Page 91 of Bound

My plan is currently in a shoulder holster under the sweaterI’m wearing.

“Excellent,” the demon says.

There’s the slightest feeling of air moving through thewarehouse, followed by a quiet pop. The demon’s eyes widen, and his body seemsto swell. “Ah, the veil is open. It’s time to go, Your Highness. Now, now, Isee the suspicion in your eyes. You found this place yourself. I’m merelyoffering to travel with you. The door is in an unusual space. It might take youa moment to find it, and then it would be closed again. You would have to comeback tomorrow night.”

“I’m not signing a contract.” I need to make that perfectlyclear. I don’t intend to be separated from my husbands ever again. Not even inthe next life.

“And I’m not asking for one,” the demon replies. “I believeyou will kill the hag. I’m helping you entirely for my own selfish purposes,dear.”

I turn to Dante, who hands me the duffel bag. I settle it onmy back and hug him. “Good luck, Dante.”

“You, too, Meggie.” His hands tighten around my waist, andthen he backs away. “I hope everything works out for you. Look me up if youever come back this way.”

I lean over and kiss him on the cheek. I’m going to missthis version of Dante, but it’s time to go home. I follow the demon up thestairs, aware Dante is watching me the entire way. The stairs creak and shakeunder my weight.

“Hurry, dear,” the demon calls from the darkness above. “Youdon’t want to miss it.”

I brace myself and take the final step. The demon looks outover the railing. He points to a spot just below us. “There it is.”

No wonder it’s so hard to find. It’s in the middle of theair. I’ll have to jump. If I miss, I’ll break my legs at best and my neck atworst.

The demon gracefully leaps onto the railing. “Follow me.”

He jumps from the railing, feet first, and disappearscompletely.

“It’ll be all right, Meg,” Dante says from below. “It’sfate, right?”

“Yes.” I climb on the railing. It shakes and rattles undermy weight. There’s nothing stable about it. Moonlight filters in from a windowabove, illuminating the ragged warehouse. My hands shake as I make the mistakeof looking down.

There’s another popping sound, and I know my time is runningout. The door will close, and I’ll have to wait another full day before itopens again. I can’t risk it.

I close my eyes and take a leap of faith.

ChapterForty-Four

Human Dante

I watch Meg disappear through the veil. A piece of meis sorry to see her go. She’s been lovely, and I like her spirit. If shestayed, I might have been able to love her.

Still, as I pull the vampire computer from my jacket, shehasn’t left me with nothing to show for my efforts. I stare down at thecomputer. I slipped it out of the duffel bag when I gallantly offered to carryit for Meg. I couldn’t let her take it with her. It’s mine because I was smartenough to steal it. And she’ll find another one. I have plans for this one.

When Meg suggested I go with her, I didn’t tell her nobecause I’m afraid of going to another plane. I’m not afraid of visiting otherplaces. It just seems silly to waste time when this plane is so ripe for theconquering.

Why should I settle for being a little fish on a bunch ofplanes when I can be a shark on this one?

The computer in my hands is my ticket to the big time.

I leave the building, my mind racing with plans.

ChapterForty-Five

Meg

I hit the ground with a great thud and promptly landon my ass in the mud. It was a clear night back on Earth, but here it’s day andwe’re in the middle of a storm.

The demon looms over me. “Not the most graceful of landings,Your Highness, but it will do.” He walks on without offering to lend a hand.“Good luck.”

I scramble up and look around. I’m in the forest. The doorcloses roughly six feet above me. No wonder it’s hard to find. It’s even harderon this side of the door since there is no handy set of stairs to climb up. Itry to shield my eyes from the rain as I looked up the path. It looks like thestorm is even worse up ahead.