Page 109 of Unbound By Shadows
Selene laughed. “Oh, have I?”
“You used to like helping me. I don’t understand what’s changed.”
She was about to say something caustic, but the hurt in his eyes made her pause. Her anger ebbed as she took in how pitiful he looked, standing there in his best vintage t-shirt next to a sign bearing his own name. She considered that it was an abrupt change for him to take, after she spent so much time working for him without complaint.
“I’ll show you how to do everything,” she said. “We can take it one thing at a time.”
“But you’re so much better at it than I am. And what about tonight?” Kevin’s voice was panicked. “You know how important this show is for me. I can’t do everything by myself!”
“Take a breath. I’ll help tonight. But after this, things have to change.”
He nodded. Selene smiled, feeling more awake than she had all week.
Chapter 46
Hours later, Selene found herself dutifully clapping from her usual spot at the back of Maynard’s Tavern. Kevin was on stage, dripping with sweat, and strumming his guitar. When he got to “He Died of Poetry,” Kevin made a big show of dedicating it to her. Selene waved from behind the merch table and tried to appear gracious. The display was a bit excessive, but she was grateful to see him show some appreciation.
The artist appearing after Kevin had a much bigger following, so Maynard’s was beginning to fill up before Kevin left the stage. It was the usual crowd of Nashville locals—women wearing sundresses with chic hats, the men dressed in ripped jeans and old concert shirts. But as Selene watched the people file past her, goosebumps broke out on her arms. There it was again, that feeling like someone was watching her.
She looked around the bar until she spotted the source—a tall man leaning against the retro jukebox.The cowboy.He was wearing the same clothes he wore at the restaurant, and when their eyes met, he nodded. She gave half a smile, then kicked herself because he seemed to have taken it as an invitation to approach her.
“Evenin’, ma’am,” the cowboy drawled in a deep voice that added to the whole outlaw vibe he had.
“Uh… hello.” He smelled like gunpowder, but his smile was engaging. Selene wasn’t sure what to make of him.
"You come here often?" he asked.
Seriously?
“Sure, when my boyfriend plays. Did you see his set just now? We have some things for sale here,” Selene said, motioning to the table. The wordboyfriendtasted like poison in her mouth, but she wanted to make sure this guy knew she wasn’t interested. “Or you can sign up for the Kevin P. Norton email list—”
“Lady, you don’t have to play games with me,” the cowboy interrupted, his brown mustache stretching into a smile. The way he saidladywas strange. Like it was a title. He looked at her expectantly. “Since I saw you the other day, I’ve been trying to track you down. Glad I found you tonight.”
“Excuse me? Do I know you?”
After a moment, he frowned, then looked left and right. Bending forward, he gripped the center of his hat and lifted it slightly—just enough to reveal something that made Selene gasp.
Two horns.
They were brown and squat, nestled within his dark hair. These horns were much smaller than Sam’s, like the ones you’d see on a baby cow. Selene dropped her gaze to meet the cowboy’s eyes. As she did, they flicked from hazel to bright red. His grin was conspiratorial.
Demon.
Selene felt stupefied. A real demon! Here? But he looked so normal! Sort of. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, “Y-you’re not from around here!”
“No, ma’am. I’m from down south,” he said, pointing at the ground. “Deep south.”
“How did you get… up north?”
He crossed his long arms. “The usual way, by a summoning. Iwas called here in 1865 by a seance,” he said, then extended his hand. “Halphas, demon of Delusions. But I just go by Hal in this realm.”
Selene grasped his hand and shook. His grip was strong and reassuring. For some reason, it made any anxiety she had about him melt away. “I’m Selene Riley. Just… Selene.”
“A pleasure, Lady Selene.” He surveyed the bar eagerly. “Is your mate here? I’d love to meet him.”
Selene’s mouth went dry. “M-my mate?”
“Forgive me, is it a she?”
