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“I have an interest in keeping you alive,” he said. “Let me tell you a littlefun fact, Juniper. Soul bargains are overseen by Hell’s Council. Think of them as our government. Now, once upon a time, an absolute dolt of a demon decided to convince an entire bar of drunken humans to give him their souls. He then massacredallof them, so he wouldn’t have to bother fulfilling his end of their deals. The council doesn’t look very fondly upon the bargain-and-murder method of soul hunting. They put a stop to it. So I’m not trying to have you die from something so silly as starving to death, because I’m really trying to avoid the council’s attention. Now, are you hungry?”
I thought of telling him I wasn’t going to starve to death after only a day...but Iwashungry. I nodded.
“Oh,good. Look at you, admitting you have needs. Bravo.” He gave a sarcastic clap of his hands and snatched up a key from the counter, jangling it in the air. “Let’s go then.”
“I don’t have clothes on, asshole,” I said as he brushed past me toward the front door. The touch of his arm against my bare shoulder sent a little shiver up my back and a tingle straight down to my core. Goddamn it, the demon was a walking death trap baited with good looks. “And you’re barely dressed either!”
“Is that a problem?” He turned, one hand on the front door knob. It caught me off guard, and my eyes immediately darted down — down to the absurd bulge in his pants. I hurriedly looked away, jaw clenched, my arms folded over the sheet I’d wrapped around myself. “Mm, that’s what I thought.”
I really didn’t plan on getting into the bright orange Acura NSX the demon had parked in the yard, but the hunger shakes had set in. I’d be useless soon if I didn’t consume some calories. I slid into the passenger seat, begrudgingly noticing just how comfortable the leather was as I settled in. Zane kept looking over at me, a cocky smile on his face as he started the engine.
“What?” I finally snapped, when he wouldn’t stop staring.
“You like the car.” He didn’t even pose it as a question.
“Why does a demon have a car?” I said. “Or a house?”
He pulled out of the yard, onto a narrow road shaded by maple trees. The engine roared, the tires screeched, and the car took off down the winding road, the force of its speed making my stomach flip and pressing me back to the seat.
“Why wouldn’t I get a car?” he said, raising his voice over the sound of the engine. “I can run faster than any human, but I can’t run around in public. The council would have a fit if I showed off like that.” He leaned back in the seat, one hand on the wheel. “I have to show off in other ways.”
I began to recognize the roads as we drove. We were a little north of Abelaum, following the road south along the bay. I wasn’t going to admit it, but the car was impressive. And expensive.
“Do you have a job or something?” I said, trying not to look at him so I wouldn’t slip up and lookdownagain.
“I hunt souls.”
“Does Hell pay you for that? You bought the house and the car somehow.”
“Hell provides,” he said simply. “For those who provide for it in return. Soul hunters are treated generously by the council.”
This was all sounding a bit too much like something out of a fantasy novel. Soul hunters, councils in Hell, the fact that Hell itself was even real. I fell silent, and Zane turned up the radio, blasting “Twisted”by MISSIO through the car’s sound system. He nodded his head along to the music, having a fantastic time while I glared in the seat beside him.
He was playing nice, but I wasn’t going to forget he was a monster; a monster I’d made a deal with for one purpose, and one purpose only: to bring an end to the Hadleighs and their cult.
But maybe I’d get a few more good fucks out of it, as a bonus. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t deny it. I was so goddamn attracted to him that I got shivers just from looking at him. The thought of his dick made my pussy start doing kegels of her own free-fucking-will.
He finally slowed as we drove into downtown Abelaum. We passed the university campus, the tall stone buildings partially hidden behind trees. I’d thought I might go there, once upon a time. Back before my reality was shattered, before I realized the university was just another trap the Libiri used to lure in new followers.
We drove past the bars, the boutiques, and the cafes, finally pulling into the parking lot at Dick’s Drive-in.
I balked as he got out. “I’m wearing a fuckingsheet, Zane!”
But he just kept walking, shirtless, toward the order window. I growled furiously, slammed my fist against the dashboard hard enough to hurt — and followed him.
It had been ages since I’d had a good burger, that was the only excuse I had.
Luckily, the sheet I wore was completely overshadowed by Zane strutting up to the window, shirtless. I don’t think the woman who took our order even realized I was there, continuing to stare at him even as I told her what I wanted. I couldn’t blame her.
Back in the car, the smell of the food had me digging into the bag like a starving animal. I had finished my first burger before I noticed Zane watching me, a pleased smile on his face.
“What?” I said, with sauce smudged on my face and lettuce spilled down the sheet.
“Just admiring my pet,” he said. “I thought you might be stubborn and hold back on eating.”
“I’m not your fucking pet,” I muttered.
“Mm, and yet I clearly remember you telling me Iownedyou the other night.” God, he was unbearable. That stupid cocky grin. He looked sopleasedwith himself.
