Chapter 8 Yes, You’re Still Pretty #2
A heavy sigh eased from his lungs before he could stop it.
Stretching, he moaned with pleasure as his demonic magic suffused every part of his body.
He opened his eyes and blinked, noticing his perspective had changed.
He no longer saw a fuzzy snout in front of him.
He held up his paws and grinned. They weren’t paws.
They were hands. Human hands. Five fingers, neatly manicured nails, with a light dusting of black hair on the backs.
“Oh, fuck yeah!” he cheered and quickly stood on two legs, swaying slightly.
Wheezing snarls had him whirling to find Reena curling her upper lip at him, a sudden stranger standing in her territory. Holding up his hands, Malachi took a slight step back. “Reena, it’s me. Malachi. It’s me, Re-re. Here… smell!” He held out one hand for her to sniff.
Cautiously, Reena leaned forward and took a whiff, then tilted her head in cute doggie confusion.
A small yip and excited rumbling followed as she rubbed against his legs before glaring at Hyacinth.
She growled once and ran back through the doggie door, no doubt heading for the comfort of her plush bed, far from the weirdness occurring in the backyard.
Turning back to the squat wrinkly demon, Malachi glanced down and thanked the evil fires below.
He had a human form that was pleasing. He barely managed to keep the judgment from his face as he studied his demon boss.
Bowing low at the waist, he murmured, “My eternal wishes that all of your line command the Hellfire with spite and fury.” A standard demonic thanks, because demons just didn’t do that kind of thing.
Malachi caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window and his smile stretched from ear to ear.
His human form was made to capture the eye.
His mother was a winged ash demon, his father an incubus.
The result was that he had an incubus form with wings and smoke magic.
Something that had served him well until he had accidentally seduced Hyacinth’s daughter.
It hadn’t been intentional; he thought her just another loose female.
But his superior hadn’t seen it that way, taking it as a personal insult.
Tossing back his shaggy black hair from his face, he was pleased to see he had maintained his figure during his time confined to dog form.
His arm muscles were toned, and he still boasted six-pack abs.
A sharp jaw, sculpted cheekbones, and full lips that would easily curve into a sinful, knowing smile, accented by a single dimple on the left, greeted his ecstatic grin upon regaining his body.
His eyes—normally a gorgeous turquoise—had inexplicably stayed chocolate brown.
Frowning, he leaned closer to the glass to study this, but Hyacinth cleared his throat in irritation.
“Yes, you’re still pretty. That’s what got you in this mess. Now, use that for some good. Go in there and charm her!”
Spinning to face the other demon, Malachi grimaced.
“Yeah, pretty high on the list of that’s not how that works.
She’s a cop. A strange man waltzes into her bedroom in the middle of the night; she’s more likely to pop a bullet in my head than drop her panties.
I need to let her think she’s ‘curing’ me.
” He made finger air quotes with a smirk.
“And then I’ll be her reward for her hard work.
She’d be more likely to succumb to my charms if she pities me.
Poor, cursed Malachi, starving for attention.
Boom. She thinks she’s the hero savior.”
Squinting suspiciously, Hyacinth finally growled his agreement. “Fine, but don’t let this take too long. If I even suspect for a second you’re drawing this out on purpose…” He stomped his stubby foot and dug his heel into the ground like he was crushing a cigarette.
Nodding with alacrity, Malachi promised, “I know! I won’t let you down.
I’ll get her to drop her guard, then I’ll have her soul.
You’ll see! I’ve always been your best, most reliable soldier.
Until our… misunderstanding!” He blinked and grimaced, realizing belatedly he probably shouldn’t have mentioned that last part.
“Were. You were. Now you need to earn it again. I want a report in one week. Don’t disappoint me, Malachi.
” His name was said with a mocking emphasis that left no doubt he was high on his commander’s shit list. With a stench of rotten egg and putrid squelching noises, Hyacinth melted into the grass and disappeared.
Sighing in relief, Malachi dropped to his knees and let the shivering and trembling he’d contained earlier ripple through his body.
After a few minutes, when it all subsided, he turned to the house and wondered what to do next.
Shrugging his shoulders, he willed himself back to dog form and shook out his coat.
He hurried through the doggie door, then crawled back into bed with Chuck, watching over her for the rest of the night.
He didn’t dare sleep for fear Hyacinth would drag him kicking and screaming through the floor.
Carrying out his promise to reduce Malachi to a level one demon.
The occasional shudder rippled over his body, keeping him awake long after the darkness ebbed and dawn crept over the horizon.