Page 71 of The Music Demon

That thought would usually be followed closely by acknowledgement that insects also have incredibly short lifespans. It would take more than short lives to make a species worthy of Quicksilver’s attention.

Sure. A few bullet points dotted the graph of his ridiculously long life. He was quick to admit that he had it better than others of his loosely related species. Because, he thought, shapeshifters are the gods of demons and no one can argue that. Had he vocalized that in the company of other demons, he would surely have earned himself more than an indulgent chuckle or a good-natured debate. In his mind, knowing when to keep things to himself served as further proof that he must be a god among elementals.

To be fair, shapeshifters are in a class all their own. Only psychopaths – yes, elementals are subject to psychopathy just like any organism – would want to become a creature of interest to a shapeshifter. Partly because, while on the subject of mental aberrations, shapeshifters are given to perspectives that are out of the ordinary.

Perhaps the very act of being able to take on any appearance, effortlessly, plays havoc with neuropathways. It’s as good an explanation as any since nobody knows for sure. And no one ever will because no shapeshifter would submit for the sort of testing that would prove anything one way or another.

Quicksilver could not care less if an inferior thought him unbalanced. What others did or didn’t think was simply not of concern. Alleviating boredom was his raison d’être. For longer than he cared to contemplate, it had been his sole motivation; theonlyreason to leave his lair. The prospect of an available female demon was a game changer.

He believed that, if he could lay claim to Shivaun and get her to agree to be his mate, it would open up a universe of new experiences. The thing he most desired. After all, female demons could do what no other creature could do. They could birth worlds into existence. Of course, there was a price to be paid, but it wouldn’t be his. It would be hers.

If fate wasn’t in on his plan, he could sell her for enough status currency to achieve some kind of payoff even if it wasn’t as grand as playing Prince Philip to her Queen Elizabeth. From his point of view, it was a win either way. Prince of new worlds or auction her off for access to exclusive demon haunts from which he, and all shapeshifters were barred.

In many ways a successful sale of the demoness was preferable. Quicksilver wasn’t really in the market for a companion. He didn’t think he’d like answering to someone else. About anything. Ever. After all, he was old and set in his ways.

The only hitch in his plan was the ticking clock. At present Shivaun O’Malley was oblivious to what she was and what she could do. And she would only be manageable for as long as she remained unaware. Once she learned the ins and outs of demonic femininity, she might be able to wish Quicksilver out of existence with a thought. He didn’t know that for a fact, but he’d heard stories.

General wisdom held that, if you encounter a female demon, bow and yield the right of way.

He wasn’t sure why he’d let Shivaun see him in his true form. It was purely impulse and, let’s face it, demons aren’t generally known for marvelous impulse control.

After blending into the café wall next to where the couple sat and eavesdropping for hours, he felt like he learned enough about Lyric’s lack of progress as a suitor and Shivaun’s lack of self-awareness. He crossed the street, positioned himself directly opposite her window, and let himself be fully visible the next time her eyes moved over the sea of rebels.

The pleasure he felt when she found him instantly, was inexplicable, but made him smile reflexively. Her reaction was marvelously entertaining. Oblivious to the extent of her abilities, she didn’t know that she could instantly detect something out of place in any environment.

She saw him.

Recognized that he was extraordinary. But didn’t know she had the power to reach out with her ‘antennae’ and identify him.

Priceless.

Quicksilver decided that he needed to make a move before another two revolutions of the sun. The idea of a timetable was foreign, but oddly exhilarating. The very things he craved above all else, something different.

In terms of her development, Shivaun was in her infancy. But she was learning fast. If her education outpaced his schedule, no worries. He had a Plan B.

CHAPTER ELEVENMagic Man

“Can I get you something?” Rosie sat behind her desk watching Lyric as he prowled around the room studying every framed thing on the walls.

After nodding hello, he’d been occupying himself thus ever since.

Slowly he turned and gave her a smirk. “Out of here fast.”

She cocked her head and smiled. “So you have a sense of humor.”

“Don’t you find most demons have a sense of humor…? Um. How did you say you want to be addressed?”

“I didn’t. Rosie’s okay. I don’t impose unnecessary formalities.”

“Well.” He shrugged. “They have their place I suppose.”

She steepled her fingers, as Glen often did when he was in the Sovereign’s chair, as she assessed. In less than a minute she’d discovered that he could be funny and was argumentative about little things he didn’t care about. Like formalities.

“Want to tell me why I’m here?” he asked.

“Sure. Want to have a seat so we can talk like two civilized persons?”

“Not really. Why don’t we go for a walk outside? What’s the point of having gardens and gardeners if you’re not going to spend time in there?”

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