wanted with me and my ancestors. And more importantly, how the hell I could get out of this deal.
