Page 22 of A Subtle Scar
I frowned all over again. “How long did all that take you?”
“Oh, just about four years and change? But it was worth it. You’ve seen my demigod. He’s perfect, and he wants me.” Lucy chuckled. “He was quite shocked about his birthday present, but he’ll come around.”
I paced in front of a set of cabbages some farmer was trying to sell. “Lucy, I don’t want to wait four years until this human lets me into his pants! And besides, I asked you how to romance a human because you read all those fucking romance novels, so could you please suggest something that will work instead of fawning over your human?”
“Not a human but a demigod. Everything that I like to read would make it so I’d have to kick you in the balls on Chandler’s behalf after you abducted, caged, enchanted, bit, or knotted him. And besides, you have no shortage of experience when it comes to getting a human.”
He wasn’t wrong. But usually, what I tried should have already worked. And if it didn’t, I bought the human a drink. And if that didn’t work, I moved on to another, except…I didn’t really want to move on. I wanted that one. I wanted Chandler.
I didn’t want to tell the Devil that, however, because chances were, he’d feel like Trony did, and if that was the case, and he was serious about his friendship with the human, it would complicate my plan. My very non-existent plan.
“Of course, you are right. I will just go and try that,” I said. Maybe I could buy him coffee? Humans did like that sort of thing outside the bars where I normally found the ones I took to bed.
“If you can get a deal, always take it. Good deals are the foundation of a strong relationship,” Lucy added before he hung up.
When I put my phone away again, the asshole herbalist witch human was staring after my human. After Chandler. At his ass. And they had talked for a really long time, and Chandler had smiled at the damn herb blender.
I had to come up with a way to lay Chandler, and soon.
Chapter Seven
IlefttheDevil’shouse while Hermes was still in the process of explaining to Trony that he adored her floors. There was no need to stay for that. The Devil’s demigod gave me a mild smile when I said my goodbyes, especially when the two-tailed dog and the snake-tailed dog both decided I could not leave before I’d received a week’s supply of puppy kisses.
It was a lucky coincidence that the Dragon Mother was still in the garden, in her dragon form, letting the spring sunshine warm her scales.
“I am taking my leave, Dragon Mother,” I said, and she lifted her head.
So soon?her voice rang in my mind.
“There was a man at the party. Chandler. I’d like to talk with him more. I may have offended him or he may mistake my intent, but I met him on a day of balance, and the meeting feels unfinished. So one way or another, I want to see him again.”
Tiamat tilted her head, and the sunlight made her firework irises shimmer.All you want is to see the man?
“It’s not all I want. He has a certain something about him.” I took a steadying breath. “And I’d rather I get to impress him before Hermes does.”
Ah,Tiamat said.Tell me, have you finally learned to keep your cellular phone on and on you at all times, Charrie?
I wrinkled my nose. Just the other day, everyone had been enthused about the printing press, and now, it was all about TikTak, Facebrush, and Instachrome. Humans were such passionate creatures, and as a whole never more passionate than when it came to change, while as individuals, they could manage to resist change to their dying breath. It was a dichotomy that had always fascinated me. But fuck if I had to follow every new trend.
Yet, I had gotten acquainted with phones. Upon the Dragon Mother’s suggestion a few years ago. “Yes, Dragon Mother. I have. But I refuse to stare at it while waiting for public transport and while on public transport like everyone else around me does.”
Use it when I text you Chandler’s address. A small Equinox gift from me to you. After I am done sunbathing,the Dragon Mother said and unfolded her draconic wings.
The shadow of her wings fell on the grass that was just coming around from the cold winter months.
“Dragon Mother, that is very kind of you. Thank you.”
Repay my kindness by—actually, just be a little less like yourself, Charrie, while being a lot more like yourself all at once. I think that might do in the currency of gratitude.
I was not sure what that was supposed to mean, but one did not argue when the Dragon Mother saw fit to give advice, so I nodded and left her to her enjoyment of the gorgeous spring day.
Lucy’s drive was long and his estate took up most of the street, but I’d never minded walking. By the crossroads that bordered on the Devil’s wards, I stopped and used my magic.
I could not teleport like that ass Hermes could, but I had a knack for public transport. Not two minutes after I’d stopped at the crossroads, a bus popped out of the vortex I’d created, stopping for me.
The driver looked mildly confused when I got on, but he’d get over it and think he’d just experienced a déjà vu. I wasn’t sure where the bus was going—most of the time, I was content to travel without caring about the destination—but if my magic was not failing me, this line should get me closer to Chandler.
I sat down next to a teenage guy, who was ignoring me. I wasn’t sure why. He was obviously in distress, no matter that I couldn’t pinpoint what that distress was.
