“Did I hear someone say ‘actor’?” In a flash, Lilian’s best friend, Braxton, is at her side, his eyes gleaming. He’s a total theater nerd, as is his boyfriend, Emilio, who’s currently trying to skip rocks across the frozen lake. Braxton holds out a pale hand to Jax. “Enchanté.”
Jax takes his hand. “De même.”
“So, what’s the period drama about? Do they needextras?” Braxton says, his eyes alight with interest, but Lilian laughs and puts a hand on his shoulder.
“Why don’t we let them come hang out for a bit before we grill Nia’s new boyfriend?” she says, shaking her head at me.
Oh my god. She thinks Jax is my boyfriend. She actually bought it! I glance at him, unable to keep the grin off my face, and the corner of his mouth twitches in response. I have no idea in what universe anyone would possibly believe Jax would be in my league, but I’m not arguing. Just for tonight, I’m going to fit in with all the beautiful people.
“Ugh. It is absolutely freezing.” Braxton leans into Emilio. He keeps tossing glances at Jax when he thinks Jax isn’t watching, as if he wants to ask him more about the “period drama” but doesn’t want to be crass.
Everyone is sprawled on blankets around the frozen lake, under a dark bowl of silver stars. All the humans are shivering, our skin covered in goose bumps. Jax is the only one who looks perfectly comfortable.
“I’m going to try starting the fire again.” A tall, aristocratic-looking senior named Pryor Oliver, lacrosse team captain and Lilian’s boyfriend, stands up and walks over to a stack of logs. He’s wearing a crimson sweater that sets off his deep mahogany skin.
Jax turns to me. “Are you cold?”
I rub my cold, stiff, corpse-like arms. “Nah, not too bad. Ijust wish I had my big puffy jacket. I thought we were going to be inside.”
“Why don’t we ask if we can go inside?”
“No!” I put a hand on Jax’s arm and look around, to make sure no one heard. “I don’t want to make a fuss. Pryor will probably get the fire going soon anyway.”
But Jax shakes his head. “Pryor lacks proper technique. Look, there’s not so much as a wisp of smoke in spite of all his attempted kindling.”
“Shh!” I put a finger to Jax’s lips and we both freeze. Realizing I’m touching his very sexy mouth, I quickly retract my finger and clasp my hands tightly in my lap. “Sorry,” I mumble, but he doesn’t respond right away.
After a moment, he stands and holds a hand out to me. “Take a stroll with me?”
I look up at him, somewhere between confused and nervous. I’m not sure “taking a stroll” with a demon I barely know in the dead of night in a winter forest is wise. But when do I ever do anything wise? After a moment’s hesitation, I put my hand in his and stand.
As we walk away from the group through a copse of long-fingered aspen trees, I glance up at Jax. We’re still holding hands for the benefit of the others, but I kind of don’t want to let go.
“Um, Jax?” I say, my fingers briefly tightening around his strong ones.
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to... you know. Make such an effort.”
Frowning, he looks at me as we approach the large frozen lake, like a nugget of frosted glass. “What do you mean?”
“Coming here with me as my date was enough. You don’t have to... hold my hand and, um, escort me places or anything.”
I see understanding dawn on him, and suddenly his expression is colder than the winter air. He slips his hand from mine. “I see. I beg your pardon if I’ve made you uncomfortable.”
“No!” I swing around to face him on the hard bank of the water. The wind blows the hem of my dress out, like a scarlet flag. I hold him by the elbows, staring deep into his indigo eyes in earnest. “I didn’t mean—you didn’t make me uncomfortable. Like, at all. I just don’t want you to feel, you know, obligated.” Looking past Jax to make sure we haven’t been followed, I lower my voice and add, “I know I summoned you or whatever and the rules say you have to do what I say, but I just want you to know I think that’s silly. You’re free. Okay? You have your own free will. Just don’t, I don’t know, kill anyone or cook them or steal their souls.”
There’s the rumble of a laugh in Jax’s chest. “Is that what you think we demons do in our spare time?”
I shrug, a hint of a smile tugging at my mouth. Letting go of Jax’s arms, I tuck a strand of hair behind one ear. “It’s what Hollywood would have us believe.”
Jax laughs and walks back to the frozen lake, squatting down within reach of its icy surface. “Well, I won’t cook anyone, but I do have a solution to the cold that I think every human here will like.” He looks toward the group ofteenagers. “Especially considering Pryor has abandoned his post and is huddled with Lilian for warmth now.”
“ ‘A solution’?” I frown. “Like what?”
Smiling his most devilish smile (which has interesting effects on my pulse rate), Jax holds his palm against the frigid surface of the lake. A few seconds later, there’s a huge hiss and all the ice in the lake evaporates in a thick curtain of steam. I let out a squeak of alarm, but Jax continues to hold his palm against the cold water. Soon, it’s steaming, too. A satisfied smirk on his face, he stands and bows deeply. “At your service, madam. Your very own hot spring.”
I clap my hand over my mouth. “Holy shit, that’s incredible! I’m warming up just standing near it!” Then, looking over my shoulder, where the group is now all murmuring and getting to their feet, I add, “But shit, damn, and hell. What are we going to tell all of them?”