Free TheWardersDemon by Viola Grace Page B

trying to determine if he was serious.
    “I am very serious, Elhara. I would like to get to know you. Will you let me?” His eyes were earnest.
    She debated it, her mind cycling rapidly. “Down the street, the bistro on the corner at noon. If you arrive early, get us a table.”
    He gave her a jaunty salute. “I will meet you there. Now, please get into your car so that I can make sure you are safely on your way.”
    She opened her car door and tucked herself inside, buckling up out of long habit. He waited until she drove off and disappeared. She could see him evaporate in the rear-view mirror.
    Shaking her head at the bizarre turn of events, she drove back to her house with only one thought in her head. She had a date.

    Chapter Two
    He was waiting with a dozen roses and every woman in the bistro was giving him the eye. Elhara was a minute late, but she had refused to get out of her car on the off chance that he didn’t show and this was some colossal joke.
    Solar wasn’t joking. He greeted her with a smile and held his glamour as he kissed her with a quick press of the lips. The roses were comprised of every colour she could imagine, each carrying no less than three colours in their petals. It was made more impressive by the fact that they were all magic free. He had purchased them instead of crafting them with magic. That alone spoke volumes.
    “Thank you, Solar.”
    “Thank you for coming, Elhara. You look better in daylight than you did in the evening.”
    It was high praise from a demon. They generally preferred things in shadows.
    She blushed and took the seat he held out for her. Women all over the bistro were watching them wistfully, but as she inhaled deeply of the roses, she didn’t care. “Thank you again for the flowers. They are amazing.”
    “I have a friend with a hybrid greenhouse. I explained the situation and she was happy to help me find just the thing for such a unique lady.”
    Her blush was in danger of becoming permanent.
    Their server came over and asked Solar what he would like and he ordered coffee and a glass of water. The waitress was so dazed that she turned to leave when she realized that Elhara was sitting there. “And for you, ma’am?”
    “The same.” She tried not to grit her teeth, but the ma’am reference had been the slight dig that all young women who were flirting with someone else’s date chose to deliver.
    Idly, she watched the woman pour the last of a pot into one cup and then wait for a new pot for the second cup. Elhara was amused when she was served the older cup of coffee with the distinct whiff of scorching while Solar was given the freshly brewed.
    He thanked the woman and switched their cups while the waitress watched. She stopped him before he had lifted the coffee to his lips. “Let me get you a fresh cup.”
    He smiled. “If you would serve it to her, it is good enough for me.”
    The woman flushed and flitted off, obviously picking up on the hint that snubbing his date was not going to be tolerated.
    “Thank you, Solar. You must be used to women tripping all over you by now.” She sipped at the coffee and smiled. It was quite nice.
    “It is a burden I must bear. I am used to it.” He grinned and lifted his coffee to his lips without making a face.
    “What clan are you from?” She tried to be subtle while she perused the menu, but his dark eyes were focussed on her.
    “It gets complicated. Technically, no clan as there are not enough of my folk to go around. I am related to the succubae clan.” He shrugged and smiled, showing pointed white teeth.
    Shock broke over her in waves. He was an incubus. There was no doubt about it and it explained why his glamour was so effective against the humans.
    “I see.” She sipped so studiously at her coffee that it was gone before she knew it.
    “Does that make you uncomfortable?”
    “Fairly, yes.” She met his gaze and smiled.
    “Honesty is a good policy when dealing with people, but dealing with demons,