The Devil's Fool (Devil Series Book One) by Rachel McClellan Page A

After a few seconds, I said, “I prefer to see the graveyard.”
    “Then see it.”
    I closed my eyes, counted to three, and opened them again. We were back in the cramped mausoleum, facing each other. I suddenly became very aware of Boaz’s hand on my waist, the slight pressure where his palms pressed. He looked down at my lips and then into my eyes. His own lips parted, and he stepped forward, closing the gap between us. His fingers caressed my cheek, and before I realized what I was doing, I pushed up on my tiptoes and pressed my mouth to his. His lips were soft as they moved against mine, slowly at first, but when my tongue touched his bottom lip, his grip tightened and he pulled my body against his eagerly.
    “I’ve got you,” Liane’s voice echoed across the way. I heard scuffling, then a loud grunt as if someone had fallen over.
    I pulled away from Boaz and looked down, too embarrassed and frightened to see his reaction. The illusion around us had permanently disappeared. Liane and William strolled back to the table.
    “You can be such a baby,” Liane said.
    William dropped into a chair. “I don’t like graveyards. They’re for the dead, not the living.”
    “I think they’re beautiful,” Liane said. “I’ll just remember not to invite you next time I go.”
    I returned to the table. Boaz walked behind me, his gaze somehow warming the bare skin on my back.
    “Who would like to dare a demon next?” Liane asked, looking at each of us.
    “I would,” I said, surprising them all.
    “And what Demon would you be daring?” William asked.
    I turned to Boaz. “You. Since the day I met you and Hunwald—” I glanced over at Hunwald, who was still sitting at the edge of the forest. “—I’ve always wanted to know who would win in a race. I dare you to race Hunwald around your property, three laps, following the line of trees over there.” I pointed in the distance.
    Liane laughed. “I love supernatural races!”
    Boaz gave a low whistle. When the wolf jogged over, he said, “What do you say, Hunwald? You think you can beat me in a race?”
    Hunwald cocked his head.
    Boaz stood up. “I accept your dare.”
    Liane walked to the edge of the patio, where concrete met grass. “Here is the starting and finish line. You must each pass it three times. The first one to do so wins.” She frowned at Hunwald. “Does your dog understand?”
    Hunwald growled.
    “He’s a wolf, not a dog,” Boaz told her. “And yes, he understands perfectly.”
    “This ought to be interesting,” William said from behind me.
    Boaz and Hunwald both stepped up to the line. They looked at each other, and I swore I saw Hunwald smile.
    “On your mark,” I said. “Get set, go!”
    Hunwald and Boaz took off together, trailing the edge of the forest. We could just barely see them, two shadows that looked more like they were out on a nightly run instead of being in the middle of a race.
    Liane frowned as they both ran past us on their first lap. “You run like bunch of old ladies,” she called after them.
    Boaz looked down at Hunwald, grinned, and then was off. He raced near the line of trees faster than I’d ever seen anyone run, but when he reached his home, he jumped onto the stone exterior and scurried along it like a spider. Hunwald had also picked up speed and was right below him, his powerful hind legs propelling him forward. In a matter of seconds, the two became a blur as they raced around the final lap.
    Liane burst out laughing, William snorted, and I just stared in awe. When they both finished the final lap, they stopped abruptly at the edge of the concrete. There was no slowing down or screeching of feet. They simply stopped moving.
    “Who won?” Boaz asked, not out of breath in the least. Hunwald, however, let his tongue hang from his mouth and panted heavily.
    “Honestly, I’m not sure,” I said.
    Liane clapped. “Perfect! A kiss for both winners.” She bent down and tried to hug Hunwald, but he backed