Page 53 of Devil Bound
She parked the car in a driveway framed by white oleander and blooming jasmine.The trellis that led to the garden was overgrown and sagging under the weight of eagerly flowering bougainvillea, and the garden beyond was in a state of wilderness without any direction whatsoever.
“You mean,that?”
I pointed.The house beyond the frenzied greenery was sort of pretty, but it was partially timber built, not just stone, and it looked more like a cottage than a proper house, let alone one fit for the Dragon Mother.
Tiamat turned toward me as she unfastened her seat belt.“Lucy, do you really not know the bones and essence of a thing when you first see it?”
And with that, she got out and walked toward the front door.A whiff of oleander and jasmine drifted into the car before she closed the door.I was guessing the inhabitants—former inhabitants to-be—of this place were not aware they were moving today, but you did not say no to the Dragon Mother.Her badassery forbade it.
I unbuckled my own seat belt and followed the Dragon Mother into the flower-scented greenery of her new garden to do her bidding.
I looked around the house, much emptier now than when we’d first stepped inside.No one was watching, so I leaned against a doorframe and pulled out my phone to shoot Trony a quick text.
How is Nelly?
The angel’s answer came quickly.
Still a dummy.
I looked up when the neighbors from across the street came down the stairs opposite me, carrying a mattress to the moving truck outside.How Tiamat had found the two women who had lived here a new home so fast, I had no idea, but a few calls from her, and things had justhappened.
The neighborhood movers were simply enchanted, but the way Tiamat did all of this?Oh, the Dragon Mother had raw skill I could only ever marvel at, and whenever I thought I had improved in some ways, Tiamat showed up and helped me maintain my humility.I loved her, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t sometimes annoyed by her as well.
I turned back to my screen.
I don’t mean that.I mean, is he rested?Horny?Does he need me?
????
Nope.He went to work.
I pushed off the wall.
Did you not feed him?
Don’t blow your top.Of course I fed the human.Juice through a straw, but I fed him.
Because I care.
I groaned.Nelly had gone to work without being treated to a lazy morning by me.It always seemed like he just dealt with oozing death at odd hours of the day.Him leaving early and before I had the chance to deepen our relationship was not something I had considered.Things seemed generally easier in my books.
“Stop using that head too much and use your hands instead,” Tiamat said, poking me in the ribs with a finger.I hadn’t noticed her approach.“Furniture.”She pointed at a few old cabinets.
“I can turn them into ash,” I offered.
Tiamat crossed her arms.“Neema and Eileen still want those in the new house, so you will damn well carry them outside without scratching them up.You can figure out how to take care of one mortal man when you are done with your chores.”
No one talked to me like this, no one.If anyone heard Tiamat, my own badass reputation would be ruined.Nelly must never hear her.
I ran a hand through my hair.“Tiamat, I am the Devil.”
“Yes, Lucy, which is why you know exactly what they say about idle hands.There is no time for playing or for your self-esteem issues.”She pointed.“Furniture.Now.”
I felt for the former inhabitants of Tiamat’s house, but you did not argue with the Dragon Mother.I put my phone away and picked up those damn cabinets, making sure to not damage them.I was strong, but they were bulky, and I felt used.I wanted Nelly.Carrying him was a lot more fun than carrying the cabinets.
29
Lionel
