His demon wasn’t the most patient of creatures, but it didn’t mind that it would need to wait seven days before taking what it wanted. The anticipation would only heighten the pleasure.
Keenan knew she doubted that he’d win the wager. She was wrong to doubt him. He’d meant what he told her; he wasn’t an alcoholic, and it wasn’t a struggle for him to not overindulge. He had more self-discipline than most. It was only Khloé who’d ever shot that self-discipline to shit.
A female mind touched his. You can stop glaring at my cousin any minute now, said Harper, a smile in her telepathic voice.
He cut his gaze to the sphinx. I’ll stop glaring when she starts taking the issue of her safety more seriously.
Teague will be back from his trip next week. He’ll look out for her.
Keenan fought the urge to snap his teeth. He was not a fan of Khloé’s anchor at all. Not only because Teague tried keeping her away from Keenan, but because … As anchors go, he’s fucking useless. He doesn’t try to keep her out of trouble or watch out for her.
I’ll admit he’s not always the most attentive anchor, but he has saved her from herself a number of times. I think it’s just that, being as crazy as she is, he sees most of her behavior as normal.
“Would the two of you like to share whatever you’re telepathically talking about with the rest of the class?” Devon asked, a playful haughty note to her voice.
The sphinx pursed her lips. “No, not really.”
Devon pouted. “But I wanna know. I’m feeling left out here.”
Khloé drank the last of her smoothie. “Curiosity poisoned the cat, you know.”
Devon frowned. “I thought it killed the cat.”
“Not in my version.”
“Where did you get your version?”
“My Aunt Mildred.”
“You don’t have an Aunt Mildred.”
“You don’t remember her? Brown hair. Pointy nose. Crooked front teeth. Huge mole on her chin. Hazel eye.”
Tanner’s brow creased. “Eye? Not Eyes?”
“She lost the other eye,” Khloé told him. “Snake bite.”
“You do not have an aunt named Mildred,” Devon insisted.
“I do! Seriously, why would I lie about it?”
“No idea. But then, I have no idea why you do half the things you do.”
“And I have no idea how you could forget Mildred.”
Keenan felt his mouth twitch. Even for an imp, she was especially good at fucking with people.
Devon pushed out of her chair. “It’s too early in the day for this shit, Wallis. Let’s just get to work.”
Khloé huffed and stood. “Fine. But I can’t believe you don’t remember Aunt Mildred.”
“Oh my god, stop!”
As they all walked out of the coffeehouse, Keenan telepathically reached out to Khloé. I look forward to collecting on my wager.
Aw, you really think you’ll win it? she asked without sparing him a glance. I can’t help but feel sorry for you.
His mouth twitched. I’ll win. And then I’ll have my taste of you.
She flicked him a look full of pity, and his demon smiled. It liked that she was so over-confident—it would make the win all the sweeter for the entity. In effect, it had cornered and captured its prey. She just didn’t know it yet.
CHAPTER THREE
Later that day, Keenan knocked on the door to Knox’s main office within the Underground. Hearing the Prime’s bid to enter, Keenan walked inside and then closed the door behind him.
Knox sat at the executive desk, shuffling papers. The printer on his left whirred as it fired up. A glass of what looked like gin and tonic sat next to the hi-tech computer, along with stationery and a block of memo notes.
The Prime wasn’t alone in the office.
Sitting on the sofa near the large window that overlooked the combat ring, Larkin briefly peered up from her laptop and said, “Hey, Keenan.”
“Hey,” he returned, watching as the harpy’s fingers deftly ran across the keyboard. When Knox needed access to private information of any kind, he set the female sentinel on it. She was a whizz with computers.
Standing in the corner of the sleek, modern space while talking into his cell phone, Levi merely tipped his chin at Keenan in greeting.
Keenan gave the reaper a short nod and then strolled toward the desk. He flicked a brief glance at the wall-mounted security monitors that provided CCTV footage of the goings-on within the Underground. There was never any real peace there—it was full of demons, after all. They had to be watched carefully.
“You investigated the complaint?” asked Knox, leaning back in his seat.
Keenan sank into the chair opposite him. Like the rest of the ample seating, it was cushioned with rich Italian leather and comfy as fuck. “Yes. It was legit.”
The Prime was as merciless as they came, but there were always demons who rebelled and earned themselves a punishment. Knox’s Force handled the smaller matters, but there were times when the sentinels needed to step in. Like when someone from their lair complained that a member of the Force had not only roughly detained them without due cause but had also physically assaulted them—something that would not be tolerated.