Page 72 of Spit

I pulled my lip between my teeth as my gaze darted from the food to her face. “Uh, Gluttony?” I decided it was easier to admit it than to argue.

She nodded as if I had confirmed something. She turned to Trey, jabbing her finger in an accusing manner. “You should have said.” She admonished him. “I wouldn’t have charged you if I knew the food was forher.”

“Apologies, Mamuna.” Trey dipped his head, a bemused expression on his face.

“Was that Katalina I saw?” Mamuna, the she-demon asked, holding the tray to her stomach.

Legion’s dark gaze turned sharp. “Katalina?” He echoed in a low voice.

If Mamuna felt threatened, she was oblivious to it. “She used to work here.” Mamuna waved her hand before turning her attention to me. “You’re always welcome here.” She declared. “You don’t have to bringthe King Pins,though.” Without another word, the female demon sashayed away.

Trey let out a low whistle. “She likes you.” He told me. “High praise indeed.”

Legion’s gaze turned glacial as Trey lifted a jalapeno popper to his lips with a smirk. Legion’s eyes flicked to my wrist before moving away. I followed his gaze but found nothing there.

Guilt hit me like a freight train. I was meant to be investigating the disappearance of two demons. Instead, I was getting busy in a store changing room—having the best orgasm of my life—when I was meant to be looking for clues.

Trey passed over the plates of food, arranging them in front of me. “So… Katalina?” He said her name as a question.

“Don’t start,” Legion warned.

Trey held up his hands in a disarming fashion. “I’m just saying—”

“Katalina’s a friend.” The pride demon growled. “We—”

Legion never finished his thought, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he passed out at the table.

It was a testament to the difference between a human-populated city and a demon one because no soul looked up as we carried Legion out to the limo. I held his feet, and Trey had his arms under Legion’s shoulders.

Katalina still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. Mamuna was nowhere to be seen. I felt that accusing either woman of drugging Legion would not have ended well for me.

We managed to get Legion into the car quickly, and Timkin, the driver, sped off at illegal speeds. Trey called Arlo and met us at the door—jamming a needle in Legion’s thigh, which woke the pride demon for a moment before he began to seize.

Through it all, I was pushed to the back as Trey and Arlo carried Legion into Hemlock House as night was falling and a fine mist of rain coated the grounds.

I had no idea what had happened. It had been so quick.

Legion was ademon. He’d been imprisoned in Hell. He was millennia old.

What made him react in such a way?

I hated feeling like I was a day late and a dollar short.

I wasn’t the best at puzzles. Sudoku frustrated me, and the only time I had tried to do an escape room with some of Kailee’s friends, I had removed the hinges from the door, so I could leave once I got upset at my inability to find even a single clue.

My job involved brawn. Ripping magic away with brute force—no subtlety required.

Kidnappings, corporate espionage, and demons weren’t my strong suit.

I had never felt so powerless.

Whatever enemy threatened the stewards of the Red City wasn’t one I could just point my shadow at and drain dry.

I’d never got to finish my jalapeño poppers.

Maybe that was the biggest tragedy of all.

I trudged into the mansion, my boots sloshing with water as the rain heaved. The box with my new blade sat under my arm, and the bags with my new clothing hung from my forearms.

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