Page 51 of Demon Demands

“Kind of is…”

“No, it’s not,” he assured me, scrunching his face up when I smiled. “Now I feel like I need ta watch my arse when we’re naked. I’ll be keepin’ ya trust up from here on.”

I cackled wickedly at him, watching him bristle. “Nervous, Palmer?”

He shook his head, grinning at me. “No, Love. But next time, I’m usin’ toys. I’m taking a few from Dolyn’s stash home with us too.”

He paused, squinting his eyes as he thought about what he’d just said. “Not Jack’s giant dildo, though. That’d be too fuckin’ strange.”

14

Sloane

Thursday Morning

When Palmer and I arrived back at the palace grounds, I ushered Pete into the stables. Soaking him with buckets of cool water, I rubbed his leathery skin down with a bristle brush while Palmer studied my movements. Pete dipped his truck into the bucket at my feet, spraying both Palmer and me with soapy water.

“Pete!” I gasped as my mage spluttered. The pedmar chirped at us, his happiness palpable as he stomped his feet.

“Ya really like that thing, don’t ya?” Palmer asked me as he wiped his face off.

I sighed, stroking my hand over Pete’s hide affectionately. “I care about Pete the same way I do my hounds. I never made any sort of mental connection with him because I had hoped that he would meet one of the few female pedmars left and find his mate. But he didn’t, so here he is,” I confessed solemnly.

Palmer watched me thoughtfully as I led Pete into his stall, leaving fresh food and water as I shut the door behind me.

“Why do ye leave him here when ye could take him home like the hellhounds?”

“What would I do with him? I can’t have an elephant roaming around in Tennessee. Someone would notice.”

Palmer shrugged nonchalantly. “Change him. I thought that was an obvious answer, Love. Turn him inta a cow or a horse so he blends in and can still have his leafy diet. He doesn’t have ta be an elephant.”

I grinned at my mage, waving at Pete as we exited the stables. “Are you trying to talk me into having another pet?”

Tucking me under his arm, Palmer side eyed me. “Ye already have a pet elephant.”

“Pedmar,” I corrected, wrapping my arm around his waist.

“A pedmar,” he sassed, bouncing his head before growing serious. “And it’s not like ye don’t have the land for an animal the size of an elephant. It’s got ta be better than staying in that barn all his life.”

“Fuck.” I groaned. “You’re absolutely right. But what would I turn him into? I couldn’t leave him home while we’re globe trotting. I’d feel so shitty about taking him out of Hell just to leave him alone again.”

As Palmer held the kitchen door open for me, slapping my ass when I walked inside, he replied, “It’ll come to ya. Jus’ give it some time, yeah?”

The kitchen counters were as clean as always, but there was a stack of pots and pans in the sink. Following the aroma of an Earthly breakfast and the sounds of rumbling laughter, Palmer and I found ourselves in the dining room.

“Sweet devil. There’s finally more estrogen in this room,” Hyde remarked, dropping her head onto the top of the table. “I thought the testosterone levels were going to kill me, Lo.”

She popped her head up, eyes wide with alarm. “Quick! Paint my nails. Dye my hair. Share a bra with me, bitch. Something… anything to remind me that I’m not one of the guys!”

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop my laughter. “How about you ask Franklin to take you into town? You can go get dolled up and we’ll take you out tonight for your birthday.”

Hyde pouted. “But my birthday is tomorrow. I won’t be able to… Nope, never mind.” Shoving her plate of food at Dolyn, she stood from her seat. “I have a fake ID. I’ll be able to get in.”

“That’s what I thought,” I chided. “Now, go do some girly shit, and be ready by dinner time. We’re going out.”

She beamed at me, a shrill giggle leaving her plump red lip. “Gods, Lo. I was like eight minutes away from spontaneously growing a dick.”

“And she insulted my dramatics.” Novak mock-whispered, leaning over to peer down the table at Grim. “How has she not killed her yet?”