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“You would if I wanted you to,” he answers.
Suddenly the walls are melting, along with the floor beneath our feet.
“Cool!” a myriad of voices cry as I struggle to stay standing. Argoss’s hand is on my lower back in an instant, and the room returns to normal.
“And that’s definitely enough,” I say briskly. “Mr. Argoss isn’t here to entertain us.”
“That’s right,” Lucy agrees. “You’re here to give us money, right, Mr. Argoss?”
“At least stair money, right?” Graham asks.
“And leaky roof money,” Bo chimes in.
Argoss’s deep chuckle rattles my own rib cage, so I can only imagine how the kids must be feeling right now. “Not a fan of sleeping in the rain?” the demon asks.
“Not every day I’m not,” Bo answers, shaking his head. “And Graham can’t swim.”
“Swim?”
I’ve never seen a more stunning frown than the one currently stretched across the demon’s sculpted human features.
“We’ve got some big holes,” Lucy clarifies, with both her hands making an unnecessary, albeit accurately sized, O for effect.
“And no filters,” I tease, flicking my gaze at Argoss, who is currently chuckling at the similar O’s the other kids are making.
“Filters are for betas and diplomats,” Argoss says matter of factly as if the saying is common or something. Maybe for demons, it is. Who knows? “Who really are just betas in fancy clothes.”
“Or brave,” I reply, making sure my voice is stern despite my attraction. I don’t want the kids thinking emotional intelligence is for sissies. “Lots of people love shooting the messenger.”
“Noted!” Lucy says, getting nothing out of what I said.
I let her explain to the demon how the orphanage’s ‘treehouse,’ really a platform with a railing around it, is ‘busted up something bad.’
There’s no roof, but that doesn’t stop my students from having a good time. At least when the stairs leading up to their second playground are functional. Unfortunately, the sole way up the platform is busted up the same way as BS1 and BS2.
“So now we can’t play pirates in the treetops anymore,” Graham finishes.
“Hey, guys. Let’s revamp the plan a little.” I take the opportunity to remind them it’s outdoor time and that I’ve got it from here. It’s probably best I give Argoss the rest of the tour myself, especially since I’m the only one under this crumbling roof with tact and a filter.
“I think he likes us,”Lucy says as soon as they all return from pirate playtime.
Argoss had kindly allowed me to show him around the first and second floor despite what I’m sure is a busy schedule. Obviously, we need his money, so my spiel was somewhat planned. And I get the sense his response was, too.
He’s willing to make all the renovations I think are necessary. And living in the age we do, I know his help can’t come with any attachment. Nowadays, if a demon helps you, there are laws against hidden strings attached.
“I think he likes the idea of helping,” I respond, careful of the look in Lucy’s eye as she watches me from the opposite end of the kitchen.
“But I think he likes you the most!” Lucy giggles. “I bet he wants to marry you.” She perks up at her own observation, and it doesn’t take a mind reader to know what she’s thinking now. Adoption. Family. The girl’s a dreamer. Always has been.
“I bet you don’t know that for sure,” I reply, happy overall with today.
5
ARGOSS
Itoss my keys on my desk, still feeling a sort of high from my little visit at the orphanage. There was plenty of room for improvement, meaning plenty of opportunities to spend some quality time with Felicity. I begin to take off my coat when my ears prick at the sense that I am very much not alone here. The sense of magic in the air is palpable.
I turn on my heel, scoping my office for any signs of life. Or something adjacent. Any gnomes on the bookshelf, leprechauns hiding in the wastebasket, or ghosts stuck in a cobweb in the corner. It doesn’t take long for my vision to focus on two small orbs of glowing flight, fluttering quickly like hummingbird wings.
