Page 56 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

“Taking a break.”

“From what?”

“Life as I knew it.”

“Evasive. Why all the secrecy? Your mother worries.”

Rosie looked uncertain. “Oh. Well. Tell her I’m fine and that I’ll come see her soon.”

“And tell her where you are?”

“No. I want to be on my own for a while.”

“Not sure that’s the best choice. You can be ‘on your own’”, he did air quotes, “without being AWOL.”

“Maybe not.” She lifted her chin. “But it’s my choice.”

“Not sure you’re old enough to make your own choices. You’re a baby demon.”

Carnal looked at Rosie like he was seeing her for the first time. “You really are a demon?”

She looked at Carnal like she was trying to decide how much to tell. “Sort of. I’m half demon, a quarter witch, and a quarter human. Or something like that.”

Carnal nodded then smiled broadly. “You’re hybrid. Like me, except you’re…”

“Yes. Go on.”

“You’re made up of creatures that don’t exist. Myths.”

“Myths!” Deliverance nearly sputtered. “Very well. Since I don’t exist, would you mind staying out of the talk I’m trying to have with my granddaughter?”

“Look, Grand,” Rosie interjected. “Thanks for stopping by. Please don’t make trouble for Kell or these,” she looked at Carnal, “people.”

Kellareal appeared in his guise as Finrar, the elf. “Oh. He’s not going to get me into trouble. I’ve got too much on him.”

“Do you mind?” Deliverance said to Kellareal. “This is a family matter, which means you arenotincluded.”

Kellareal, as Finrar, smirked at Deliverance, then turned to Rosie. “Did you know that he…?”

“We’re going,” Deliverance said quickly. “If you stay too long, I’ll be back to check on you.”

At that Carnal and Rosie were once again alone together in his former bedroom. Carnal didn’t move or take his eyes away from the spot where the angel and the demon had been. “Did you see the ears on that guy?”

Rosie suppressed a smile. “That guy was Kellareal. He likes to dress up. And, yeah. It’s one of his most attractive guises.”

He jerked his gaze in her direction and spoke gruffly. “You think that’s attractive?”

She laughed. “You’re taking this pretty well if your most pressing question is about whether or not I think the angel is cute when he’s dressed as an elf.”

Carnal’s brows were raised. “So you can vanish and appear anywhere? Any time?” She nodded. “And you can make a wrecked bike look new?”

Her lips twitched. “I’m not going to become your super-mechanic, Carnal. And I’m not going to stay if anybody else finds out. I’m just a girl who cleans up and serves drinks at a pub. Sometimes I watch the children and cook for them.”

“The Extant doesn’t know?”

“All your father knows is that he’s doing Kellareal a favor. He doesn’t know what I am. Onlyyouknow.”

Carnal stared at her for a few beats, then grinned. “That you’re a sex demon? What exactly does that mean?” He ran the back of his hand down her bare arm, making her shiver noticeably. “Is that why I’m having this reaction to you?”

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