Page 8 of The Music Demon

Shivaun went still. “Aren’t we? On the same side?”

“I don’t think like that, love. Unless you mean personally. I’m always going to be on my side. It’s my nature.” Lyric decided to get the conversation back on track before Shivaun had too much time to process that and come to the wrong conclusion. Although he wasn’t sure himself what was the right conclusion and what was the wrong conclusion. “Instead of simply picturing where you want to be, you need to hold a date in mind as well.”

Narrowing her eyes, she said, “Sounds deceptively simple. What if I get lost?”

“You’re not going to get lost. What kind of date would I be if I didn’t make sure you got safely back?”

“Safely back?” She chuckled. “What’s goin’ to harm me?” What she saw flicker behind Lyric’s eyes gave her pause. “Oh. There be things that can harm us.”

Lyric was quick to make sure the mood wasn’t dampened. “No worries. Let’s take a walk into the darkness.” They ambled behind the ice house and walked beyond where the blue light reached. Lyric took her hand. “Think Abbey and Paddy’s Day. Or you could think Rosie and Paddy’s Day if you’d rather.”

“No filter?”

Lyric looked confused. “What do you mean?”

“You do no’ use filters?” He shook his head. “’Tis what we call settin’ up a barrier so that we do no’ embarrass the person bein’ visited.” Lyric looked blank. “You know, demon. So we do no’ walk in on somethin’ private.” Lyric smiled. “Does that smile mean privacy does no’ concern ye?”

“It’s not something I take into consideration. So how does this filtering work?”

“We think, ‘Take me to the closest barrier to whomever’. If I was goin’ to see my sister, for instance, I’d be deposited at her door, but no’ inside her house.”

“I see. Interesting.” He took a lock of silky red hair and rubbed it through his fingers. “You don’t need to use a filter with me. If you want to find me, just think ‘Lyric’.”

She raised her chin. “You’re no’ worried ‘bout bein’ caught with another, em, date?”

The demon dropped his chin to his chest and snickered. When he lifted his eyes to Shivaun, they were lit with amusement. “Should I be worried? What if I was with another female? Tell me you’d be jealous?”

She exhaled through her nose, but refused to say she’d be bothered by the idea of Lyric with somebody else. Instead of answering, she said, “Abbey and Paddy’s Day.”

As soon as she said it, they were moving through the passes at a speed that would be disabling-dizzy for humans. When the pair emerged at the Abbey’s impressive Norman arch entrance, Lyric stared at the door like a demon who wanted to get inside.

“Do ye want to come in?” Shivaun ventured.

“No.” He smiled, returning his attention to his date. “What I want is another kiss.”

“And what will I be gettin’ in return this time?”

He stepped forward and lightly ran his thumb over her bottom lip while staring at her mouth. “A little thrill.”

She laughed breathlessly. “You think a lot of yourself, demon.”

“Lyric. Maybe abigthrill.”

“Why did you take my sister?”

Without hesitation he replied. “I was looking for you.”

Shivaun didn’t argue about what he wanted to be called or the size of the thrill at hand or whether or not he was being truthful about his motivation for abducting Sher. She impulsively stepped forward into his waiting kiss with the confidence of a woman who knows what to expect.

Lyric grabbed her by the waist and pulled her tight against him, which again elicited the little gasp/moan he’d hoped he’d heard earlier.

When the massive door opened, Shy jumped away from Lyric like a teenager who’d been caught by her parents in the act of making out.

The interventionist was one of the ancient caretakers who’d been hired by Haversfil Grieve. The man poked his white head out, nodded at Shivaun as if to say, “I have your back,” and eyed Lyric with curiosity. He didn’t speak, but he didn’t leave either.

“See you, em, tomorrow,” she said.

“On that you can depend.” Lyric nodded.

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