Page 21 of Black Wings, Gray Skies (Black Hat Bureau 4)

That last part slipped out before my brain caught up to my mouth, but it was true.

A disbelieving sort of wonder stole over his features. “You think I’m beautiful.”

The idea I might be the first person to accept him, daemon and all, threatened to break my black heart.

Resting my hand on his cheek, I confirmed it. “Inside and out.”

“Hallmark…” Clay tipped back his head and implored the sky, “…I’ve got a movie idea for you.”

A moth-sized snicker escaped from his pocket. “They don’t do Halloween specials.”

We really had to work on her eavesdropping on adult conversations.

Hmm.

A soundproof pocket spelled into Clay’s wardrobe would do the trick.

“Rude.” I glowered at the pair of them. “I might be a witch, but I’m also a woman.”

Asa turned his lips into my palm. “My witchy woman.”

The oxygen evaporated from my lungs as if they were soda cans crushed flat with a stomp.

“You two are mushier than oatmeal.” Clay curled his lip. “The bland kind that comes in packets.”

Air rushed in, allowing me to think clearly, and I stepped back from Asa. “That’s just plain mean, Clay.”

Clothes piled in my arms, I turned away while Asa shucked his pants, which he draped over my shoulder.

On my best behavior, for Clay’s sake, I counted back from one hundred under my breath.

When I turned around, Asa was gone, and Clay was cleaning off a spot for the clothes he took from me.

“Ace will be back soon.” Clay slung an arm around me. “He’s got this.”

“I know.” I leaned my head against him. “I just worry.”

“He’s got a daemon under his skin and his mother’s cleverness to boot.” Clay smiled. “He’ll be fine.”

Everyone always said that, and everything was always fine.

Until it wasn’t.