Demon Fire (Angel Fire #3) - Marie Johnston Page 0,15

want to mind his own business, but he wasn’t stupid. It was time to find a host who lived in a snowy climate.

“Sandeen.”

He met Andy’s steady, unconcerned gaze.

“If you don’t produce results, I might have to get a message to Zadren.”

Sandeen ground his molars together. Another flash of pain forced him to loosen his facial muscles. Zadren wouldn’t play games like Andy. Unlike the human, his dear old sire would kill him as soon as he set a foot back in his realm.

Snow piled on the sides of the roads but did nothing to detract from the postcard-perfect view of the town. Green Valley was mostly white, surrounded by green trees, but it had to be breathtaking in the summer.

“This place is cute.” Sierra had seen a lot in her time. She’d only been a warrior for the last twenty years, but they’d traveled far and wide for work. The beauty of a small Montana town in the mountains allowed the first pang of regret to infiltrate her heart. She’d always sat behind computers, only venturing out to get what she needed for work. Her teammates were the ones roaming among humans, pretending to live as them to hunt demons.

She’d been good at her job, but she’d done nothing but work. Trying to prove herself for a reason only she’d known. But everyone knew she’d failed.

Pushing away those memories, she concentrated on her new life. Clothing was the first item of business and Boone had said he didn’t mind paying. She minded, but her options were limited. The stubborn man bypassed the thrift store and parked on Main Street in front of a sports shop.

“They’ll have cold weather gear for sure. I think they have clothes. If they don’t, I’m sure they can help us order some and get it shipped.”

Just the anticipation of a shirt she didn’t have to tie was enough to keep her spirits riding high. This was it. Her new life. The fledgling steps of living as a human.

She tucked her hair behind her ears and smashed one of Boone’s black stocking hats on. “Ready.”

He glanced over, then did a double take. His lips twitched. “They’ll definitely have sportswear that fits.”

She wrinkled her nose and hopped out of the pickup that was much newer than she’d expected. The front was spacious and the back seat could fit three people. The vehicle gleamed silver with black accents and it was so completely Boone, she’d laughed when she’d seen it. Even Boone had seemed amused at her reaction, but there’d been a sense of loss too. She had no idea why a vehicle would cause it.

Hitching up Boone’s borrowed sweatpants so she didn’t flash the few people rushing between businesses and vehicles, she caught a glimpse of herself in a store window.

Laughter sputtered out of her. She looked like Dopey from the Snow White story humans loved. Her hat flopped over her head, her pants pooled at the tops of her boots, and the sleeves of Boone’s extra parka bunched around her elbows where she’d shoved them up.

“I look ridiculous.” She laughed. Joy spread through her and for once there was no dark cloud hovering over her head. It didn’t matter if anyone discovered her secret. It didn’t matter anymore. No, that wasn’t true. Her secret was a doozy, something her kind thought was impossible, and her father had kept the secret since her birth. But Sierra didn’t matter to Numen and that gave her unexpected freedom.

Boone’s lips twitched, but he tucked his head down and went to the door. He opened it for her. Did he mean to be a gentleman or was it so ingrained in him that he did it without thinking? He’d done the same when she’d gotten in the vehicle.

A bell dinged as she stepped in. A faint, musty smell wound around her. This building was older and had a basement. Without thinking, she cataloged the exits. Two main-floor doors, the one behind her and one straight through the store, and probably an office window in the back. There were two shoppers and an older woman behind the counter.

Her muscles eased and she turned her attention to the gear hanging on racks. The woman skirted the counter. “Boone, is that correct?”

He gave the woman the closest thing to a smile that Sierra had seen yet. “Yes, ma’am.”

His rumble wound its way through her. He should talk more. She could bottle it up and sell it and wouldn’t have to worry about money for