moves on him? I honestly never thought you’d flirt for grades. That’s just not like you.”
The growl that rumbles deep in my chest is drowned out by the crowd, unlike her unhinged remarks that can be clearly heard by nearly anyone with any interest. And tonight, with the media mingling like bees in a hive, the shop is swarming with people who want fresh dirt on the Valaris.
“Considering I’ve had one class with him so far, no. Not to mention…you know.” I wave my hand in tiny circles and stare at the bookshelf beside me, briefly wishing I could find a way to hide between the tomes. Maybe find a secret door in this enchanting little bookstore that can take me away from LA to another plane of reality where my life isn’t already charted for me.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Kell’s flawless face is wrinkled with confusion.
“I’m promised. And so are you, by the way. Did you forget that tiny detail?”
When she crosses her arms and averts her gaze, I know she hasn’t forgotten. If anyone can appreciate the vow we were bound to at birth, she can.
“You can do other things in the meantime,” she mutters without much conviction.
“What’s the point?” I wear my emotions too close to the surface, along with every base impulse. And when it comes to sex, having it with just anyone isn’t an option. I may hate being a Valari, but that doesn’t mean I can pretend I’m not one.
When humans break their vows, feelings get hurt. Hearts get broken. When demons break vows, someone gets punished.
Kell taps her red lacquered nail on her tooth. “Yeah.” Her eyes brighten after a moment. “Well, once you meet, you know, whoever it’s going to be and seal the deal, you can hook up with whoever you want. You just need to finish this stupid degree and get on with it.”
“Why don’t you get on with it?” I challenge.
She scoffs. “I will. Eventually. I’m just trying to wait a respectable amount of time before I settle down. I’m not an old maid like you.”
“You’re barely a year younger than me.”
She shrugs, a small show of admission. “I hate people telling me what to do. Maybe in a few years I won’t care so much.”
Unlikely.
In fairness, her worry mirrors my own. We have no idea who we’ll be matched with when the time comes. But every full-blooded demon I’ve ever met has fit a particular profile. Cocky and charismatic and not to be trifled with. They’re talented liars with vicious tempers, sent to strengthen a bloodline weakened by my human ancestors.
I’ve spent a good part of my adult life trying not to think about it.
“Come on.” Kell nudges me gently, the same inevitability painted across her features. “Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Four
Maximus
“Damn it.”
It’s not the first time I’ve spat it tonight. Not even the first time since climbing out Sarah’s office window, onto the fire escape, and then up here to the roof. I’m certain it won’t be the last.
What the hell was I thinking?
Pretty sure it won’t be the last time for that line either. And I can’t answer it, because thought had little to do with the force that drew me across the store and into her personal space in that crush of a crowd—even after I’d spent the better part of the day attempting to erase every thought of the girl from my mind.
Except one.
Student. Hands off.
Which doesn’t help me right now. None of the pieces inside that feel all wrong.
But when she was in my arms tonight, everything felt right.
More right than things have felt in a long damn time.
I growl out more profanity before sinking my ass onto the concrete lip that surrounds the building’s massive air-conditioning unit. With another guttural sound, I claw the hair away from my face.
“Get your shit together, Kane.”
The night swiftly swallows the sound. Even on a Tuesday night, Downtown LA is just waking up. People are laughing. Restaurants are bustling. Cars are honking. A local cover band warms up for their first set of the night in the bar three doors over. Their sound-check song is “Don’t Stand So Close To Me.”
Of course it is.
And just when I think the situation can’t get worse, the door from the building’s interior stairwell opens. A swath of fluorescent light spills out over the roof, and from that light a silhouette emerges. A petite frame topped by a head with long cornrows.
“There you are.”
Reg strolls over