As they walked, they ended up outside the compound holding the kennels. High walls protected the citizens of Hell. According to Marduke, the hounds only rarely escaped since they made the walls more than thirty feet high.

“If I’m going to be yours, no matter what, then why do you want me to say you can have my soul?”

“Something official for the record. Dots and slashes and all that.” He grinned, that of a shark in a suit, a handsome one who oozed trust.

“Can I think about it?” She wanted to run it by Marduke.

“Don’t wait too long.” The devil held out his arms for the baby, who floated back to him. She sneezed in his face. Flames licked his skin. He chuckled. “Daddy’s girl.” And popped out of sight.

Merry wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to the fact the devil had not only chatted with her in person but trusted her with his child. Did that make her his handmaiden? Please don’t let his wife get ideas. The tell-all book, Mother Earth and the Bodies Buried Within the Garden, hinted at those who disappeared after showing too much interest in her husband.

When she’d asked Marduke about the veracity of the claims, all he’d said was, “You should see her roses.”

“Merry?”

Uh-oh. The devil appearing had made her forget her real problem.

Brian stood in front of her, looking expectant. How had she not seen past his shallow good looks to the rot inside?

Which led to her remembering how the devil said she was bad enough to merit the pit. It seemed impossible. Her mom raised her to be a good religious girl. Now she was a woman who’d had a child out of wedlock and lived in sin with a demon.

Who was the real Merry? And what did she want?

Time to find out.

19

“You might want to hustle. Your woman is chatting it up with another dude.” The devil suddenly appeared in the kennel and almost got punched.

“What did I tell you about apparating in here?”

“I’m the Dark Lord. I go wherever, whenever. One of the job perks.”

“Then use it to poof elsewhere.” He finished brushing Terror’s fur and closed the door to his suite. Each hound had more than a single room. They were treated quite well. Better than most of Hell’s denizens, actually.

“I will leave once you do something about Merry.”

“She’s allowed to talk to men.” Even if he didn’t like it.

“Even this man?” The devil glanced around furtively before whispering, “Her ex.”