Page 86 of Dead of Night

“Sometimes we are the warden of our own prison.” He tilted back his head and gazed at the night sky. “I like this place, Lorelei Clay. You were right. The casual air is refreshing.”

“Don’t tell Kane. He might be offended.”

The demon duke glanced at the patrons around a nearby bonfire. “There’s something about the company of humans that warms the cockles of my cold, dead heart.”

“What do you think it is?”

Dan took his time before answering. “I think it’s their complexity. Their willingness to be not wholly one thing or another.”

“You don’t think demons are complex?”

He grunted. “If you have to ask, you haven’t known many of us.”

“I think you’re more complex than you realize.” Kane, in particular, seemed more complicated than I originally would’ve guessed. For a prince of hell, he seemed compassionate, considerate, and strangely nonviolent. His willingness to get his hands dirty seemed to be reserved for more genteel activities, while he left the bloodletting to his security team and assassins.

Dan observed two women kissing on a nearby hammock. “People are so innocent. They believe their feelings are shameful, when they should be celebrating that they have feelings at all.”

“You think they’re ashamed of being lesbians?”

He pointed his cup at the couple. “No, the redhead is dating the blonde’s brother, but tonight discovered she prefers the sister.”

“Judging by the intensive tongue action, I think the feeling is mutual.” I turned back to the demon. “Do you enjoy eavesdropping on people’s thoughts?”

Dan shrugged. “I don’tnotenjoy it. It simply is.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Alicia’s name stared back at me in dark, foreboding letters.

I have a problem. Don’t think my mom can help. Can you?

Heart pounding, my fingers typed at lightning speed.What is it?

Come. Crossword.

She needed help with a crossword puzzle? That I could handle.

Stupid autocorrectquickly followed.

Ribbons of dread uncoiled in the pit of my stomach when I read the actual response—

Crossroads.

CHAPTER15

Fear spiraled through my body as I jumped to my feet. “I need to go. Alicia needs help.”

“Who is Alicia?”

“Ray’s granddaughter.

Dan blinked. “And who is Ray?”

“Never mind. You can stay if you want. There’s a woman at the bonfire who’s been eyeing you since we sat down.”

“Where?”

“Next to the big guy in the plaid shirt.”

He sighed. “No, where are you going?”