Page 58 of Higher Demon

“The dude who’s asking around about the Highetts.” Ian scrambles to his feet and puts his phone away. “Yeah, got it. Sorry about the yelling—I wasn’t expecting another higher demon to be here. I donotlike the way you guys can hide your presence from me.”

“I didn’t want to startle anyone,” Titus explains. “But then, I wasn’t expecting to find a human here.” He glances between Ian and me, and I know he can tell we’ve been together. The signs are impossible to miss with us both in the same space—we leave traces of personal energy on each other every time we touch. I hope he keeps his mouth closed about it, though—I haven’t yet explained the phenomena to Ian.

“Uh, I’m the liaison for the Collective,” Ian explains hastily. “Marc was answering some questions at the compound, and I drove him home.”

That merely fascinates Titus, since we all know I don’t need to be driven anywhere. Ian shoots me a glance begging for aid. I’malmostinclined to give it, but this conversation is far too enjoyable.

“So… welcome to Earth!” Ian throws his arms wide. “Do you… I mean, can I assume you’re here with an update?”

Titus glances back at me again. “Humans really are very interesting.”

I shrug dismissively. “It depends on the human.”

“Hello? Human standing right here.”

We turn to him. “Yes?” I ask. “Was there something you needed?”

His face gets red and his eyes narrow, and I hide my smile. I do enjoy riling him up, especially now, when I get to reap benefits from it that had never occurred to me before.

“As much as I’m enjoying this,” Titus interrupts, “I need to get back, unfortunately. Also unfortunately, I still don’t have any answers for you.”

I frown. That’s… unsettling. “Nothing?”

He meets my gaze, and I can tell from the solemnity there that he’s thinking the same thing I am. “Nothing at all. Whoever it is doesn’t want this secret known.”

“That’s bad news, isn’t it?” Ian’s voice is uncertain.

“Yes.” I won’t lie to him about this. “If their intentions were frivolous, they would have let something slip by now.”

He nods. “So… the Highetts are a liability.”

“If my understanding of the situation is correct, and they’re masquerading as hunters, they already were,” Titus points out. “To themselves, certainly.”

“Yeah, but now they’re a liability to the Collective and humanity. What are our options here? Do I need to find a way to take them out? I’m not sure I can kill a seventeen-year-old, even one as annoying as Jolynn.” The set expression on Ian’s face tells me he’ll find a way to do it if there’s no other choice, but I know him. Killing any human will haunt him.

Which is why, if it comes to that, I’ll handle it. I may even be able to make it look like an accident. He never has to know, even if he suspects.

“It might not be necessary,” I assure him. Titus’s brow furrows. He clearly thinks itisnecessary but follows my lead.

“Is there another way to get rid of them? Expulsion, perhaps? We could prove they’re not truly hunters,” he suggests.

“No,” Ian says immediately. “The truce is shaky enough as it is. If people found out there’s a demon spying with bad intentions, the whole thing could blow up.”

“We need to know who’s pulling the strings. Titus…?”

“It won’t be discreet,” he warns. “I’ll need to ask questions outright instead of just fishing for gossip.”

“Do you mind?” Ian asks. “I don’t want to cause problems for you or anything, but if there’s trouble coming, I want to be prepared.”

“I don’t mind, little human.” Titus’s amusement makes Ian’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t say anything rude the way he would to me.

“Thank you, then. In the meantime, I’ll try to get hold of Uncle Norval, see if he’s learned anything useful.”

“Doubtful,” I mutter, but Ian’s already got his phone in his hand again. He can’t call Norval, but there are people at different compounds around the world who might know where he is and tell him Ian wants to talk to him. I catch Titus’s gaze. “I’ll walk you out”—my eyes track to Ian, still near the front door—“the back way.”

He lifts a brow, since we all know he doesn’t need to leave the house to return to Crmærdinesgh, but follows me toward the kitchen. I’m sure there’s plenty he wants to say to me right now.

Thankfully, he waits until we’re in another room to hiss, “You’re having carnal relations with ahuman?”

---