Page 8 of White Little Lies

If it was true that would mean—

Fear trickled through me. It would mean that once I learned to realm jump, I would need to go to the hells. And if Sebastian’s powers were any indication, a realm full of devils was a dangerous place to be.

4

I grippedthe strap of my messenger bag, giving Ringo a reassuring light pat as I walked down the street toward the bus stop, comfortable in my jeans, black T-shirt, brown leather jacket, and brown boots. The night was still a little warm for the hoodie I had on underneath the jacket, but I felt better looking a little more anonymous on the crowded city buses. I could pull my hood forward and pretend no one else existed.

Of course, this time Sebastian would be with me, a thought that made me almost giddy. Sebastian, in his fancy clothes, crammed onto a city bus. I could already picture it, and it was hilarious.

We reached the bus stop and he moved to stand near my shoulder. “You know, you could just shift to your location and I could meet you there.”

“Haha.” I rolled my eyes.

“True.” He smirked. “You would probably end up in a dumpster.”

I huffed, but didn’t respond. I was going to get to see him uncomfortable on a city bus. Nothing was going to ruin my good mood.

“We could take a cab. My treat.”

“You’re the one who insisted on coming. We do things my way.” I tugged my jacket straight, glancing over at the covered seating.

A pair of humans sat on one edge of the bench, leaving ample space between themselves and the gargoyle sitting at the other end, her skin solid gray, and as stony as her expression. She wore a long-sleeve shirt altered to accommodate her massive, batlike wings. They looked like they were made out of stone, but could move just as nimbly as a bird’s.

For the hundredth time, I thought over what Dawn had told me. Whatever gargoyle had been involved had surely just been a witness, but the female devil? Hell, Sebastian might even know her. It would be stupid of me to not ask him, but it was my natural reflex to not share all information with him, even after everything we’d been through.

“What are you thinking?” Sebastian’s deep voice startled me out of my thoughts.

“Who says I’m thinking anything?”

“You get a little dent right there.” He prodded the space between my brows with his fingertip.

I swatted hishand away. “I do not.”

The bus arrived, already packed. It was totally neutral ground within the city, and I could see every type of person within. Goblins in leather jackets with their hair spiked, elves looking like they had just stepped out of the school library, and everything in between. But most of them would have human blood. The older, pure-blooded creatures were usually tucked away behind their boundaries, pretending they didn’t intermingle with humans.

The doors opened with a hiss, and I led the way up the steel steps, glancing around for a place to fit in. There were no seats, of course, but a few loops hung from the ceiling in the back for standing room only. I hustled to the nearest one, not wanting to hold up the line.

Sebastian shoved himself in at my back, between me and a man who looked more troll than human. The feel of Sebastian’s chest against my back made my body go tight, and not in a bad way. His dark magic raised the tiny hairs at the nape of my neck.

He leaned in close, his cheek brushing mine. “You’re doing this to punish me.” There was something low and suggestive in his tone, totally inappropriate on a crowded bus.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, realizing the fault in my plan. With Sebastian pressed against my back, all I could think of was the feel of his lips on mine, his hands roaming my body. Hells, I was already sleeping with two guys, wasn’t that enough?

My magic didn’t seem to think so. It kicked up in reaction to his nearness.

His hand found my waist, his cheek moving once more against mine. “You may want to calm yourself, dear Eva.”

“Easy for you to say,” I muttered.

The bus started moving, pushing my body more firmly against him when he didn’t rock back in the slightest. Stars burst inside of me, pooling into liquid heat.

Yeah, definitely too hot for the extra layer of clothing. There was no way I was pulling my hood up now, not with my entire face burning.

“What did your former employer want with you?”

I stiffened at his words. “Do you really have nothing better to do than watch me all the time?”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have to watch you if you didn’t keep so many secrets.” His hand was at my waist again, gripping just a little too tightly.

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