Demons Like It Hot (43 page)

Yes, she is better off with someone else. Someone with less baggage.

With a frustrated breath, he rose from the bed. He pulled out a gray T-shirt and wrenched it over his head. Rummaging through the other piles of clothes, he grabbed a black pair of cargoes and slid them up his legs. Tightening his belt, he strapped the dagger to his side. He grabbed a few other weapons—a Glock with modified bullets and a couple of silver-infused grenades. Shoving the gun into the holster, he looked in the mirror.

Grabbing his final weapon, a long broadsword, he slid it into the scabbard at his back. He was ready—ready to defend Serah, whether she liked it or not.

***

Demon men were more complicated that human men. She sure as hell wasn’t going to live her life like a
Charmed
episode gone bad. Then again, life with Matthias couldn’t possibly be that bad.

“Too bad their Balthazar wasn’t nearly as bad as ours—but not by much.”

She decided she’d wear something a little less fancy. Ripping the closet door open, she grabbed the first thing she could find. A blue, cowl-necked, cashmere sweater. The material was thin, not too heavy. She should be fine under the hot stage lights.

Why did she have to fall in love with him? She could tell he cared about her too, in his weird, demonic sort of way. She pulled the sweater over her head and yanked it down. She grabbed a nice pair of dressy blue jeans and quickly put them on. Taking a look at the full-length mirror that dangled from the half-repaired door, she shrugged.

Not bad at all.

She quickly headed into the adjoining bathroom and sprayed some detangler on her dampened roots, running a comb through her crazy curls. With a final draw of the comb, she sighed.

“I’d wait until you get there to put your makeup on.” Kalli stepped into the bathroom. She twirled one of Serah’s curls around her finger. “Did I ever tell you how awesome your hair is?”

Serah shook her head. “Thanks. When did you get back here?”

“Five minutes ago. I wanted to make sure Farquhar was okay.” Her eyes flashed with concern. “Why are you moping around? We’re about to kick some big, bad Infernati ass.”

“Nothing.”

“Want me to do your makeup for you? You’ll need more than you’re used to.”

“Thanks Kalli. I’d like that a lot.”

“By the way, he loves you.”

Serah blinked. What was she talking about? “Who? Daniel?”

“No, you dumbass. Matthias,” Kalli said with an irritated huff.

“What a funny way of showing it.”

“He’s afraid. Look at what happened to his wife. He doesn’t want Salome to do the same to you.”

“Seriously?”

Kalli nodded. “I can’t read his mind, but when he thinks no one is looking, it’s plain as day on his face.”

“Then why does he push me away?”

“I suspect that Salome and Balthazar have something to do with it. Even more so after what Balthazar did to Farquhar.”

“But he’s acted uptight from the get-go.”

Kalli exhaled. “Are you daft or just unobservant? He was afraid to tell you the truth about what he did. Then his old mentor and Salome showed up.” Kalli took a deep breath. “The less anyone, especially Salome, suspects anything, the less of a threat you are to them.” Kalli sighed. “You’re already a threat as it is. Imagine if Salome knew that Matthias cared for you?”

Serah nodded. She understood—too well.

“Salome never forgets a thing, especially when someone she turned into a demon defies her. She’ll do anything to see him suffer. And if it means, killing you, she won’t even bat an eyelash. But that’s not the bad thing.”

“What?”

“She already plans on killing you. She’ll make it even slower and more painful if she knows the truth.” Kalli gritted her teeth. “Matthias is dedicated. He’ll die himself before that happens.”

Well, then. That changed things—a lot. She wasn’t just going to draw her out of the crowd. She was going to a hell of a lot more. She couldn’t let Matthias risk his life for her.

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

Kalli smiled. “So you see my point?”

“I do.”

“Good.”

Serah smiled. “So… Do I get more weapons other than the poisoned tiramisu?” She would not sit idly. She would bring these bitches down—one way or the other.

“Huh?”

“You know—daggers or silver bullets or anything?” Then again, her necklace worked pretty damn well the last time. “I… ahh… just want to be safe.”

“I’m not stupid. I’ve seen that look before.”

“Really? When?”

“When Lucy fought Belial.” Kalli shook her head. “You two are too determined for your own good.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

Kalli shrugged. “Not always, I guess.”

“So can you hook a girl up or what?”

“Sure, I guess.”

“Kalli, you rock.”

Kalli grinned. “You said that already.” She pulled a silver-inlaid dagger and sheath from her boot and handed it to Serah.

Serah pulled the dagger from its sheath. It was a simple blade—no fancy etchings or jewels. Then again, all you needed was silver. It all sliced the same.

“For your
protection
only. Never anger. Remember that.”

Serah nodded and sheathed the weapon. She remembered full well. She’d seen where anger had gotten a few of the Paladins—an extended stint on the Paladins’ injured reserve list. Then again, she wasn’t demon and she wasn’t a Paladin. “Do those same rules apply to Pure-Bloods.”

“Frankly, I wouldn’t take any chances.”

Good advice, actually. Anger never got anyone anywhere, in real life and fiction alike.

“After all the crap we’ve been through, I don’t think I should either.”

“Glad we agree on one thing, at least.”

Serah wrapped her arms around Kalli and drew her into a hug. “I really appreciate you helping Farquhar. I don’t know what I would have done if he had been vanquished.”

“No problem. That’s what friends are for.” She straightened the collar of Serah’s sweater. “I think you’re ready to go.”

“You planning on riding over with us?”

“Only if we can come tae.” Farquhar said, sitting in the hall with a cigar poking out of his mouth.

Already back to cigars. He was indeed on the road to recovery. Serah scowled. “Farquhar!”

“It isnae lit. Jeez.”

“Fine,” she said, her hands on her hips. “And my answer is no.”

“Ye’r nae fun.” Farquhar whipped his tail back and forth. “Kalli has given me a clean bill o’ health. Right, Kalli?”

“Yeah, he’s fine.”

“Do you forget? You’re a cat.” Serah reached down and scrubbed behind his ear. “Having a cat running around a professional kitchen isn’t going to go over well.”

“Ah can sneak in later on. Ah ken how tae fight.” He jumped up in the air and flipped backward. He ended with a quick kick and a punch. “See?”

“Kalli, what do you think?”

“Seriously, I think you’re going to need all the help you can get.”

“Great! Ah’ll go an’ git Inanna.” He swiveled around and sauntered down the hall, tail swishing in victory.

“Thanks a lot, Kalli.”

“It was nothing.” With a sly grin, she winked. “I’ll go see if Matthias is ready to go.”

Serah took a deep breath. It was almost time. If there was one thing to be thankful for it was her nerves. Luckily she could pawn it off on the cameras.

“Okay. I’m ready,” she replied, her breath hitching. She flipped the switch on the bathroom lights and closed the door behind her. There was no turning back now.

The drive was slow and tedious. Matthias wanted to have some alone time with Serah. He wanted to speak his mind. But then Kalli, Farquhar, and Inanna had decided to come along for the ride.

“I didn’t feel that a
Peragrans
would be in good form, especially with humans nearby.”

Matthias nodded. She had a point. They needed to exercise caution. They couldn’t afford any mishaps so close to the show.

But the cats? Why? They wanted to remain discreet. Having two extremely intelligent felines around would certainly bring up suspicions.

“Ye need tae relax, Matt,” Farquhar meowed out. “Inanna an’ Ah will be safe.”

Serah sucked in a deep breath. There was no mistaking the nervousness. She turned into the parking lot and pulled into an empty parking space. Putting the SUV into park, she clenched the steering wheel tight.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m scared.” She turned to Matthias, her bright sapphire eyes swimming. “What if it doesn’t work? What if they don’t eat it?”

Matthias shook his head, brushing a hand over her shoulder. He didn’t care if Kalli was in the car with them or not. He leaned in close. “Shhh. Don’t worry. You’ll do fine.”

“How do you know?”

Matthias allowed his lips to curve into a reassuring smile. “You stood up to me—and lived.”

“You’re so full of yourself,” she said with a chuckle.

“There, I got a laugh out of you.”

“So you did.” She glanced up at him, her gaze warm. “I’m glad you came to protect me. I don’t think anyone else could have survived.”

She wrapped her arms around him and brushed her lips across his cheek. How in the hell could he let her go when his mission was done? He loved her. Maybe he could make it work.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“It was a thank-you kiss.”

“Yeah right,” Farquhar mumbled from the backseat. “Get over yerselves.”

Inanna swatted him with her tail. “Now now, baby.”

Both Serah and Matthias whipped their heads around. Serah narrowed her gaze. “Seriously. Can’t I thank my bodyguard for doing an awesome job of protecting me?”

Kalli blew out an annoyed huff. “He did more than protect you, and you both know it.”

“He’s not interested in me.”

“She’s not interested in me.”

The words came out in unison. He shook his head. He needed this mission done ASAP. Serah was completely wrong. He was more than interested in her.

“Ye two are actin’ like eejits.” Farquhar sighed. “Let’s go.”

Kalli nodded. “I was just about to say the same thing.” She yanked open the back door and stomped off toward the building.

Farquhar and Inanna followed, their tails swishing behind them. “Bluidy hell. Stupid arses,” he heard muttered in the distance.

“Has she always been a matchmaker?”

“Well, she did try to get Frankie and Gerardo together once.”

“What happened?”

“World War Three almost happened.”

Matthias nodded. “I see.” He swung the door open and hopped out. He’d do anything to ease her worry. “Well, we’d better get going. You have nothing to be afraid of.”

He jogged around and opened the driver side door. “You have me to protect you.”

“I want more than your protection, Matthias.”

His jaw ticked. “What more do you want from me?”

“I want your love, damn it.”

You
have
it, Serah. You just can’t know it
. “That can’t happen,” he said instead.

The words tore him up inside.

***

“I know you have feelings for me. Why can’t you admit it?”

Kalli had said he was protecting her. But was he protecting her from Salome or protecting her from himself?

“Now is not the time.”

“It’s never the time.” Serah clenched her fists. She needed to speak her mind, before it was too late. “I’m not weak, you know. I can protect myself. You’re overreacting about this.”

“I can’t stand the thought of losing you.”

“You’re not going to lose me. We’re going to beat Salome.”

“Maybe not today, but some day.” Matthias shrugged. “You’re better off with someone like Daniel.”

“Daniel?”

“You two seemed so comfortable together.”

“In a totally platonic way.” She rolled her eyes. “I accidentally kissed him and it was weird. Not at all like our kisses.”

“Huh?”

“It felt like I was kissing my brother, not a lover.” And that was the truth. “That sort of thing doesn’t get my rocks off, if you know what I mean.”

He raked a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth. “You don’t know what you’re saying. It’s the excitement of the impending battle.”

“Fine, then I’m going to ask you just one favor.”

Matthias nodded. “I can respect that. What’s your request?”

“Let’s discuss this afterwards.”

“So be it.” Matthias’s face became more sullen. “After the battle and we’ve had time to relax. Let’s see if you still feel the same.”