Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
At some point over the past hour, Ethan's life had gone so wrong that he was now discussing his non-existent love life with a literal demon from hell.
"So this guy Kyle," Mal said, picking up a sticky note from Ethan's coffee table. "He's the one you want to..." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Yes," Ethan managed. "He works at the library with me. He's smart and kind and has the most amazing smile and?—"
"Got it, got it." Mal waved him off. "He's perfect."
Ethan watched as Mal wandered around his apartment, taking everything in with curious eyes. The demon seemed fascinated by the most mundane things—the coffee machine, the scented candles, the collection of novelty mugs Ethan's sister kept gifting him for Christmas. His favorite one said Born to Read, Forced to Work .
"So," Ethan cleared his throat. "How exactly does this work? You help me... with Kyle... and then you just take my soul?"
"That's the gist of it." Mal picked up one of the romance novels from Ethan's towering stack. "What's this?"
"Maybe don't read that," Ethan warned, but the demon was already flipping through the pages.
"'Marcus pressed James against the wall, his hungry mouth claiming—'" Mal's eyes widened. His tail went rigid. "Oh wow. Humans put this in books now? Just out in the open where anyone can read it?"
Ethan felt heat crawl up his neck. "It's fiction. Romance fiction."
"Romance?" Mal snorted, still flipping pages. "This is filth." He paused, tilting his head. "Interesting filth, though."
He continued browsing, eyebrows climbing higher. After a moment, he stopped to stare at the book.
"What's the matter?" Ethan asked.
"I didn't know humans could bend that way."
Ethan snatched the book from him, his face burning. "It's just fantasy."
"Is that what you want with this Kyle person? All of..." Mal gestured vaguely at the book, "that?"
Ethan had no words to respond with. They stuck in his throat.
"I'm not judging," Mal said. "But it's important for me to know what you want. So I can do my job. I may be a little behind on human courtship rituals. Last time I was topside, people were scandalized by ankle exposure."
Despite everything, Ethan found himself chuckling. "Things have changed a bit."
"Clearly." Mal picked up another novel. "So these books—they're what you want?" He didn't sound mocking, just curious.
Ethan could respond to that. "Not just the... physical stuff," he admitted. "I want the connection. Someone who gets me."
Mal studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "I can see that. I'll help you. Tomorrow you're getting your man."
Tomorrow? That seemed very soon.
"Until then," Mal said, giving the apartment another sweeping glance, "I guess I'll stay here."
"Here?" Ethan's voice cracked. "With me?"
"Unless you have a better idea? Is there a Bed and Brimstone nearby? I've got to stick close to you to do my job."
Ethan opened his mouth to object, then closed it. What could he say? Sorry, Mr. Demon, the couch is taken? "I guess that makes sense."
"Excellent." Mal stretched out on the couch, looking far too comfortable for someone who'd just barged into Ethan's life. "Now, what's this?" He pointed at the TV remote.
Ethan blinked. "That's a remote control. For the television."
"Television." Mal's eyes lit up in a way that was almost adorable—for a demon. "I've heard about this. Allegedly, it's one of Hell's greatest inventions. Show me."
Ethan reached for the remote and settled on the couch beside Mal as he flicked on the TV. An old sitcom played on the screen, immediately catching Mal's attention.
This gave Ethan time to study the demon's profile.
He was handsome, but not in the same way that Kyle was handsome. Ethan's crush was all easy charm and confidence. Mal, on the other hand, exuded a more quiet sort of intensity with his sharp jawline and his dark eyes. His black hair fell across his forehead, partially hiding where his small red horns curved back from his temples. When he laughed at something on the screen, Ethan caught a glimpse of canines just a touch too pointed to be human.
He would have made a great romance novel protagonist.
A great paranormal romance novel protagonist.
Ethan pulled out his phone to take a picture because no one was ever going to believe him.
Mal turned at exactly the wrong moment, catching Ethan in the act. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing!" Ethan fumbled with his phone. "Just... checking the time."
Mal gave him a skeptical look, but returned his attention to the television. Ethan quickly took a picture, and then, as if to make up for breeching the demon's privacy, he showed him Netflix.
"Oooh." While Mal scrolled through the streaming portal's offerings with childlike fascination, Ethan tried to process the situation. He'd sold his soul for a chance with Kyle. Tomorrow, this demon would… do what, exactly?
Somehow get him together with his crush?
How?
"What's 'The Great British Bake Off'?" Mal asked, interrupting Ethan's thoughts.
"Oh, it's a baking competition. People make cakes and pastries and all that."
"Humans compete in baking now?" Mal looked curious. "Is it to the death?"
"What? No! It's very wholesome, actually."
"Oh good!" Mal looked back at the screen and selected the show. "Just one episode. Then we plan our strategy."
Ethan nodded, though he doubted any strategy involving demons and soul-selling could possibly work out well.