Chapter 3

A news report I'd seen a few days earlier suddenly came back to me.

The Bureau had issued a public warning about demonic sightings across the region. At the time, I'd barely paid attention.

After the officials finally left, I opened the closet.

Zarek stepped out, looking down at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

"Why didn't you hand me over?"

I shrugged. "Because they might kill you."

He stared at me. "You heard what they said. They're looking for demons."

I laughed. "Right, but they're looking for demons. What does that have to do with a little incubus like you?"

His face went completely blank.

Then his eyebrows shot up.

"A little WHAT?"

"A little incubus." I pointed toward the glowing sigil on his abdomen. "You've got the markings and everything. Unless you've been pretending to be an incubus for fun?"

Zarek looked as though he wanted to tear the entire room apart.

I had no idea what I'd said wrong.

"Anyway," I continued, deciding it was better to change the subject, "even if you don't like me, and even if you refuse to enter a contract with me, I'll still protect you."

His anger faltered. "Why?"

"Because I like you. That's reason enough."

To me, it was a simple answer.

I liked unusual creatures. I liked stray cats, abandoned dogs, and anything that needed a little help.

Zarek was difficult, rude, and infuriatingly stubborn, but none of that meant I wanted him to get hurt.

Apparently, he interpreted my words rather differently.

A faint flush spread across his face.

The air around us grew hot again.

"W-What kind of thing is that to say?" he muttered. "You're way too casual about stuff like that."

I decided not to tell him that I'd already made up my mind to help him reunite with his former owner.

After all, I'd brought him home without asking permission, touched him without thinking, and even tried to use a spell on him.

The least I could do was help him find his way back to the person he seemed to care about.

All I needed was her name.

Fortunately, that part was easy.

I'd exchanged contact information with the woman at the coast before leaving the overlook.

Her name was Josie, and she was just as pretty in person as she'd been from a distance.

I messaged her and arranged to meet at a café.

When we sat down, I got straight to the point.

"Have you ever abandoned an incubus?"

Josie's eyes widened. "How do you know about that?"

"Was he dark-skinned? Really tall? Black hair?"

"Yes! Almost six-two, with horns and wings. He had a magical marking right here." She pointed toward her lower abdomen. "Why? Did you meet him?"

That sounded like a perfect match.

I leaned forward. "Can you tell me why you abandoned him?"

Josie looked embarrassed. "Honestly? I didn't like his personality very much."

I nodded sympathetically.

Understandable. Zarek's personality was an acquired taste, and I wasn't sure anyone had acquired it yet.

"When I bought him, the shop closed down a few weeks later," she continued. "I couldn't return him, and I didn't know what else to do, so I released him. Have you seen him?"

"I have," I admitted. "And I think he misses you."

Her expression softened.

"Really? That's awful. To be honest, I've regretted letting him go. He was handsome, strong, and surprisingly capable. I just couldn't get along with him."

"Then why not take him back?"

She blinked. "Would he even want to come back?"

"I think you should at least try. Abandoning a familiar is a lot like abandoning a pet. They depend on us, and they deserve better than being thrown away when things get difficult. Maybe you two could give it another shot."

Josie considered that for a moment.

"You're right. Maybe I should."

Excellent. Josie was practically convinced. All I had to do was persuade Zarek.

The thought made me feel strangely happy.

I couldn't wait to tell him.

When I got home, I found him in the kitchen.

He was standing over a cookbook, trying to follow a recipe.

There was flour on the counter, a suspicious amount of smoke coming from the stove, and a knife lying somewhere it definitely shouldn't have been.

Still, he was making an effort.

"What happened to you?" I asked. "Since when do you cook?"

Zarek stiffened.

"I saw how pathetic you looked when you got sick. Someone has to make sure you eat properly."

"That's great!"

He glanced at me suspiciously. "What?"

"This is exactly what you should do when you get back to your former owner. Try to be a little nicer. Stop snapping at her over every little thing, and make an effort to get along with her—"

"My former owner?"

Zarek slowly turned away from the stove.

"Yes! I found her. Her name's Josie, and she wants you back. Isn't that great?"

He didn't say a word.

I stared at him.

Then I gasped. "Oh, wow. You're so happy you can't even speak!"

Zarek turned around so fast I nearly jumped.

"What part of my face looks happy to you?"

He looked furious.

"Tessa, you told me a few days ago that you liked me. And now you're trying to get rid of me? Is this how humans work? Do you just throw people away whenever you get bored?"

I frowned. "I'm not throwing you away! You're the one who refuses to make a contract with me."

"Isn't an incubus what you wanted in the first place?"

He took a step toward me, his eyes burning.

"Fine. I'll do it. I'll be your incubus. I'll let you make the contract. I'll even play along with all your ridiculous human rules if that's what you want!"

I opened my mouth.

"Actually, there's something I need to tell you—"

Before he could interrupt again, I reached for the front door and pulled the man waiting outside into the apartment.

"He's my new incubus."