Page 99 of The Music Demon

“Hey. I’m a victim, too.”

“Victim. How’s that?”

“Maybe this means we’re bound to each other. Forever.”

“Bound to each other? Forever?” she repeated. “And you’d find that a hardship would you? One that would make ye a victim?” Her voice grew higher and more strained.

His face softened. He dropped the teasing tone and the register of his voice so that it was low, soothing, and reassuring and leaned in so that she’d know he was being sincere. “I’d find it the greatest joy and privilege imaginable. There’s only one thing in creation better than music. And that is you.”

Shivaun decided the gift of detecting lies was her favorite upgrade. Because she knew the demon meant what he said. In the blink of an eye, she decided that was close enough to love. Total self-sacrifice might not even be a reasonable aspiration. Certainly, the demon’s vow was better than most people would ever get from a fellow traveler.

And maybe he’d been changed as well. She crawled into his lap and initiated the most satisfying kind of long, deep kiss.

“Is this a commitment?” he asked when she pulled back.

“’Tis perhaps a bridge to commitment.”

“I’ll take it.” He smiled.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN Who Do You Love

The demon and his girlfriend knocked on the door a little after six. Both of them were secretly pleased when Doo’s expression said he was glad to see them.

“You’re not gonna believe what’s happened?”

“I don’t know,” Lyric said with a glance toward Shivaun. “We’re pretty hard to amaze.”

She smiled in answer to Lyric’s attempt at a private joke.

The demons sat on the side of Doo’s bed while he pulled up a cane back chair and sat.

“Well. Prepare to be amazed anyhow. You remember I told you about my neighbor? Across the street?”

“No.” Lyric shook his head.

“Sure. You do. She’s the reason I love this music!”

“Oh. You mean your neighbor from before. Wimberley.”

“Well, yeah. I don’t know anybody across the street here.”

“Okay. I didn’t know that, did I?”

“I guess not.”

“So, about the neighbor from Wimberley.”

“She’s here. She’s my age. She’s gorgeous. She’s a matchmaker for bands. And she’s going to the concert with me tonight!”

Shivaun looked at Lyric. “What are the odds? Makes you wonder if you’re destiny’s tool?”

Lyric didn’t get the chance at a retort before Doo went on with a level of excitement that was contagious even for demons.

“See? You’re both gobsmacked.” He chuckled. “And thank you for the tickets. It’s better than that lottery my sister won. Well, sort of won. You know what I mean.”

Lyric grinned. “You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy it.”

“Oh. I will.” Doo nodded. “There’s more. She knows the band and is gonna take me backstage after.”

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