JJ kisses her forehead. “Not tonight, sweetheart. But I can read you another story tomorrow morning!”
Desi pouts.“Pleeeeease?”she asks, giving JJ her best puppy dog eyes.
Predictably enough, JJ wavers. “Well?—”
Cass interrupts before JJ can yield to his usual compulsion to give Desi everything her heart desires. “Desi, it’s quiet time now, remember? And JJ is going to need to sleep soon. He needs his own quiet time before he sleeps.”
JJ throws Cass a grateful look. Desi looks disappointed. “Okay,” she says, and she hugs JJ around the middle. “Nighty-night, JJ. I love you.”
JJ hugs her tightly back. “I love you, too,” he says softly, and he hands her Hana the Wyvern before pulling the blankets up over her shoulders. “Sleep tight, okay?”
“Okay!”
JJ checks that Desi’s night light is switched on before tiptoeing out of the room and closing the door gently behind him. Cass’s heart melts a little. “Come on,” he whispers, gesturing down the hallway. “After you.”
JJ waits until they’re safely in the living room before shooting Cass a small smile. “Thanks for the save.”
Cass grins. “Of course. I know that you’re physically incapable of denying Desi anything she asks for,” he says, and he collapses onto the couch, yawning. “But you need your rest, too. And your quiet time.”
And your time with me,Cass adds silently, holding his breath as JJ considers the cushion next to him. Sometimes, JJ will go to his bedroom early, taking a book with him to relax and unwind in private, but sometimes—sometimes—he’ll stay out here with Cass, the two of them just enjoying each other’s company.
Sometimes, they’ll even have deep conversations until long past midnight. Those are Cass’s favorite nights. And he’s not ashamed to admit that he does a mental fist pump when JJ finally sits down next to Cass, grabbing a blanket to wrap around his shoulders. “Yeah. It’s nice to have some extra time at the end of the day.”
“It is,” Cass agrees, and he grabs his empty mug from the end table. “Chamomile tea?”
“I’d love some.”
Cass’s mental cheering intensifies. It usually takes JJ almost an hour to finish a steaming cup of tea, so that means Cass gets him all to himself. “Excellent,” he says, pushing himself to his feet and strolling over to the stove. He puts the teakettle on the burner, sets up two mugs with their tea bags, waits for the water to boil?—
Footsteps pad up behind him. Frowning, Cass turns around to face JJ. “I can bring it back for you. You don’t have to wait here for it.”
“I know,” JJ says, leaning against the counter. The blanket is still draped over his shoulders, but it doesn’t quite disguise his uncertain posture. “Actually, I—I need to ask you something.”
Cass’s heartrate ticks up a few beats. JJ’s eyes are dark and serious, and his voice is halting and unsure, and?—
And Cass just gave JJ his new identity—and admittedly exorbitant bank account—a few days ago. JJ has been noticeably contemplative since then, watching Cass when he thinks Cass isn’t looking and making lists of little things he wants to purchase.
He’s asked for Cass’s opinions on a few of them, too. Fairy lights for Desi’s bedroom, a small succulent for JJ’s desk. New utensils that Cass has mentioned wanting for the kitchen. A few cookbooks filled with foods they all enjoy, more cozy blankets to drape over every available surface, an adorable octopus-shaped mug.
It’s like JJ is really trying to create a home for himself here. The thought makes Cass feel lighter than air. And now, with JJ looking at Cass like that, like he has something important to ask him, something important tosay?—
Tell me you want this as badly as I do, JJ.“Yeah?” Cass murmurs back, leaning forward. “I’m listening.”
JJ’s teeth rake over his lower lip. “Could you give us a soundproofing spell?”
Well, that could be averygood sign. If Cass and JJ are about to make out like horny teenagers, then Cass doesn’t want Desi hearing anything, either. Decisively, he snaps the spell into place, turning off the simmering water at the same time. “There we go. Not even the tea will interrupt us. What’s on your mind, JJ?”
JJ hesitates. Looks away. Traces one finger around the rim of his mug. “Can demons change their appearance? Like, not just putting on a glamour, but changing it permanently?”
Cass blinks back at JJ, bewildered. Maybe his hopes of JJ confessing his undying love wereslightlyunrealistic, but he doesn’t have any idea where this conversation is going—or why JJ looks so nervous about it. “Sure. Small-scale changes, like simulating aging over decades to blend in with humans, aren’t too difficult. I’m actually going to start teaching Desi how to do those soon—we’ll try to match her growth and development to a human child’s, so she can fit in with the other kids.”
JJ nods. “Right. And—and how about large-scale changes? Gender, skin color, hair texture…?”
“Those are more complicated,” Cass says slowly, leaning his hip against the counter. “They require a lot of power, so they’re more common with neophyte demons—they have higher soul energy for a few months after they’re summoned, so permanent appearance changes aren’t as difficult.” He winces. “Those are usually the summoner’s choice, though. Not the demon’s. By the time we have any say in the matter, the spell is usually much more demanding. Some still go through with it, but most of us are just… resigned to our human façades.”
Sadness flickers across JJ’s face. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” Cass’s eyebrows furrow. “What’s this about, JJ?”
