Seduced by Shadows by Jessa Slade

doppelganger.”

    That sharpened his gaze. “The demon gave you this? Nothing tangible crosses the Veil.”
    “This did.”
    “Ugly.” When his eyes shifted violet, she knew he’d called on his demon. “And tainted with an etheric overlay. Curiouser and curiouser.” He released the pendant with a frown.
    Despite the heat of his skin, the stone lay cool on her neck. “Is this the demon’s link to me?”
    “The demon doesn’t need a physical leash.”
    “A mirror then.” She shuddered. “When I looked into the stone, I saw myself, sick and hurting. It—I—it tried to grab me.” She scrubbed her hands down her face and caught his skeptical expression. “I’m not crazy,” she snapped. “And I’m not being Freudian either.”
    “I was thinking Jung,” he murmured. “The shadow self.”
    She stared at him. “If you’d had some light reading, I wouldn’t have been in that place.”
    She was being unfair, but he inclined his head. “You shouldn’t be alone with all your questions. Higher mental functions like that get you into trouble every time. The demon hijacks you at the base of your ancient reptilian brain.”
    She blinked at him.
    “Fight and feast,” he explained. “And fuck.”
    “I know what the reptilian brain is. I’m just surprised. . . .” She stopped before she insulted him.
    “Yeah. What do metaphysical garbagemen need brains for anyway?” He pushed to his feet. “Never mind the mystery stone, you need to stay anchored in this realm. Come on.”
    She wedged herself down in the pillows. “Where are we going?”
    “To get something to eat and drink. Maybe listen to some good music. Nail you down to this world.” He held
out his hand, reven -marked and calloused but gentle on her cheek as he’d called her back.
    Had she seen what she was doomed to become? What she’d been doomed to become, if not for the demon’s tempting power? Suddenly she understood what Archer meant about the dangers of questions. She could no more stop herself from wondering than stop herself from breathing.
    Except, apparently, that might be the price she paid.
    She put her hand in his and he pulled her upright.
    “I thought I was a menace to society in this state,” she said as they gathered their coats.
    “Seems you’re more a hazard to yourself. I’ll keep watch.”
    He led them out through a back hallway that took them through the adjacent building to an alley exit. “What’s your favorite cocktail?”
    “This feels like speed dating. I thought we had all the time in the world.”
    “Maybe the world doesn’t have as much time as you’d think.” He picked up the pace again.
    “Spanish coffee. Lot of calories but oh, so tasty.”
    “Calorie counting is the least of your worries. Your metabolism amps up to match the demands of the demon’s energy.”
    She huffed out a laugh. “See how you keep forgetting to mention the pluses of possession? Lose your soul, lose the weight, on the damnation diet.”
    The harsh curve of his mouth gentled into an almost smile. “Who knew souls were so heavy?”
    “Is it a good idea to get my demon drunk?”
    “Alcohol dilates the blood vessels and eases inhibitions. Simplifies the demon’s ascension. At least according to our Bookkeepers.” He glanced away. “Maybe it just makes it easier to forget.”
    Encouraged by his momentary candor, she put her hand on his arm. “How did it happen for you?”

    Muscles flexed under her fingers. “Ancient history.”
    “As old as the stories on your end table?”
    His expression hardened. “Nobody makes it that long.” He slipped away from her. “Nobody’d want to.”
    She dragged her heels. “You mean you don’t want to. So why don’t you just kill yourself and get it over with?”
    Her challenge echoed on the concrete and steel.
    He let the reverberations fade without answering, but from the flicker of violet across his gaze, she knew she’d pricked him. “Let’s save the chitchat for our