pretty good.
“So you want a man like me to be all soft and gently teasing you like Bevan?”
“I—“ I stopped.
When he put it like that…well, I did have this weird thought that I didn’t want Variel to act like Bevan. “Bevan isn’t soft!” I said, dodging the question, because it made me have too many thoughts about how I would like Variel to be, and that was really beside the point.
Variel let out a breath and stood up with a quick bow. "I have upset you to the point where it may endanger your health. That won't do. So I will wait outside for any call from you."
"Thank you," I said. It was about time he listened to me.
The room was now very empty. He'd left a few books on the nightstand, so I could read, which was how I passed all my idle hours back home in Florida. I picked up a book, but I kept staring at the empty room.
I had been lonely for so long. Now I thought that the happiest night of my life was when Bevan and I slept together in his bed while the lights of Variel's cabin shone just next door, knowing that in the morning, I would stoke the fire in the oven and make something for the whole gang.
I thought I had a family. But he was the one who spoiled it.
Chapter Eight
Bevan
Helena would die laughing if she saw me getting up early to run. I couldn't sleep. In the middle of the night, I was pondering how much of Variel's power I might still take from him. Deep down, I knew I should stop here, but he wasn't putting it to any good use. Why shouldn't a familiar have the powers of a high demon? If I took all of his power, that was another high demon wiped off the face of the earth, and I'd lead the familiars to a better future.
Anyway, I just felt pumped. I hoped demon blood didn't turn me into a jacked bro, but I had all this excess restless energy, and so I was running down the narrow roads of La Serenissima.
It didn't hurt that this was a beautiful city to explore, a parallel of Venice, eternally caught in the time when Venice was a romantic dreamland of candle and lamplight, gondolas, and carnivals. In the fae realm, there was no global warming or cruise ships full of tourists to mess things up. At this hour, the sunrise was hitting the stone buildings and church towers and turning them stunning colors of pink and orange while the alleys were still nearly dark, with lanterns glowing in the windows for the early shoppers.
I had the weird feeling that the fae ladies were checking me out as I ran by them, towering over their heads.
When I had worked up a good sweat, and stopped to rest, a young faery maid came out of her shop to offer me a towel and water. She was blushing. "You look to need it, sir."
"Thanks." I felt bad that I had no interest in giving her the time of day, because as I was running I was thinking of how Jenny still wanted me when she was sick.
Ego getting a little out of hand there, Bevan? Maybe you shouldn't have spent quite so much time in the form of a wisecracking bat after all. Or maybe it's just that some demon blood is good for attracting the ladies.
I returned to the palace to take care of Jenny for a shift, wanting just to spend time with her and no one else.
“I'm feeling a hundred times better!" she said, when I walked in the door. Her color had returned, and the room didn't have the smell of illness anymore, just woodsmoke and soup. "I want to get out of bed! Am I allowed to see the faery realm?"
"I'm sure you're allowed," I said. "You could use fresh air. And it's gorgeous here. The autumn air and the sea breeze make for some chills, though, so I think I should find you a real coat and not just conjured clothes."
"Do you think I can see the kitchens?"
"Forget the kitchens," I said. "While I was out running this morning I saw just the place to take you."
"Where?"
"Let it be a surprise. Hang on." I turned to the door, and then I noticed her staring at me eagerly and I couldn't help but go over and kiss her first.
"Mm," she murmured. "Even staying in