Page 21 of I Accidentally Summoned A Demon
“Not the way I want to. If I’m killed or exorcised by a priest, I’ll be sent back to the underworld shamed, stripped of my titles and everything I’ve worked for. Back to cleaning up blood and torturing instead of having a real job. I don’t want that. I want to go back to my house with my hounds. All that goes away if I’m sent back like this. Status is everything there, and if I’m shown to be weak by being sent back by a fucking priest, that’s the lowest blow I can get. I’ll be lucky if they let me through without a proper lashing.”
“Lashing?” Kat’s eyes widened, then an irritated frown formed. “Is that true, or are you lying to me because I’m sopathetically naïveyou know I’ll believe you?”
“I don’t think that, Katherine. I don’t. It was a moment of anger, and I’m sorry.” Nex stroked her cheek. “I’m not lying. You know I want to go home more than anything. If I wasn’t concerned about the conditions in which I’d return, why would I fight you on this? Why wouldn’t I help you find the right person?”
Kat chewed her lip, eyes darting back to the priest who chanted and scattered holy water. A moment later, she pressed her lips together and squared her shoulders. “Fine. But you have to respect my space from now on. No messing with me, no sneaking up on me and scaring me, no breaking my stuff, and absolutely no being cruel because you’re in a bad mood. And if you sleep in the bed, you have to stay on your side.”
Nex’s lips twitched into a smile. “You’ll let me sleep in the bed?”
“It doesn’t mean anything. I’m just incapable of not feeling guilty that you’re in this situation, and that couch is like a million years old.”
“I’ll take it, kitten.” Nex kissed her forehead. “Thank you.”
“Whatever,” Kat grumbled. “How’s it going?” she said louder, catching the priest’s attention.
The priest raised his arms. “The spirit’s gone.”
Nex gave her a look.
She ignored it, offering the priest a smile. “Thank you so much.”
“You come to me if you have any more problems.” The priest took one of her hands with both of his and gestured a cross between them. “I’ll pray for your safety.”
“Thank you.”
Kat let him out, and Nex peered out the window until the priest was down the street. “Right.” He rubbed his hands together. “Let’s talk about the new people I came up with to kill that you can’t possibly have an argument against.”
“No.” Kat held her hand up. “I don’t have time for your murder plans. I have to go to the mall.”
Nex clicked his tongue. “What for?”
She glanced at him hesitantly as she slipped on a jacket. “An outfit.”
His face scrunched. “Oh. For the date?”
“You’re not allowed to be mean.”
“I’m not. I just think he’s a tool.”
Kat grabbed her purse. “You saw him once for like ten seconds.”
“He’s such an incredible tool that it took less than that to identify him as such.”
“Whatever.” Kat waved dismissively and left the house.
Nex appeared beside her on the street, making her jump. He smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, force of habit. What do you see in him?”
“How is this any of your business?” Kat strolled on the sidewalk toward the bus stop. White and gray clouds blocked the sun, making the already cold air chillier. She focused on that to distract her from the cars racing by.
“Because I want to go home, and instead of dedicating your time to helping me, you’re distracted by some random fool who isn’t good enough for you.”
“You’re being ridiculous.” She eyed him and fought a smile. “Are you protective over me now?”
“You’re my ticket home, so yes, kitten, I’m a little protective.”
“That’s strangely sweet and unlike you.” Kat got on the bus, and he followed.
“It’s not sweet. It’s out of obligation.”
