15. CHAPTER
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
They took the limo back into Somerstown, and the ride was quiet. It wasn’t the comfortable silence from last night during dinner, but something tense and awkward. Indy looked out the window and didn’t even think to help himself to a drink.
Weirdly, he wasn’t in the mood.
And he certainly wasn’t enjoying the fucking quiet time.
“So.” Indy drummed his nails along the edge of the seat. “Didn’t want to give your buddy Nyp a ride?”
Mr. Heiss growled. “No.”
“He looked very sad when we left. Like a kicked puppy.”
“I do not care.”
“You didn’t even say goodbye.”
Mr. Heiss glared.
“Okay, fine.” Indy leaned back in his seat. “Guess you don’t wanna talk about him. Sensitive subject, right? Like, an ex-boyfriend or—”
“Absolutely not.” Mr. Heiss sneered in disgust.
“Okay, okay. Ex-friend?”
“Ex-nothing. He never mattered and never will.”
“Wow. You are just overflowing with love and rainbows.” Indy snorted. “Nyp doesn’t matter, the imp was nothing, I’m nothing—”
“I did not say that,” Mr. Heiss cut in. “I told you that the things I do are necessary for your protection and that I did not mean to upset you.”
“Ah, yes. The world’s worst apology.”
Mr. Heiss grunted.
“Do you know what would be the start to a better apology? Wendy’s.”
“Fine.” Mr. Heiss snarled, aiming his scowl out the window.
The air was thick and gross, muggy with a tension Indy could only qualify as gelatinous.
He had no idea if he was actually getting anywhere with Mr. Heiss or if he still wanted to.
Yes, the whole not dying thing was a big perk and they didn’t know if Gammy’s treatment was going to be a long-term solution, but this felt…
Well, like more.
More than a means to an end or simply survival.
Which was stupid. So very stupid. It hadn’t been a week—barely half of one—and yet Indy could not deny this sense of connection.
Like, maybe this was right where he was supposed to be.
But it was stupid.
Ugh.
Indy reflected on what Mr. Heiss had said, and it was then he realized he’d missed a very key phrase.
Your protection.
Not his property or asset, but Indy himself.
Huh.
Indy shifted over to sit beside Mr. Heiss. He cleared his throat noisily until Mr. Heiss lifted his arm so he could lean against his side. He smiled a little as Mr. Heiss shifted fully into his demonic form and his tail curled around Indy’s hips. “So. If I’m not nothing, that means I’m something?”
Mr. Heiss hummed as if in deep thought. “Frustrating. Loud. Annoying. Stubborn.”
“Yes, and you forgot beautiful, intelligent, absolutely phenomenal in bed.”
Mr. Heiss chuckled, a small smile breaking through his scowl. He looked younger now, years melted away if only for a moment. “Those things may be true. It may also be true that I have enjoyed our time together.”
“Still wanna cut my hand off?”
“No.” Mr. Heiss shrugged. “I see no immediate reason to make such an attempt again at present. After all, the leshy is at your beck and call, and you are currently at mine.”
“Oh, is that what we’re calling it?” Indy wiggled. “I’m your beck and call boy now?”
“You’re something.” Mr. Heiss reached for Indy’s hand.
Indy’s very stupid heart skipped a beat.
“Well, I do appreciate that you no longer desire to remove any of my body parts. That’s a step in the right direction.
But I’m gonna need a proper ass apology.
You’ve been a dick. And not in the normal brooding asshole way, but a full-on dick fungus.
Okay? With, like, oozing pustules and gangrene and—”
“I am sorry,” Mr. Heiss said quietly.
“Did you just…?” Indy blinked up at Mr. Heiss.
Mr. Heiss did not strike Indy as a person—demon—who would apologize easily. He held Indy closer and kissed his forehead, and there was something earnest in his touch. He held Indy as if he was truly precious, a treasure to guard and protect, and his gaze sparkled with tiny lights like stars.
Indy felt like he was teetering on the edge of a giant bridge, fuzzy and light and stomach rolling away, but he wasn’t afraid to fall. He was certain Mr. Heiss would catch him, and he had no clue what to do with that.
Everyone left him.
It’s what they did.
But Mr. Heiss…
“There.” Mr. Heiss scowled, the tender moment now lost as he pulled back. “Are you satisfied now?”
Indy smirked.
However brief, he considered it a small victory in whatever game they were playing. It bought him more time, more time to figure out what to do, and that’s all that mattered.
Definitely not all these warm fluttery feelings.
Nope.
Not a one.
“We’ll talk after Wendy’s.” Indy rubbed his thumb over Mr. Heiss’s knuckles. “Don’t get cheap on me either. I’m starving.”
Mr. Heiss looked up as they approached the fast food restaurant. “What would you like?”
“We’ll need to go inside.”
“Why?”
“I gotta pee. Unless you want me to do it in here—”
“No.”
“Sheesh, fine. Slut shaming me and now kink shaming me.”
Mr. Heiss sighed.
Loudly.
They parked, and once Mr. Heiss put on his human disguise, he led Indy out and inside the restaurant. It had recently been renovated to include kiosks for self-ordering, and Indy strolled right up to the closest one to start pecking away at the screen.
Mr. Heiss stayed close, his hand at the small of Indy’s back. He looked around the restaurant and tensed, whispering under his breath, “Shit.”
“Yes, I’m also upset they don’t have the Pretzel Pub Burger.” Indy followed Mr. Heiss’s gaze and tried to figure out what had him on edge. “What is—”
“Don’t look.”
“Don’t look at what?” Indy had to now. “At the guys with the fifty cheeseburgers? Or the one with what is clearly a wig—” He blinked and then squinted to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. “—or the big cat wearing a kimono?”
Mr. Heiss turned Indy away. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” Indy squirmed. “What is going on?”
“I will tell you once we leave—”
“No, you tell me now!”
“Stop. You’re going to draw their attention—”
“So?”
“Mr. Heiss! Thought that was you hidin’ over there,” a voice with a distinct Southern drawl called out. It was one of the guys with all the cheeseburgers. He was white with sandy brown hair and a bright, oddly smug smile. He was seated at a table with two other men and the cat.
The man sitting beside him had curly blond hair, tan skin, sculpted features, and the repulsed expression of someone who had unexpectedly seen their ex.
The third wore a deep magenta pantsuit with a high-collared jacket.
There was a large corsage of pink stargazer lilies pinned to the collar, and his long white hair had more little pink and white flowers woven into the braid.
His skin was a warm shade of brown, his makeup was flawless, and wow, he was beautiful.
Too beautiful to be human.
Judging by the current light show that was Indy’s thumb, the curly-haired man wasn’t either.
And the big calico cat in the kimono whose tail split into two at the end?
Definitely not.
Mr. Heiss groaned in annoyance but had on a fake smile when he turned back to greet the man. “Hello, Seymour.” His eyes flicked to the blond. “Sariel.” And he bowed at the man with the braid. “Your Majesty.”
“Oh! Hello!” Your Majesty waved, but he leaned over and whispered loudly, “Who is that again? He had a name… Asshole face or something.”
“King of assholes,” Seymour said gleefully.
“Yes,” Sariel agreed. “That he is.”
Indy stiffened, waiting for Mr. Heiss to lose his proverbial shit and go full demon on these guys. He needed to be ready to summon Dill and save everyone inside this damn Wendy’s once Mr. Heiss blew it up or whatever, but…
Wait.
Nothing was happening.
“If you’ll excuse us.” Mr. Heiss gritted his teeth so tightly they were sure to chip, and he turned Indy back to the kiosk with a snarl.
“Hi!” Indy squirmed. “My name is Indy! So nice to meet you all!” He tried and failed to wiggle away from Mr. Heiss’s grasp. “Hey, let go. I wanna say hi to your friends!”
“I don’t have friends,” Mr. Heiss said flatly.
Seymour frowned, standing up from the table. He looked right at Indy and asked, “Hey! Is there a problem here?”
The cat hopped up on two legs and walked right toward them. She meowed something, and it didn’t sound very nice.
“Whoa, uh!” Indy raised his hand slowly. “No. No problem here. Call the pussy cat off if you’d be so kind, pretty please.” It was then he realized no one around them reacted to the cat. Not even Mr. Heiss seemed to be able to see her.
Which meant…
Huh.
“Oh, got it now.” Indy grinned. “She’s very cute, but trust me.” He winked, wiggling his ring finger. “Mine’s bigger.”
“An Artifact?” Sariel scowled.
The cat meowed excitedly.
“Shit.” Seymour barked out a bitter laugh. “Looks like Mr. Heiss finally got himself one.”
“Why are you laughing? This is not good.” Sariel pouted. “It is very not good.”
“Everything is fine.” Mr. Heiss hissed. “Isn’t it, Indy?”
“I’m hungry and I still have to pee—” Indy yelped as Mr. Heiss pulled him back toward the door. “Hey! Bathroom break! Hello?”
“Not here.” Mr. Heiss didn’t let go. “We need to leave—”
“Wait.” Your Majesty spoke up again, daintily wiping his mouth off with a paper napkin. He frowned as he tilted his head and looked Indy up and down.
Mr. Heiss was frozen, though his arm was curled protectively around Indy’s waist.
Seymour and Sariel appeared equally concerned, completely motionless and staring at the Your Majesty man as if they were terrified of what was going to happen.
Only the cat seemed unworried, laughing and clapping her paws.
Your Majesty smiled suddenly, cooing, “Love your outfit. Your eyeliner. Mac?”
“Uh, yes.” Indy grinned. “Love yours. That eyeshadow is incredible.”
“Mmm, Urban Decay.” Your Majesty giggled. “I do so love mortal cosmetics. I admit they have become a weakness of mine as of late. I usually conjure my own, but doing makeup is fun!”
“Right. Letting your insides shine on the outside.”
Seymour made a small choking sound.