“I don’t trust red-haired witches,” the gnome growls.
“Neither do I, mate,” Caspian agrees.
Jackass.
“I could take you back to Hell and release you wherever you want,” I suggest. “Or somewhere on Earth?”
“I am Knight and I do not need a commoner’s help,” he tells me, holding his head high for a second, then it drops with his expression. He seems sad. “I may not have any family left, or royals to serve, but I am still a knight who is destined to fight for justice.”
“You’re still just a gnome demon with a bad attitude. Let’s get going, songbird,” Caspian calls over his shoulder.
“I think Knight should come with us,” I argue. “He needs a family, and I am lacking a lot of those. Wanna be my family, Knight? I’m looking for justice, too.”
“I don’t like that one.” Knight points at Caspian. “But I will come with you back to Stormfire city and serve you, red-haired witch, as my new family. You need a better servant than the boy.”
“Bloody gnomes,” Caspian mutters. I gently place the dragon into my pocket.
I make quick work breaking the lock on Knight’s cage, and he moves at incredible speed into my pocket before I can blink. “Wow, you can move fast.”
“Yep,” he tells me. “You smell weird.”
“Thanks,” I mutter. “You gnomes really know how to make friends, don’t you?”
“We are great at communication with demons,” he states. Oh-okay.
“You’re not keeping them in our room, by the way,” Caspian tells me as we walk out.
“Well, until I find them a home in Hell, yes I am,” I reply.
“I don’t want demon creatures running round in our apartment,” he groans. “Don’t look at me like that, dragon.”
I glance down to see Dragon’s tiny head is peeping out of my pocket and he is totally doing the puppy-dog eye thing on Caspian. It’s so, so cute.
“Just for a few nights. What’s the worst that could happen?” I ask.
“It’s literally a dragon.”
“Dragon baby,” I correct.
“They only stay small for a short time, maybe a year, but then suddenly they change. He’ll be able to shift into the size of a house,” he warns me. “Dragons belong in the bottom realm of Hell.”
“Gold dragons are extremely rare,” Knight speaks up and we get outside. “If you put him back, he would just be caught by marketers once again as his parents are dead. I’m with Redhead over here. You should keep him in your apartment, and I can look after him in the day when you’re busy doing whatever demon hunters do.”
“See, it’s all worked out,” I say, patting Caspian’ arm when he realises he has been outsmarted by a demon gnome.
“Fuck my life,” Caspian groans, and I smile to myself as we head out of the market.
He’s really a good guy deep down.
Chapter 17
Lilith Thornblood
“All right, Thornblood, you’re coming with me.”
I stare at Alaric swallowing up the entrance to my room, his shadow towering over me. “Huh?”
A crooked smile stretches over his lips. “I said you’re coming with me. Pack a bag for the night.”
If he’d just told me I’d grown a second head, I doubt I could be any more surprised than I am right now. I glance over my shoulder to where Caspian lounges on the sofa, his nose buried in an advanced demonology book. He’s staring intently at the pages, but his eyes aren’t moving, as if he isn’t really reading the words. He doesn’t look up at me. Could he have known about this impromptu visit?
“What are you talking about?” I turn back to Alaric, frowning at him.
He’s still smiling at me as he folds his arms over his chest, his muscles straining his black tee-shirt.
“You haven’t left that cesspit in weeks. It’s a bombsite. I’m taking you out for the day. Even Mr Happy over there has agreed.”
So Caspian did know about this. I wonder why he kept it from me? It’s not like I’ve been getting in his way or anything. In fact, I’ve stayed in my room for the most part, trying desperately not to think about what I saw at the market.
“Do I have a say in the matter?” I ask, lifting my chin.
Alaric’s smile broadens. “Not really. This was in the fine print of our deal, love. Now off you go. You’ve got ten minutes to pack. Bring swimwear.”
Urgh, this male is infuriating. But he does have a point. I haven’t left the apartment since my last mission at the demon market. I’ve been deluding myself into thinking it’s because of my new responsibilities. However, Knight is pretty much self-sufficient, if not slightly annoying with his criticisms of my eating habits. Dragon has needed me, though. The night I brought him home, I learned he needs warmth if he’s to survive the first few weeks of his life. He’s been nuzzled in my arms, on my chest, or against my neck since we came back. His reliance on me has kept me from thinking about all those poor shifters and demons who were caged and killed as if they were nothing. Just scraps of meat to be trafficked and discarded when they no longer served use. This has weighed heavily on me with each passing day.
“I can’t come with you,” I say, looking down at Dragon snoring lightly in my arms. “He needs me.”
And I need him to help me stay distracted.
Alaric raises a thick brow. “I need you.”
“What the hell for?” I ask incredulously.
“To be kept warm like your little demon friend.”
“I don’t need her to be kept warm,” Caspian grumbles.
Alaric ignores him and looks hard at me. “Come on, kid. I promise you’ll enjoy where I’m taking you. Caspian has agreed to clean up the place while we’re gone.”
“More like forced,” my partner growls, flicking the next page. “Have fun, songbird.”
There’s no bitterness or resentment in his tone. Maybe he
