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I couldn’t do it.

I couldn’t leave.

I stared into Reynard’s gentle gaze. “I have to save them.”

Reynard blinked, uncertain. “Save . . . what?”

Zee appeared at his side, braced an arm on the roof of the car, and leaned over Reynard’s shoulder. Like that, together, with Reynard’s face all pale and stoic, and Zee’s hair a chaotic mop of purple and black tousled between his horns, his gaze intense, they looked right.

Zee’s eyes narrowed, trying to read me, then a broad grin broke out across his face. “I thought you’d never fucking ask.” Zee turned his head, putting his face very close to Reynard’s cheek. “Wanna partake in some illegal shit, Your Highness?”

Reynard’s head stayed still, but his eyes cut to the side. “That rather depends on the likelihood of being caught.”

Zee snorted, straightened, and slapped Reynard on the back, jolting him forward. “Fucking live a little, Daddy. You might find you like being bad.” Zee stepped back, glancing around us. “Park the car down the block. I’ll get masks.” And he sauntered off, apparently having a plan.

I eyed the two pies. It was too late for the Labrador in them, but I’d be damned if any more pets were going into pies on my watch.

“Is General Copernicus going to appreciate your intervention in his business, Adam?” Reynard asked, climbing back into the car.

“I doubt it.”

“Masks will be wise, then.” He instructed the driver to park down the street.

“He’s also the biggest demon I have ever seen, who might be a little unhinged,” I said.

“Demon generals most often are.” Reynard rolled up his sleeves, and a predatory gleam made his silvery eyes shine. “A demon general undergoes thorough exams in battle prowess and strategic thinking.”

“Is that how they become generals?”

“No, they do that by killing their predecessor.”

“Oh.” It seemed likely General Copernicus would not let us free his pets without a fight, and his bulk alone would make him formidable. “Maybe we should find some weapons as well as masks?”

Reynard’s smile grew, revealing a hint of his sharp fangs. “I have all the weapons I need.”

Zee poofed outside the car, flung open the door, and dropped inside. He tossed Reynard and me each a black hood. Reynard lifted the full-face leather mask and poked his fingers through the two holes for eyes, then stretched the small cutout circle for the mouth.

“Where did you get these?” Reynard asked, incredulously.

Zee picked his up, with its sock-like additions for horns. “What’s wrong with them?”

“Zodiac?” Reynard’s chastising tone rumbled. “Did you buy them from a sex store?”

“Pfft, no,” Zee scoffed, gaze shifting.

Reynard blinked and sat back in the seat.

Zee grinned, and pulled a pair of fluffy pink cuffs from his back pocket, then tossed them into my lap beside the mask and pies. “For later.” Glancing up, he caught Reynard’s incredulous expression, and his grin grew. “Let’s go save some fuckin’ furbabies.”

CHAPTER 11

The sun had set by the time we returned to Fido’s Fillings & Flavors. Reynard’s driver dropped us a short walk from the factory, because a seven-foot-tall demon, an average human, and a suit-clad vampire were very conspicuous, even before we donned the masks. Luckily, there wasn’t anyone around to witness our approach.

A few meters from the rear of the warehouse, Reynard dashed ahead and disabled the camera observing the back door, raining sparks on the sidewalk.

“Time to get our criminal on,” Zee said with enthusiasm, then tugged the mask over his horns and head. He vanished his wings, making himself smaller. A few steps behind, I pulled my own mask on and swallowed my racing heart. This was the right thing, wasn’t it? It did feel a bit naughty. But good too. Righteously good.

Reynard gave the back door a quick shoulder shove, popping it open, and in we ventured.