Page 39 of I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend

“Why would I be jealous?” He pointed to the open door. “Get in.”

“Fine, you’re not mad or jealous. Maybe your stomach hurts. Maybe you just need to poop.” I hopped in the ride and greeted my new pet, who jumped into my lap. “Did you miss me, boy?”

“Here.” I looked back at Metice, who handed me a small gray piece of fabric.

“What’s that for?”

“I told you I wasn’t cleaning that up” he pointed to the colorful mess still on the floor of the carriage.

“Oh.” I took the cloth from him and scooped up the poop then handed it back to him.

He stepped aside and pointed to the ground. “I’m not touching that.”

I dumped the mess and looked at him, waving the cloth in his face. “You want your hanky back?”

“Just toss it.” He stepped further back.

“That’s littering.” I didn’t know if there were waste management laws, but I wasn’t about to risk being trapped in hell because someone caught me tossing trash on the ground.

“It’s compostable. This isn’t Earth. There’s no such thing as littering here.”

“Hmm, good to know.” I dropped the cloth, and he closed the door.

“We’re pulling it close.” He looked out the window at the rising moon as the hell horses raced us back to his home.

“Do you think something’s gonna get us?” I leaned forward to look out the window. “Are we in trouble?”

“I wouldn’t rule it out.” He lowered the curtain.

“Are you serious?” I shifted in my seat to look at him. “Can these things move any faster? What happens if we get caught out here?”

I shouldn’t have asked that damn question, because as soon as I did, the terrifying screech of a monster rang out through the night. I had no idea what it was, but it was close, and my gut said it was coming straight for us—the one time I needed my gut to be wrong. I looked at Metice and saw the same worry and tension on his face. We were in trouble.

“What is that?” I moved to open the window curtain to look out of it, but he gripped my wrist and pulled me back.

“Don’t move,” he said firmly.

“What’s going on?” I asked, but he said nothing. “You’re scaring me, Metice.”

“Don’t worry, just please. Be still.”

The carriage slammed to a halt, and the horses screamed, frightened by something. Another screech rang out and this time, it was echoed by at least five others. The carriage shook as a series of heavy beings dropped to the ground surrounding us. I gripped his arm as shadows were cast across the windows, accompanied by hissing and rattling.

“Meti,” a deep voice called out. “I know you’re in there. Come out and talk to me.”

“I’m going to get out of the carriage,” Metice whispered, and I dug my fingers into his arm, afraid to voice my concern because I didn’t want whatever was waiting outside to hear me. “You’re going to stay inside. Do you understand me? This is not a moment for you to debate me or to go against what I’m telling you. If you come out there, I cannot promise I’ll be able to protect you. Please, right now. Stay inside.”

The door shut behind him, and it took everything in me not to reach for him and pull him back inside. Sensing my discomfort, Piko jumped into my lap and nuzzled me. His soft whimpers echoed the way I felt inside. Something was out there, something that worried Metice so much, he feared I wouldn’t make it out of the interaction alive.

And there was nothing I could do but sit and wait.

Voices spoke in a mixture of languages. Some words I understood, some I didn’t. What I did get was that whoever was out there wanted Metice to return to work. What work was he supposed to be doing?

“I’m not doing this with you,” Metice said. “I told you I’m not coming back.”

The thing responded in a series of clicks and curling letters before it said, “Only so much time.”

Metice said something else I didn’t understand, and then it started: fighting. Blow after bone crunching blow landed, and something large slammed against the side of the carriage. The damn thing tipped, but luckily, it didn’t fall over. I pulled Piko to me and held him tight, hoping it would end soon, and my demon protector would survive whatever was happening outside.

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