Free A Demon's Work Is Never Done: Latter Day Demons, Book 2 by Connie Suttle Page A

same as I did—that neither of us wanted a marriage to someone we hadn't met.
    I never dreamed he'd get in trouble for venting his anger after I, well, there wasn't any other way to put it. I'd left him standing at the altar. Left him to explain to family members and guests that I didn't want any part of him.
    The worst part?
    The five-year sentence he was serving on Earth in the past. As I said, I had no idea.
    None.
    He was prevented from going home for at least five years.
    I had to depend on Aunt Bree to get me away if things became too difficult. Would she? Or were Kory and I stuck here forever, until someone powerful enough took pity on us?
    What if we died here? Kory had almost been taken down in a vineyard outside San Francisco. What if we weren't so lucky next time?
    Fuck.
    It was my gran's favorite curse word.
    It could become mine as well.
    Fuck.
    Holy. Fucking. Hell.
    * * *
    Kordevik
    I shouldn't have told her. The fault was mine for burning down that fucking bar, not hers. Yes, she'd been afraid. Afraid to meet me at the altar, because she didn't know me. I could have been the worst person in the universes, for all she knew.
    Now, she was shouldering the blame for my five-year sentence.
    Well, four and small change, now.
    If I were my father, I'd march right in to King Jaydevik's throne room and demand that arranged marriages be outlawed. That High Demons be allowed to meet those deemed worthy of a High Demon female. Let her have a hand in the choosing.
    Yes, I wanted Lexsi more than anything. Loved her more than anything. I'd be damned if another High Demon took my place. I hoped she felt the same way about me, if I were honest.
    After all, how many times had she said it—when she thought I couldn't hear? That she wanted me. Wanted to go to bed with me. Wanted to undress while I watched.
    Fuck.
    I needed a cold shower; Lexsi was upset and I had nobody to blame except myself.
    * * *
    Lexsi
    I studied the photograph while Opal told me about him. "His name is Vic Malone and he's considered one of the worst criminals in the country," Opal informed me as we walked toward a waiting van. The van would transport us to the prison, where I'd question the inmates. "Vic has ties to drug lords outside the country, as well as a multitude of others inside it. He's been acting strangely for weeks, and it won't hurt to check." Opal followed her statement with a shrug.
    "He's the only one here?" Kory asked. I didn't turn to look at him. I felt too guilty to do so.
    "The only one reported, yes," Opal replied. "If the real Vic Malone is running loose, we have a problem. He likes killing, although he doesn't discriminate between male and female."
    "You mean he'd fit right in with Loftin Qualls?" I asked.
    "Like a brother," Opal muttered and pulled her leather jacket closer about her. Fall was coming swiftly to the East Coast. I felt it to a lesser degree; High Demons aren't affected by cold temperatures as much as humans or many shifters are. It made me wonder (again) what sort of shifter Opal was.
    Being cold wasn't the reason my arms were crossed tightly over my chest; it was because I felt uncomfortable. I wished Kory had waited to tell me what he had. I could interview prisoners while remaining oblivious for a little while longer.
    How many times could I apologize?
    Probably not enough to make it better.
    For either of us.
    Kory scooted into the van beside me and shut the door. Kell sat in the row of seats ahead of us with Opal, while Jorden sat in the front with our driver. The drive took half an hour, during which neither Kory nor I spoke. I leaned toward the window to peer up at the high, gray walls of the prison when we drove up to it, where razor wire curled about the top like a deadly embellishment. Lowering my eyes, I allowed them to settle on the armed guard stationed at the gate.
    He didn't look pleased.
    "It looks starker than the one in Colorado," I whispered.
    "Built earlier," Opal replied. "It was designed as a