Demon Bound

said, catching up. “They all Ascended, and because of that, you don’t take on new pupils. Tell me, Alice—is that avoiding the situation, or learning to avoid the same outcome?”
    Yep. The look she gave him should’ve made mincemeat of his dick.
    Should’ve, but didn’t. “You could take me on, get back on that horse, try riding again,” he continued.
    “How brave you are to offer, novice. And how generous.”
    Mincemeat, and her tone could’ve frozen the rest. “Yeah, I’m all heart. But you wouldn’t have to worry about me—I don’t intend to Ascend anytime soon. And if it makes you feel better, every single person in Caelum that I had sex with decided to Ascend, too.”
    “Oh, dear.” She stopped and looked up at him. “You’re so terrible?”
    “So good.” He grinned. “Everything after me is a letdown—the only thing better is Heaven. So off they went.”
    “And there is your optimism again.” Her lips curved, but she quickly firmed their line and moved past him. “But as I also have no intention of Ascending, I’ll be certain to avoid that situation, as well.”
    Yeah. He’d figured that. But a man could hope.

    He wasn’t going to leave. Alice fought through her rising guilt as they neared Teqon’s residence. She shouldn’t involve Jake in this, in any way.
    What an excellent Guardian he made; choosing to stand beside her, though she gave him ample reason to go. And he’d served as a welcome distraction through the streets, so that she’d had no time to despond over the upcoming confrontation. Instead of arriving at Teqon’s door weakened by doubts and fear, she was fueled by antagonism and no small amount of frustration.
    How could she like Jake so well—and yet want to take her blade to his tongue so that he’d never speak again?
    Not that it would matter; a Guardian’s tongue would grow back.
    Conceal yourself, she signed as they rounded the final corner. I truly don’t think my life is in danger, but he might try to make an example of yours.
    Jake appraised her silently, then nodded. I’ll be listening.
    She walked briskly across the small square, surprised that Teqon didn’t reside in the more modern and expensive part of the city. Demons were so aware of appearances, and preferred to surround themselves with power and wealth. But perhaps Teqon had chosen it because the disparity of wealth was more obvious here; squalor was a constant neighbor, the gap between them wider.
    Her gaze swept the area as she waited for an answer to her knock. A young beggar girl now sat where Jake had been standing. He would have no trouble hearing everything inside Teqon’s house.
    Footsteps approached on the opposite side of the door. A human, or Teqon? Though Alice revealed herself when she used a psychic probe to find out, at least she was prepared to face the demon when he opened it.
    He’d silvered the hair at his temples, but he still appeared as young and handsome as any film star. More so, perhaps. His lashes were so thick and black that the first time she’d seen them, she’d wondered if he’d lined them with kohl. He was tall, as demons so often made themselves. His business suit of dove gray silk had been tailored perfectly to his form.
    But then, through his connection to Legion Laboratories, Teqon was now—as he had only pretended to be when she’d met him—a man of importance and money.
    Alice shifted into her own features, and vanished the robes over her dress. “You have not changed at all, demon,” she said in Arabic.
    As she’d hoped, Teqon responded in the same language. “But you have, Mrs. Grey. You are stronger, faster, immortal—and I believe you owe me thanks for it.”
    “I owe you only one thing, and gratitude it is not.”
    He stepped back, holding the door open. “Then come inside, and we shall discuss how you will pay me.”
    His house was of wood and marble, with rich, colorful fabrics upholstering the furniture. There were humans in the house—servants, Alice guessed. A wife, perhaps. Though they could have no children of their own, some demons augmented their masquerade by marrying into human families.
    As she’d expected, the main rooms of the house opened up to an interior courtyard. A fountain bubbled near its center—there would likely be vegetation, shelter, insects.
    “Shall we speak in the courtyard? I prefer to feel the sun.”
    Teqon gave her a mocking smile. “And there is no roof, so you might escape.”
    “If I