Old Demon and the Sea Witch (Welcome to Hell #9) - Eve Langlais Page 0,17

give up.” Dottie put her hand on mine, a subtle gesture she probably thought nothing of, yet both of our gazes were drawn to the spot where our skin touched.

I felt it. The awareness of her drew my gaze to find her staring back. “It really is nice to see you, Dottie.” The dumbest, most honest thing I could say.

“I should go.”

She practically ran away.

Yet I smiled. Because the lady doth protest too much.

4

Dorothy: Marry me, indeed. It’s too late for us.

There must be a way for me to not feel so out of control around Shax. At my age, I should have a better grip. Yet I felt intimidated around him, and not because he dominated me in a patriarchal fashion. It was more I felt…disadvantaged. There he was, young and virile, tempting me into sin. Acting as if my old flesh were some desirable thing.

Not fair. Shax should suffer as much as I. I glanced down at my body. It had served me well, but the joints grew tired, the naps longer, a result of staying in character.

It was time to shed the disguise.

On my way back to my room, I ran into a shifter in the hall by my door. All that sniffing around made it obvious that he was looking for Jane. I sent him packing. If he was still that interested, then let him find my granddaughter in the morning.

The same went for Shax. What would he do when he saw me? Because I had no doubt that he’d hunt me down.

He’d have a surprise when he did. I turned back the clock on my appearance, shedding more than twenty years to make myself just a touch younger maybe than Shax chose to appear. It certainly took my granddaughter by surprise. But Shax didn’t bat an eye when he saw me.

Didn’t remark once on the change. The demi-demon did, however, remain glued to me, sitting beside me at breakfast, distracting me from spying on Jane and that shifter who had indeed tracked her down.

The damned demi-demon followed me after the morning meal as I kept an eye on my granddaughter, who’d chosen to go for a swim. Probably heard me haranguing Jane, on purpose, mostly to make sure the lion shifter’s family didn’t cause trouble. They hadn’t been impressed to find my Jane kissing their king.

The entire morning, Shax had stayed in the background, not talking to me, not interfering. Just there constantly, despite how I tried to lose him.

And why was I trying to lose him and in turn shirking my duty to Lucifer? The dark lord had asked me to spy on Shax. I should thank the fact that the demi-demon actually aided me with his stalking.

By the noon hour, I instead snapped, “Are you done following me already?” Why did Shax have to be so aggressively masculine? What’d happened to the shy boy I used to boss around?

“Who says I’m following you? Maybe you’re the one following me,” he said as he came to a stop by my stool at the bar. He looked handsome in his casual suit, the tan slacks matching the jacket, his mauve shirt buttoned but open at the neck. The hat proved to be an elegant touch.

“I was here first.” Just like I’d been first to yoga class where he lounged, watching from behind his glasses. I swung around on the stool, the height enough to bring me eye-level with his chin.

“Physically, perhaps, but I thought about coming here before you did,” he countered. “Really, Dottie. Reading my mind to find out my plan. I didn’t know you’d gotten so strong.”

I gritted my teeth. “You are impossible.”

“In what sense? Because I obviously exist. If you meant that I can’t be pleased, then I can assure you, it won’t take much. I’m a simple man with simple pleasures.” His gaze dropped to my mouth.

I moistened my lips with the tip of my tongue. “I don’t remember you being a stalker.”

“You want me to leave?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll go.” He rose.

I said one word. “Don’t.”

He sat back down. The bartender slid a drink in front of him. For a moment, we said nothing, then we both spoke at once.

“Your granddaughter—”

“Your nephew—”

We both stopped.

He smiled. “You first.”

“I saw your nephew in the water.”

“The curse is forcing him into it every few hours.” His lips turned down. “It won’t be long now. At least your granddaughter appears to be doing well.”

I frowned. “Don’t be so sure. She’s a stubborn one. It took a