All of the marshals, even Thierry, were so eager to settle the blame on Harlow’s shoulders that they didn’t seem to grasp how hypocritical it was for them to cast blame. “There might not have been a black mark at all if she had gotten help when it first became obvious she needed it.”

“That’s part of the problem.” Her forehead puckered. “She shouldn’t have needed help.”

I scoffed, about to call bull. Harlow had been one girl pitted against a monster.

“Hear me out.” Thierry splayed her fingers in a peacekeeping gesture. “Merfolk rule the deep. They hold dominion over other aquatic creatures. A mermaid should have had that kraken eating out of the palm of her hand. Or at least been able to corral it until we cleared the scene. But Harlow went in search of the local mermaid pod and instead roused the beast into a killing frenzy.” She lowered her hands. “She seems like a nice kid, but…” Her exhale sent a straw wrapper skittering. “I’ve already filed a report. I can’t, in good conscience, allow her to be assigned to another case until she’s more forthcoming about her background and her limitations.”

A burst of rock music pelted the air, too loud to be coming from outside the privacy spell. My phone’s ringtone was much more sedate. That must be Thierry’s. “Do you need to get that?”

“Nah.” A smile split her cheeks when she read the caller ID. “It’s Shaw, but he can wait.”

“If something’s come up at work…” Food or no food, I was ready to ditch the pretense and call it a night.

“We’re off the clock in half an hour.” She tapped the cell’s screen. “If I pick up, then he’ll stick me with being in charge of bringing home dinner, but I know better than to answer him this late in our shift.”

“Home,” I echoed.

“We’re mated.” A mischievous glint lit her eyes as she muted her phone. “We’ve been living together for a whole glorious week.”

Of all the things she had told me tonight, this one took the cake. “You mated Shaw?”

“Yep.” She pocketed her phone and pulled out a slim wallet. “For better or worse, he’s all mine.”

That explained a lot and nothing at all. Incubi mated? For how long? To what end? Thierry must be a bold woman to trust an incubus with her heart. I got the feeling if he ever strayed, she would light him up like the Fourth of July. Maybe that made him the bold one.

After tossing a few bills on the table for a tip, she glanced up at me. “Will you be leaving tomorrow?”