breakfast, we made plans to go shopping on her next day off, then Fang and I headed to Micah's office at Club Purgatory. I paused at his office door, feeling my stomach churn again. Micah had promised to help me control Lola, and I really wanted to, but I wasn't sure what he had in mind or if I'd like how he planned to do it.
Fang shoved me with his nose. C'MON, TAKE IT LIKE A MAN. At my wry look, he corrected himself. ER, I MEAN, LIKE A VAMPIRE SLAYER.
Sighing, I raised my hand to knock but Tessa opened the door before my knuckles met the wood. “Hi. We're just finishing up our list of the demons who were at the party. Go on in—I'll see you later."
She left and I saw Shade and Micah conferring at the computer at Micah's desk. “We're printing it out now,” Micah said. When I glanced questioningly at Shade, Micah added, “I trust Shade completely."
Fang sniffed the air, looking disappointed. GUESS HE LEFT PRINCESS AT HOME.
As the three of them finished their discussion, I glanced around the room. Elegant, classy, and kind of minimal but comfy. Lots of wood and warm colors. I liked this style, too, and it was way different from Gwen's. I frowned. Figuring out what I really liked might be harder than it looked.
"I think that's it,” Micah said, and printed out two copies of the list. He gave one to me, saying, “Here's who we remember being at the club that afternoon."
I glanced at the list. “Where should I start? Do you have anyone you suspect of stealing the books?"
Micah shook his head. “No, if there was, I wouldn't have let them in the Underground. So, you can start anywhere. Shade will help. Ramirez suggested you two team up as partners—you can train each other."
I got how I'd help Shade, but . . . “How will he help me?"
"He can help you with control."
"With Lola?” How could he do that? He was just as susceptible as any other man . . . except Micah, of course.
"Yes,” Micah said. “I promised I'd help you learn to manage . . . Lola, but first we have to make sure your inner demon isn't hungry. It's best to start sated, not empty. When was the last time you fed?"
Fed? I hated that word, hated the way it made me sound like a bloodsucking vampire. “Uh, last night. I lost it a bit."
"If you do as I've suggested and feed gradually, you won't have that problem. You'll be in total control."
"I know,” I muttered, feeling a little embarrassed in front of Shade. And Lola had perked up in the shadow demon's presence, which meant it was still too dangerous to be around him.
SHE'S NOT TOTALLY SATISFIED, Fang drawled, making it clear he was speaking to everyone in the room.
Tattletale.
But he ignored me as Micah said, “Okay, we'll help you satisfy your inner demon under safe conditions. You can feed on Shade."
Whoa. No way. I liked him.
THAT'S THE POINT, BABE.
I glared at Fang, but was glad he hadn't shared those thoughts with everyone. “I can't."
"It's okay,” Micah said gently. “He volunteered."
"Really,” Shade said softly, “I don't mind.” He took my hand, grounding himself in this reality, in me, so that he no longer flickered through a dozen different dimensions. Because of that, I could see the shadow demon's features, though they were still partially hidden by his ever-present hood. Just as I remembered, he had shaggy blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and the face of an angel.
Lola wanted him. So did I, for that matter, but that was dangerous. For him, not me.
"Would it be easier if you could see me, or not?” Shade asked.
I gazed into his face, but the guy wasn't accustomed to having people see his expressions, so he wasn't used to having to hide his feelings. As a result, his face was too expressive, almost painfully so. Emotions paraded so clearly across his face that it was as if he'd written them there. Admiration, longing, hope . . . and that was before Lola reached out for him.
His seeming innocence took my breath away. I released his hand. “Not, I think.” It
Fang shoved me with his nose. C'MON, TAKE IT LIKE A MAN. At my wry look, he corrected himself. ER, I MEAN, LIKE A VAMPIRE SLAYER.
Sighing, I raised my hand to knock but Tessa opened the door before my knuckles met the wood. “Hi. We're just finishing up our list of the demons who were at the party. Go on in—I'll see you later."
She left and I saw Shade and Micah conferring at the computer at Micah's desk. “We're printing it out now,” Micah said. When I glanced questioningly at Shade, Micah added, “I trust Shade completely."
Fang sniffed the air, looking disappointed. GUESS HE LEFT PRINCESS AT HOME.
As the three of them finished their discussion, I glanced around the room. Elegant, classy, and kind of minimal but comfy. Lots of wood and warm colors. I liked this style, too, and it was way different from Gwen's. I frowned. Figuring out what I really liked might be harder than it looked.
"I think that's it,” Micah said, and printed out two copies of the list. He gave one to me, saying, “Here's who we remember being at the club that afternoon."
I glanced at the list. “Where should I start? Do you have anyone you suspect of stealing the books?"
Micah shook his head. “No, if there was, I wouldn't have let them in the Underground. So, you can start anywhere. Shade will help. Ramirez suggested you two team up as partners—you can train each other."
I got how I'd help Shade, but . . . “How will he help me?"
"He can help you with control."
"With Lola?” How could he do that? He was just as susceptible as any other man . . . except Micah, of course.
"Yes,” Micah said. “I promised I'd help you learn to manage . . . Lola, but first we have to make sure your inner demon isn't hungry. It's best to start sated, not empty. When was the last time you fed?"
Fed? I hated that word, hated the way it made me sound like a bloodsucking vampire. “Uh, last night. I lost it a bit."
"If you do as I've suggested and feed gradually, you won't have that problem. You'll be in total control."
"I know,” I muttered, feeling a little embarrassed in front of Shade. And Lola had perked up in the shadow demon's presence, which meant it was still too dangerous to be around him.
SHE'S NOT TOTALLY SATISFIED, Fang drawled, making it clear he was speaking to everyone in the room.
Tattletale.
But he ignored me as Micah said, “Okay, we'll help you satisfy your inner demon under safe conditions. You can feed on Shade."
Whoa. No way. I liked him.
THAT'S THE POINT, BABE.
I glared at Fang, but was glad he hadn't shared those thoughts with everyone. “I can't."
"It's okay,” Micah said gently. “He volunteered."
"Really,” Shade said softly, “I don't mind.” He took my hand, grounding himself in this reality, in me, so that he no longer flickered through a dozen different dimensions. Because of that, I could see the shadow demon's features, though they were still partially hidden by his ever-present hood. Just as I remembered, he had shaggy blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and the face of an angel.
Lola wanted him. So did I, for that matter, but that was dangerous. For him, not me.
"Would it be easier if you could see me, or not?” Shade asked.
I gazed into his face, but the guy wasn't accustomed to having people see his expressions, so he wasn't used to having to hide his feelings. As a result, his face was too expressive, almost painfully so. Emotions paraded so clearly across his face that it was as if he'd written them there. Admiration, longing, hope . . . and that was before Lola reached out for him.
His seeming innocence took my breath away. I released his hand. “Not, I think.” It
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