There might have been a bed involved at one point, too, but at least Cass has enough of a filter to leave that tidbit out. Ez would never let him live it down.
“Emotions,” Obie repeats dubiously.
Cass scowls. “Yes, Obadiah.Emotions.Those annoying things you feel when the chemicals in your brain start firing. I’m pretty sure you were alive when the word was created, so you should probably know it by now.”
“He’s gettingdefensive,”Ez stage-whispers, her eyes gleaming.
“I am not!” Cass protests, and he immediately winces at just how defensive he sounds. “Okay, listen?—”
“Hold that thought,” Obie says, and he turns to Ez. “JJ would have to defect from the Sanctum. He’d be a fugitive.”
Ez scoffs. “He’d do it for love. Next?”
“Excuseme?” Cass sputters. “Who asked you?”
They both ignore him. “Cass would have to hide JJ from the Chain,” Obie challenges. “He’d have to lie to them.”
“He’s already lying to them about Desi,” Ez counters. “Just like JJ is lying to the Sanctum. And, realistically, name me one demon in this entire dimension whoisn’thiding something from their local Chain. Next?”
“Are you two making a pros and cons list for my dating lifewithout me?”
Obie doesn’t even spare Cass a glance. “JJ has those Sanctum enchantments. They could track his soul even through anti-tracking spells.”
Ez waves a hand dismissively. “Give me a week and I could break them. Next?”
Obie arches an eyebrow. “Even the corrosion spell?”
“Even the corrosion spell,” Ez confirms. “Next?”
Thatcatches Cass’s attention. “Wait,” he cuts in, his heart stuttering. “Even the corrosion spell? Can we circle back to that?”
Obie leans back in his chair, considering Ez. “The immortality conversation.”
“Oh, please,” Ez says, rolling her eyes. “Cass wouldn’t be the first demon to hook up with a human. They’d figure it out. Next?”
Obie casts his eyes toward the ceiling, thinking. Despite himself, Cass realizes he’s holding his breath.
“Those are all my arguments,” Obie says at last, and his eyes shift to Cass. “Desi would love it if you two were together.”
Cass’s heart hurts. “I know she would,” he admits softly, and for the barest of seconds, he lets himself think?—
Think about traveling around Redwater and beyond with JJ and Desi, taking them to his favorite landmarks and restaurants, letting Desi run around and play while he tells JJ about their history. About curling up on the couch with JJ, Desi dozing between them, drinking tea together and enjoying the silence.
About slowly turning his formerly one-person house into a home, arealhome, for his adopted daughter and the hunter who’s inexplicably turned his life upside down.
Abruptly, he realizes that Ez and Obie are smirking at him. “And now to more pressing topics,” he says briskly, narrowing his eyes at Ez. “You really think you could break the corrosion spell?”
Ez’s leer widens. “Why, Cass? You want totouchhim?”
“It would just be practical, is all,” Cass snaps, and he turns his hand towards them. Almost two weeks later, the corrosion burns aren’t as violently raw as they once were, but the peeling redness almost looks worse as it heals.
Ez and Obie are on their feet in a flash, eyes wide. Obie is fastest, crossing the distance between them and grabbing Cass’s wrist to pull his palm into view.“Cass.”
Ez curses under her breath, glaring down at Cass’s hand. He knows that not being able to heal corrosion burns has always been a sore spot with her. “What happened?”
“I touched JJ’s shoulder. Didn’t go well.” He raises his eyebrows. “So do you really think you could break the enchantment?”
Ez presses her lips together. “I’ve toyed around with a temporary deactivation once or twice. But it affectsallthe Sanctum enchantments, not just the corrosion spell.” Her eyes flicker up to meet his. “And I would need a commitment from that lackey, Cass. A commitment to leave the Sanctum for you and Desi.”
