Free Demon Inside by Stacia Kane Page B

It felt like a name, but I don’t know if it was, or if it was just words.”
    “What was it?”
    “Ktana Leyak.”
    If she hadn’t been watching so closely she wouldn’t have noticed the tiny pause as he lifted his wineglass to his lips. “Interesting. How did you hear it?”
    “Are you ever going to just tell me what you’re thinking?”
    “What do I get if I do?”
    “Me not being mad at you. How’s that?”
    He smiled. “If you put it that way. The words ring a few bells. ‘Ktana’ means ‘queen.’”
    “And ‘leyak’?”
    “It’s a type of demon. Not generally a very dangerous or warlike type. It poses much more of a threat to humans than other demons.”
    “But I am human [But of.”
    “Hmm.” She thought she saw his gaze flicker to her half-eaten steak. “How did you hear that phrase, anyway? Did Roc tell you?”
    “No.” She gave him a quick rundown of what had happened, eliminating the part where she used the full strength of her power but telling him how the words had popped into her head as she returned home. “I meant to Google it but I haven’t gotten around to it.”
    It was surprising how much information could be found online, how many people in the world knew the truth or brushed up against it, and how many other people didn’t believe them. Megan wondered sometimes just how unique she was after all.
    He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll see what I can find. You done?”
    It took her a minute to realize he meant her food, and she nodded. She hadn’t even eaten half of it, but she didn’t want the rest, nor did she want the potato or asparagus. The discussion about how it had been cooked and the reminder of yet another new idiosyncrasy, and what it probably meant, wasn’t something she wanted to think about.
    Service at Mitchell’s was certainly fast enough. It seemed to take no time at all before the check was “taken care of”—she suspected the meal had been on the house—Greyson’s friends had been bid good-bye, and they were at her doorstep.
    “Are you coming in?”
    “I can’t.” He kissed her forehead. “It’s almost midnight already. I have to be up at five.”
    One of the best things about dating a fire demon was how warm he always was, although she suspected that would turn into a definite downside in the summer. If they were still seeing each other then. His comment earlier about her public image…She pushed it from her mind.
    One of the other best things…well, maybe they weren’t all such good kissers. She and Greyson stayed on her porch for a few more minutes, saying a leisurely and mostly silent good night, before she finally pulled away. “Have a good trip,” she said.
    “I’ll call you when I get back. And if you need anything call me, or Maleficarum if I don’t answer.” He paused. “I’m leaving Malleus here. He’ll be over in the morning.”
    She opened her mouth to protest, but decided against it. Assassination attempt, remember? “Thanks.”
    One last kiss, like a faint breeze over her lips, and he stepped back to watch her slip inside the house. She wished he hadn’t decided to go. Some nights she liked having her bed all to herself, but this wasn’t one of them.
    She’d just shrugged off her coat when she heard a key scraping in the lock and turned to see Greyson opening the door.
    “Fuck it,” he said, striding across the room to take her in his arms. “I can sleep on the plane.”

    “This is Gerald’s file.” She handed the photocopies in their new manila folder to Maureen Boehm, Gerald’s pale and pink-eyed sister. The woman’s pain colored the air and beat against Megan’s skin, even with her shields up as far as they would go.
    Usually she only felt anger like that, and then only demon anger. Unhappiness like this she could shut off completely—had to be able to if she wanted to do her job.
    Megan turned her attention to Detective Walters, cool and silent next to the shaky Mrs. Boehm. Walters had the