AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No.” Clay slashed a hand through the air. “Absolutely not.”
The daemon’s enthusiasm got away with him the first time, and he flung molten marshmallow from the end of his stick right into Clay’s hair. The way Clay shot up, smacking his head and howling, I thought he was on fire at first. But no, he was just being a drama king. The goo washed out of the wig no problem.
Delight brightened the daemon’s face. “Deal.”
Without another complaint, he fisted the back of Aedan’s pants and lifted him like a sack of groceries.
“That’s not what I…” I bit the inside of my cheek. “Never mind.”
Aedan hung low enough for grass to tickle his nose, but I was sure he would be fine.
“I’ll get the cage.” Clay locked it tight. “Don’t want these little fellas to escape.”
“No,” I agreed. “We don’t.”
We backtracked to the pickup, where I waffled on my options.
Had this been an official case, I could have had an agent come out, pick it up, sanitize it, and return it. But, as Clay was fond of reminding me, this wasn’t an official case. That meant one of us got the honors.
A call had Clay shoving the cage back into the truck bed, leaving more scratches and dings.
“Kerr.” He sat on the tailgate, and the truck creaked. “What’s up?”
To give him privacy, I turned to check on the daemon. I found him standing with his arm relaxed, which dunked Aedan’s face in the piddly creek and held it there.
“You know that won’t kill him, right?” I folded my arms across my chest. “He’s aquatic.”
“He like water.” The daemon tried for innocent. “I give him drink.”
The line was delivered with an air of benevolence, which I might have believed if I hadn’t seen him sigh when I informed him cosmetic alterations to Aedan’s appearance didn’t change his fundamental self.
He might no longer have blue skin or visible gills, but they were only a layer of magic away.
“You’re a brat.” I really had to stop finding his shenanigans adorable. “Put him in the truck, please.”
The daemon lifted Aedan, cocking his arm, and I leapt in front of him with my arms outspread.
“In the cab,” I clarified, which earned me a grumble. “Gently.”
“Bad news.” Clay tapped my shoulder. “Ace and I have to roll out.”
The daemon finished his task and returned to my side, stuffing his hair into my hand. “No go.”
“You have to go.” I smiled at the show of solidarity. “It’s your job.”
“Pet.” He gave me more hair. “Maybe I go then.”
“Are you—?” I gawped at him. “You’re blackmailing me?”
“Asa get in trouble if I not go,” he said thoughtfully. “That bad.”
Karma for pocketing that fake camera to hold over the mayor’s head was swift in revisiting me.
“Why you little…” I yanked on his hair. “That’s not nice.”
“Your boyfriend is a toddler.” Clay snickered. “He’s going to tantrum any minute now.”
“Don’t give him ideas.” I shoved Clay. “What’s the case?”
