“I can think of worse fates.” He glanced at his watch. “Look, it’s been a long day, and we’re both operating on a few hours’ sleep. You’ve got your . . .” He gestured at the strand of freshwater pearls still looped around my neck for the sake of convenience. “Your naiad summoning at dawn?”

“Yeah,” I said. “You want to meet me in the parking lot of the nature preserve? We can hike from there.”

Cody hesitated. “No, I trust you to handle it on your own. That’s the kind of thing the chief brought you on board for. Go home. You can type up your notes later in the morning. I’ll meet with the chief and give him a verbal rundown.”

“Okay.”

I had a feeling Cody was reluctant to venture any deeper into the eldritch community than he already had; although he’d been quick enough to suggest going to the Wheelhouse, a known ghoul hangout. But then, that was only following the evidence.

Oh, hell, who knew? I didn’t pretend to understand men.

Maybe I should ask my father, I thought, and the thought almost made me giggle. The ironic thing was, I did have the means. Belphegor, lesser demon and occasional incubus, had made a pact with my mother. If I summoned him, he would answer.

I knew; I’d done it once, when I turned eighteen. I won’t do it again, not ever. I just had to know whether or not it was true. And it doesn’t summon him to the mortal plane, in case you were wondering. I’m not that stupid. It’s more like . . . Skyping with the infernal realm.

The problem was that Belphegor’s idea of fatherly advice consisted of attempting to convince me to invoke my demonic birthright, at which time great powers of temptation, seduction, and destruction would become mine to wield, and men would fall at my feet in supplication and adoration.

He kind of glossed over the whole part about it causing a full-blown breach in the Inviolate Wall, leading to Armageddon.

I still hear his voice sometimes. When the wall that divides us is especially thin, my not-so-dear old dad likes to show me what I call temptation scenarios.

“Daisy?” Cody snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Lost you there for a minute. See you at the station?”

“Huh?” I shook myself out of my reverie. “Yeah, right. Sorry. I’ll be there as soon as I can tomorrow.”