Taming Demons for Beginners (The Guild Codex Demonized #1) - Annette Marie Page 0,90

puzzlement.

“On the tree, it grows small …” He cupped his hands as though holding something. “… small fruits. The outside is poisonous, deadly, but inside is juicy and sweet. We fight over these trees. I have killed to take the fruit when it is ripe.”

He picked up another s’more cookie. “These are better.”

My heart swelled, but I waited warily. Whenever he said something nice, he always ruined it.

Shoving the cookie in his mouth, he crunched it twice between his teeth, swallowed, then chose a pretzel cookie and bit it in half. No further comments. No insults or disparaging smirks. I quashed my wobbly smile and hurriedly started washing the dishes, afraid if I thanked him, he’d say something mean and ruin the moment.

He thought my cookies were better than a fruit he’d killed to eat.

My hands, submerged in soapy water, paused. I’d have to make sure no one ever tried to take food from him. It sounded dangerous.

While I washed dishes, he devoured every last cookie, then wandered into the empty living room. A blanket was folded on the floor where I’d been reading earlier. Zylas stared around in a dazed sort of way, then sank down on the blanket.

Hmm. That might have been too much sugar for him.

Grinning goofily, I continued cleaning, periodically glancing over at the demon rapidly slipping into a sugar coma. He liked my cookies. I didn’t know why that revelation had sent me into a state of complete elation. Maybe it was because I hadn’t been able to share my passion for baking with anyone since my parents had died.

Or maybe it was because I’d gotten another glimpse of the complex being hidden beneath Zylas’s demonic exterior. There was still so much to uncover—so much I didn’t understand and wanted to learn. The workings of his agile mind were a mystery. His wants, his needs, were an unknown. He revealed so little.

He wasn’t safe and never would be. I hadn’t tamed him—I doubted that was possible—but this strange trust we had stumbled into was far better. We were allies. Partners in this battle of survival.

Lost in thought, I finished cleaning, then showered, dressed, and did my hair as best I could with no straightening iron. I’d have to visit my storage unit and stock the apartment with household supplies.

Zylas catnapped as the evening grew later. Half reading a book, I checked my phone every twenty minutes. Finally, at almost ten, the door opened. Amalia breezed in, her arms loaded with shopping bags.

“You’re late!” I exclaimed, leaping off my stool. “I sent you a dozen texts!”

“Sorry,” she replied carelessly. “The cab took forever to pick me up.”

“We were supposed to be there three hours ago.”

“It’s a party, Robin. You’re supposed to be late to parties.” She unloaded her bags on the counter. “I lost all my clothes when the demon burned my house down. I needed a new wardrobe.”

“This isn’t just a party,” I complained, wringing my hands. “Darius wants to introduce us to the guild.”

“Keep your panties on. I’ll get ready.”

I paced as she bustled around her bedroom, spending a ridiculous forty-five minutes on her hair and makeup. Finally, I ushered Zylas into the infernus, pulled on my jacket, and all but shoved Amalia out the door.

“We’re so late,” I fretted as we exited the drab apartment building. It was a dump, but it was cheap, close to the Crow and Hammer, and had immediate availability. We’d been able to move out of our horrible motel room the same day.

Maybe the place was too cheap, though. Along with completing my and Amalia’s guild transfer paperwork in record time, Darius had somehow convinced the Grand Grimoire GM to hand over my portion of the bounty for killing Tahēsh. I was reasonably flush, but without knowing how long I’d be surviving off the bonus, I was keeping my spending low.

Tomorrow, I’d begin the search for Uncle Jack—and when I found him, I’d walk away with every penny and every page of my rightful inheritance. First, I needed to survive this hurdle—officially joining the Crow and Hammer. During a party.

Social interaction. Public spotlight. A thousand opportunities to embarrass myself. At least Zylas had agreed to stay in the infernus unless I called him. One less anxiety to add to the pile.

“Calm down, Robin.” Amalia rolled her dark-lined eyes, the chilly November air frosting white with her words. “It’ll be fine.”

“But meeting the whole guild … what if they all laugh at me like the Grand Grimoire?”

“Considering it’s after

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