my weapons, Cassidy Morgan. You have questions. I will answer the ones I can, and then we must talk of tomorrow.”
I swallow. “Let’s do that the other way around. Tomorrow first.”
“As you wish.”
“Okay, look.” I lean forward. “If I’m gonna help you pull this crazy scheme off, I have to know how the hell you plan on not getting caught.”
“You already know how. You’ve seen my disguise.” He flicks his hand.
There is a flash of light around him, accompanied by that short keening pulse.
My brows climb up to my hairline. If I didn’t know Arcayos had been sitting there a second ago, I would never have a clue that the man I’m looking at is him. The last time I saw him look like that, I was delirious, unable to fully take it in. He doesn’t just look a little different, dressed in a faded pair of blue jeans and a white tee. This is so much more than that.
I gulp, getting to my feet. “Stand up for a sec,” I croak.
He rises smoothly.
Dazed, I walk over to him, drinking in every detail. He’s two heads shorter than he was, but still taller than me, six and a half feet or so. His muscles still ripple heavily, stretching the shirt, but they don’t look as thick or superhuman. The clothes hang differently on him, the pants resting on narrower hips. His eyes are a gorgeous, clear blue I can’t look away from.
“This is insane.” I pull off one glove and reach up, gingerly touching his chiseled, but somehow less harsh jaw, his cheek. His fuller, paler mouth.
I love that there’s no flood of images, no red-hot lava pouring into my brain, no onslaught of emotions from him.
His lips pull into a smile, but he stands there, patiently letting me check him out like livestock at auction.
“I told you, we will not get caught, sweet thing.”
My mouth drops open. “Wow. Okay, you even sound different.”
His voice is still deep, but as himself, it sounds as if he’s got a tiger in him, and the pitch is much lower. Now, his voice is smoother, half an octave higher but still deep, and more human.
Unreal.
I brush my fingers through his shorter pale-blond hair. It’s as light and straight as his real hair is curly and dark. Those thick bangs fall over one eye in a way lots of men wear their hair these days. They feel different, softer and finer.
In his real form, without his demon face, he looks like a Greek God. Now, he looks like he could play for varsity.
“I’ll admit, I’m impressed. You talk more normal now too. But that still needs work.”
“What’s wrong with the way I talk?”
“You just sound a little off. Like a newbie actor who hasn’t quite caught his lines down.”
“Ah. That won’t do.”
“No. I suggest you stay in this form, using that voice and speech pattern as much as you can until tomorrow. I don’t want you going into that interview with my boss sounding like you walked right out of a Shakespearian play.”
“Done.” He crosses his arms. “Anything else?”
“Yeah.” I sigh.
Returning to my seat, I pull off my other glove and set them on the table. It’s nice not to have to worry about the visions.
“The disguise only solves half the problem.” I sit forward, wetting my dry lips. “Arcayos, you don’t know how to be a cop. Until now, I didn’t think you could sound like one, much less understand the laws.”
“You want to bet?”
I shake my head. “No, see, if you’re going to say that, you have to say, ‘You wanna bet?’”
He repeats it properly.
“Better. Still, you have no idea how to do my job.”
“I know enough. But you will quiz me on it before tomorrow just to be sure.”
Cue laugh track.
“Quiz you?” I say incredulously. “This isn’t a fifth grade spelling bee, demon spawn. You fuck this up, we both get clinked. And how can you possibly ‘know enough’ in a few days?”
“From them.” He nods to the books on the table. “And from that.” A nod to the TV.
“You think you can learn how to be a cop from a TV? Or from… what is this?” I lean over, picking up one of the books. “A police handbook? Really?” I stand and rake my fingers through my hair. “Wow. We’re in so much trouble.”
My head is suddenly filled with horrific images of him trying to put someone in cuffs and doing a God awful impression of Steve McGarrett from Hawaii