Page 14 of Falling for Ash
“Eve, relax. I will give Lucifer a good report on your scheme here.”
“It’s not a scheme! We really can help you find your soul mate, Ash!”
“Eve, some of us simply do not have soul mates. It is fine. I am okay with being alone?—”
“That’s crazy talk! Look, the Fates wouldn’t have done that to you, Ash. Everyone has a mate. Everyone,” Eve replied sternly.
“Fine, Eve. Whatever you say.” Ash nodded, refusing to argue the matter.
He turned away from the sympathy on her face, missing the ambitious gleam in her bright eyes. He picked up the drink he’d ordered from a passing server, a tumbler of Bitter Bite, an artisan whiskey distilled in Maccon City by a Werewolf with a knack for spirits. He drank his neat, rolling the liquid in his mouth as he absorbed the subtle lavender and orange notes.
Music played in the background, but he hardly recognized it. Eve had left him alone, thank the gods, but truth was he kind of felt isolated. He paid little mind to those casting curious glances his way. He had a certain reputation, and those who knew him were perhaps wondering what he was doing there.
They’d probably laugh if he told them he was wondering the same thing.
Why couldn’t Lucifer just let him go off on a tour with one of his legions?
Maybe a few months battling the soulless ones would be good for him.
Take his mind off his own shit. It would be like therapy!
And that was seen as a good thing these days, wasn’t it?
Ugh.
He moved in his seat restlessly. If only he could wear his wings and horns, but he’d tucked them away for safety’s sake. He did not need anyone with beer muscles picking a fight with a Demon of his rank.
This was going to suck. Ash had no delusions that Eve was right about him finding his mate at a speed dating party. But he was a soldier first, and he’d follow orders.
Still, that didn’t mean he was prepared when Aphrodite sounded the call to begin. Before he knew it, Ash was politely declining room keys and phone numbers from half a dozen women and one man. There were people and other beings, in all shapes, sizes, and species. But no one caught his eye. Not even for a quickie.
And wasn’t that disappointing?
He’d assumed he’d find at least a bed partner for the night for all his efforts.
Ugh.
How droll.
The room was abuzz with potential, something he was able to discern in the varying scents. It appealed to his Demon side. After all, identifying desires was Ash’s angle. It was how he’d operated for millennia. And yet, he could not even fake interest in any single person there. He was just not interested in the smiling, overly perfumed denizens. All of whom seemed to say the exact same thing. Without fail. Every time the buzzer rang, and he was forced to rise and swap seats, Ash cringed at the usual introductions.
Hi, my name is blah blah. I like blah blah. And I am looking for blah blah blah.
What did he care what any of them were looking for?
He glanced over at where Aphrodite and Eve were conversing. Heads together, they looked over some sort of electronic tablet pointing and focusing like a pair of generals plotting out a war. He just shook his head.
Love really is a battlefield, he mused.
But he had nothing to worry about on that front. After the vicious mind warp Molloch had put him through, Ash was positive he wouldn’t know love if it bit him on the ass.
Buzzzzzzz!
He stood, nodding politely at the woman he’d just ignored for the past five minutes, and sat down at the next table. Inhaling, he took his seat, almost falling off the thing, when a sudden wave of uncontrollable desire hit him square in the gut.
“Hi.” A shy voice reached his ears, but he was still too caught up in that crazy, delicious scent.
Bright raspberries with a hint of lime zest, colorful and enticing. Just the sort of thing he would love to imbibe on any occasion. Beneath that was a more complex assortment of flavors. Vanilla bean, lavender, and oak.
