hold on my arm and turned his gaze absentmindedly toward the cloudy sky for a while before looking over at me.
" Fleur ,do you want to know why I'm so gung-ho about this Dana business?"
I willed myself to sober up, suspecting something big was about to come. "You mean other than your righteous fury at her?"
He smiled gently and looked down at the pavement, watching our feet. "I'm in trouble. Big trouble." He sighed. "You ever heard of a demon named Barton?"
"No. Should I have?"
"Maybe. He works in Chicago. Very high up. Very powerful. He's one of those who expects 'favors' from his staff."
I nodded in understanding. It was one of the occupational hazards succubi and incubi faced, and probably something else Seth would be happier not knowing about. As workers in the sex industry, so to speak, our demonic supervisors often thought we wouldn't mind one more "customer." Many saw it as our duty. Whatever his other failings, Jerome at least had never demanded anything of that nature from me.
"So...anyway, Barton has this succubus named Alessandra. Relatively new. You know, a century or so. Beautiful. She has as good an eye for exquisite physical detail as you. And she's bright. Wicked sense of humor. Outgoing."
I stared at him in astonishment. "Are you in love, Bastien?"
"No, but I was - am - very attracted to her. Hard not to be. We got to know each other, and well, one thing sort of led to another..."
"As it often does with you."
"Yes," he admitted ruefully. "But let me tell you, it was amazing. That woman...wow."
"So how are you in trouble?"
"Well, the thing is, Barton's kind of possessive about his people. He expected Alessandra's body to be exclusively for his use - mortal business aside, of course."
"And he found out?"
"Yes. He turned unbelievably jealous." Contempt filled Bastien's voice. "Stupid emotion for our kind. Of course, demon or no, I suppose he might have had reason to feel insecure knowing his girlfriend had been with a sex-master like myself. I mean, once you go Bastien..."
"Keep telling the story, ego-master. What happened?"
"Well...to say he was pissed off would be an understatement. Honestly, I don't think I'd be enjoying your lovely company today if Janelle hadn't done some serious intervening." Janelle was Bastien's archdemoness in Detroit. "But mostly she just protected me from physical torture. Everything else is a mess. My career is in shambles. Barton has powerful friends, and Janelle's made it clear she's not going to cover my ass anymore."
We had reached my building and stood outside it now. He ran a hand through his dark curls, face suddenly weary. "I'm on everyone's shit list all of a sudden. Plans are already in motion to transfer me somewhere else, and I know it's going to be horrific. Like Guam. Or Omaha. That's why I need this Dana thing. A big hit like this - a public humiliation for the other side. It'll put me on top again. They won't be able to punish me, not if I've got a takedown like that on my record."
I started to understand his obsession with the radio host. "But the takedown isn't exactly taking."
"I don't know what else to do. I've tried all the old tricks, all the textbook moves plus a few exclusive Bastien moves. None of it's working."
I reached out to him. "You might have to accept that she's got a strong will,Bas.It happens."
"I know." He sounded so miserable, it broke my heart.
"Hey, come on. Don't give up the fight yet. I taught you everything you know, remember? We'll find a way out of this. We'll get that wench wet yet."
He laughed and brushed a finger against my cheek. "You always make me feel better when I'm around you, you know that? It's one of the wonderful things about you. That and - if the rumors are true - your mouth. "
"The rumors are true, and I'm going to help you with this, you'll see. Besides, nothing else works on her, there's always hard liquor, right?"
"Ah yes, the old standby." He hugged me tightly and kissed each cheek. "Good night, my sweet. Thanks for a lovely evening."
I kissed him back. "Anytime."
I had my hand on the door handle when I thought of something.
"Hey, Bastien?"
He turned from where he'd been walking away down the sidewalk. "Yes?"
"Why'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Alessandra. You must have known how Barton felt about her, right?"
"I did."
"So why risk it?"
He looked at me like he could scarcely believe I had to ask.