Page 61 of Dead Heat

“They’re a bureaucracy. They have meetings and proposals, and then decide whether they have funding in the budget for the project.”

Phaedra snorted. “Their red tape is your chance to come up with a plan of your own.”

“Yes, except I think my most recent visitor has a bit of an ego, as well as ambition. Rejection isn’t in her vocabulary.”

Phaedra’s expression turned serious. “In other words, you think she’ll be back sooner rather than later, no matter how slowly decisions get made over there.”

“I think she’d love to be the one to hand-deliver me to her bosses.”

“Why not leave town?” Ashley asked.

“I’ve spent years hiding. I like my life here. I don’t want to give it up.”

Phaedra smiled. “I’m sure there’s a certain demon prince of hell who doesn’t want that either.”

Ashley sucked in a breath, hollowing out her cheeks. “Wait, who?”

“You’ve met him,” I said. “Custom suit. A jawline that could cut through diamonds.”

“And a flaming sword,” Phaedra added. “Kind of hard to forget.”

Ashley looked at me. “He’s your guy?”

“He is, indeed.”

Her face grew wistful. “What’s that like?”

“So far, so good.” It felt scary to admit it, as though the simple fact of acknowledging it out loud would tempt the universe to reverse course.

“I’m so insanely jealous of you right now. An actualgoddess who gets to bone a morally grey hottie.” She fanned herself.

“Good grief. Don’t let Nana Pratt hear you talk like that.”

“Does he have an equally scorching son?” She paused. “Or maybe a much younger brother?”

“Stay away from demons,” Phaedra advised. “Kane Sullivan is reformed, but I can’t say the same for most of them.”

The irony wasn’t lost on me that she talked about demons the way I talked about witches.

“Dantalion is another good one,” I said, “but he’s too old for you.”

“But does helooktoo old for me?” Ashley asked. “That’s the relevant question.”

Phaedra motioned to the bottles and jars. “You should be concentrating on your training now that you’ve decided to become a Witch’s Assistant. A romantic relationship would only serve as a distraction.”

“Maybe, but they’re the best kind of distraction.” She smiled dreamily.

Phaedra rested her hand on top of the nearest jar. “I’ll keep working on this today until I get a basic formula down. Anything else?”

Although I was tempted to ask for assistance with Alessandro’s case, I didn’t want to burden Phaedra with any more than I already had.

“No, thank you. I appreciate it.” I opened my purse. “I brought enough money for a deposit.” It seemed appropriate to use part of the money Aite left behind to protect me from the trouble she’d brought to my doorstep.

“Put your money away, Lorelei.”

“I can’t ask you to work for free.”

“It isn’t work and you’re not asking. I’m your friend,Lorelei. I’m not going to let some freak of nature kidnap you if it’s in my power to stop her.”

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