He kicked off the ones currently on his feet and exchanged them for a pair of beat-up Vans at the end of the row—his art shoes. Then he swapped his white hoodie for a black one that had already suffered paint and clay damage and headed across the office.
Throwing open the door, he took a step into the studio, squinting into the light streaming through the tall windows, and—
Stopped in his tracks.
FuckingDanwas standing there staring at him.
The blond-haired, silver-eyed angel was standing in Meph’s workspace beside his sculpture in progress, which was currently wrapped in plastic to keep it from drying out. It was obvious Dan had been studying it, and now he was giving Meph an unreadable look.
The last time Meph had crossed paths with Eva’s daddio, the Grigori had tossed a consecrated dagger into Meph’s chest while he was trying to negotiate peace. Not only was that embarrassing as fuck for a demon, it pissed him off.
Worse, a part of him was still a tiny bit afraid of Dan. He’d nearly died from that stupid dagger, and Raum had melted his hands off trying to pull it out. Only Jacqui crawling to his side through hellfire had saved him, since consecrated weapons had no effect on humans. On demons, it was like being burned alive from the inside out.
And now here Meph was—no Bel, Raum, or Jacqui to back him up—face to face with the Grigori once more.
He thought about running back into the office to the hellgate, but he immediately dismissed the idea. He’d honestly rather die than sacrifice his pride to that degree.
So he struck what he hoped was a casual pose and said, “Took you long enough.”
Dan blinked.
“Figured you’d show up here to threaten me ages ago.”
“Jacqui called me. What did you tell her?”
“About the vampire thing?”
Dan nodded.
“That was two weeks ago.”
“I needed time to cool off so I wouldn’t kill you.”
Meph rolled his eyes. “I only told her what you should have. That it’s an option.”
Dan’s jaw shifted as he ground his teeth.
Before he could stop himself, Meph blurted, “I don’t get why you kept that from her. I thought you told her you were done with the secrets? She has a right to be pissed. Her daughter’s immortal and so is her husband—ex—whatever you are. She deserves to know that she at least has the option—”
“She doesn’t!” Dan snapped.
“Why the fuck not?”
Damn it, Meph was getting sick of everyone shouting at him this morning. He’d had a great time with Iris last night and had been in a stellar mood from it, but today, everyone seemed determined to shit on his sunshine until its light fizzled out.
“It’s a cursed existence and the last thing I want for her.”
“It’s not that bad. Sure, it’s not perfect, but don’t let your angel bias make you blind. Lots of vampires live decent lives. If Jacks decides that’s what she wants, she can make that choice.”
“Jacks?”
“Yeah. Or are we talking about someone else here?”
“You’re calling my wifeJacks.”
“Yes, I fucking am because we’re friends. I’ll call her whatever I want to call her.”
Dan’s nostrils flared, and with that blond hair and powerful build, he suddenly looked a bit like Belial about to snap. A terrifying thought. The last thing the world needed was two Belials.
