Jacqui’s mouth fell open.
The vulture’s head was attached flawlessly. He’d even put a slight angle in its position, so it appeared to be tilting its head inquisitively. It brought a lifelike poise to the sculpture that it hadn’t had before.
“Amazing!” Despite everything, she couldn’t help but be impressed. “How did you do it?”
He shrugged. “I used these scrap thingies and some of this wire.”
“It’s beautiful.”
Meph ducked his head and shuffled a foot like he wasn’t used to hearing praise, and her heart melted. A sudden tenderness filled her, and she was struck with the urge to serve him meals and tuck him into bed at night. He just looked like he needed a mother’s love, and she wanted to give it to him. The last thing she needed was to adopt a demon, but she couldn’t help it.
Her phone rang in her pocket, snapping her back to the present. “It’s Dan.”
“Ask him about the grimoire,” Belial said.
She accepted the call and held it up to her ear. “Dan?”
“Honey, I need you to come outside.”
“Where are you?”
“Come outside first and then we’ll talk.” His voice was low, and he was speaking slowly. It was the kind of voice people used to address someone who had a really big spider on their back.
Jacqui was really getting sick of all his vague mysteriousness. “Dan, what is going on? Where are you? And why do you have a grimoire made by fallen angels in your office?”
“Come outside, and we’ll talk. I promise I’ll tell you everything. Just come quickly.”
“I’ll be right there,” she said and then hung up. It was obvious the three demons watching her had overheard. “I’m going to go find out what he wants,” she told them.
“Careful,” Raum warned. “It could be a trap.”
She scoffed. “He’s still my husband. I’m not afraid of him.”
She headed toward the exit but stopped when she noticed the demons following her and arched a brow. “I’m pretty sure I can talk to my own husband without backup.”
“He’s up to something,” Bel said with narrowed eyes.
“If he really is one of these Grigori, I don’t want you to fight with him. I may be angry at him, but he’s still my husband. It would be better if you waited here.” She wasn’t about to forget Belial’s offhand comment about killing him anytime soon, that was for sure. Though she was still having a hard time believing he was some sort of fallen angel warrior.
Hard time? Scratch that. She thought it was ridiculous. But her demon guests were genuinely concerned, and she respected their feelings, so she played along.
“I’ll be right back.” With a smile at her guests, she stepped outside the studio into the sunlight—
And was immediately seized around the middle by Dan’s strong arms and dragged a good ten feet away from the building. How the hell had he moved so fast?
“Jacqui, thankgod.” He clutched her tightly, pressing his face against her neck like they’d been apart for ages.
That was nice and all, but she was too confused to enjoy the hug at the moment. She struggled in his hold, but his arms remained locked around her.
“Dan, let me go. What’s going on? Where were you? Why aren’t you wearing a shirt? Is that asword? And why do you have that grimoire?”
“I can’t explain now, but I will.” And then he transferred his grip, securing her against his side with his left arm like she was a sack of rice, which only made her madder.
“Let me go!” she snapped, struggling in his grip, a sense of alarm rising quickly within. A small part of her marveled at his strength. He’d always been strong, but she hadn’t realized he wasthisstrong. He held her with one arm like she weighed as much as a feather pillow.
“I’m really sorry, honey, but I can’t let you go back in there.” There was genuine remorse in his voice, but Jacqui didn’t care about that right now. All she knew was that her husband was freaking her out and pissing her off, and she did not like being restrained like a recalcitrant child.
She struggled harder. “Let me go!”
