Page 40 of Grabbed By the Guard

Guys are guys in every world. Maybe… maybe so are ladies.

I can’t bring myself to sit on the couch with her, but I do cross my legs at the ankle and lean against the edge of one of the arms. “I really like your dress.”

It’s not a lie. It’s really nice and it flatters her demoness shape. Plus, it’s not a wrinkly mess like my ex-favorite cocktail dress.

“Thank you, Billie. I must introduce you to Raiga. She’s the village seamstress. She sews all of Kennedy’s dresses, too. I will see that she brings some for you.”

I appreciate the offer, but?—

“That’s not necessary. I won’t be staying long.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh? So Glaine will be joining you in your realm? That’ll be a great loss to Sombra. It is thanks to him and the rest of the duke’s guard that this plane has not been overrun by the demons of Brille Rouge. I’d seen the damage they can do in Soleil. He saved many lives. We will surely miss him.”

We, not I. Does that mean anything? Is that why I sense there is a connection between Glaine and Lilith? Because she’s grateful for his service as a soldier, and that they’ve known each from living in Nuit after she left her realm.

Keeping up the light conversational tone, I tell her, “Glaine’s staying here.”

She furrows her dainty brow. “But he is your mate.”

Yeah, well? That remains to be seen.

Barely a week ago, I would’ve been quick to scoff. At first, I had myself convinced that he had to have mistaken me for Sierra; given the choice between us, almost everyone would choose her, a fact that became undeniable after Trevor’s confession. I don’t blame her, either. There’s a reason the world fell in love with Whiskey Rose, and I’ve spent years trying to shield her from that as best as I can.

But Glaine never once wavered in his belief that I am his mate. From the moment we appeared in our apartment at the Dorado, he’s been determined to get me to agree. Barely a week ago, I would’ve scoffed and said he had no chance. I did do that.

But that was a week ago.

Now?

Whatever Damien and Lucian did while we were at the doppelseers’ cabin, they planted a seed of doubt. Glaine wants to promise himself to me. After Trevor, I’d been ready to swear off men… but maybe I just needed to narrow it to human men. A demon male who is offering me forever, who won’t cheat on me or fall in love with my best friend or cast me aside because I’m nothing special?

To Glaine, I am special. I’m Billie. I’m his—or I could be if I decide to forsake everything I know, everything I have in the human world, and give it all up to stay here with him.

That’s what he wants from him. Even if he didn’t make that clear right from the start, I have his essence. Though it’s pretty obvious he’s been able to hide a lot even with the essence exchange, his determination to settle down with his one true mate in Sombra is not one of those things.

And that’s the problem right there. Glaine doesn’t want to leave Sombra. I’ve been fascinated by everything I’ve seen and learned about the demon realm and would love to explore it more… but I’m needed back in New York. Sierra needs me, and I have to go.

When I don’t say anything to that, she frowns.

“Glaine loves deeply. He hides it behind his scowl most of the time, but there’s a good male beneath the soldier’s facade. He will wait as long as it takes.”

I know that. Trust me, I know that.

“You talk about him as if you know him very well,” I point out.

“I do.”

I figured. “How?”

Lilith’s lips quirk into a small smile. “Perhaps that is a conversation best had with your mate.”

Oh, don’t worry. As soon as Glaine comes back, I’ll be having it. Whether it’s my business or not, I don’t think my curiosity will rest if I don’t ask. And using his essence won’t work.

I need to hear this straight from Glaine almost as much as I need him to tell me that he’s arranged a way back to New York for me.

And if one of those seems a little more urgent to me than the other all of a sudden… I’ll deal.

I always deal.

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