“You say that, but I know you’re not all bad.” I turned to him then, catching the corner of his eye. “You made me pancakes. You brought me Hendrix. And you didn’t want me to walk alone at night. If you were evil, you wouldn’t have done any of those things.”

“If someone kills you, you won’t be able to fulfill your end of our deal,” he said with a wicked smile. “And the other two things were nothing but bribes. You hate me, understandably so. I thought if I dulled your sharp edges then you would be easier to handle. I don’t have time to deal with your sarcastic pouting all the time.”

A low growl rumbled in my throat as irritation stormed through my veins. “And you wonder why I hate you.”

“I don’t wonder at all. I’m an evil, vicious demon who likes to steal souls.”

I rolled my eyes. “Being a demon is not your worst offence.”

Slowly, Asmodeus pulled back. A strange expression flickered across his face, one I couldn’t read. “You know, most human girls would go running and screaming in the other direction. You seem abnormally calm about this.”

Shrugging, I tried to avoid looking too deeply into his ice blue eyes. I didn’t like how they made me feel, like I was completely bare before him. “Like I said, I’ve known about supernaturals all my life.”

“That doesn’t explain it,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “You didn’t know I was a demon until tonight. Why aren’t you scared?”

“I don’t know,” I said with a sigh. “I don’t trust you or like you very much, but that’s less about what you are and more because you’re a total dick.”

His lips twitched, and he pulled me close once more. My heart thundered against my ribs, and I hoped he couldn’t feel the tremor of it. “I should be annoyed at you for that one.”

“So, be annoyed. I don’t care.”

“I know you don’t.” He chuckled. “You really aren’t afraid of me, are you?”

Hmm. I wasn’t sure that was entirely accurate. There was still the small chance that he was involved in a bunch of murders, but that didn’t explain why he’d spared me when he’d had a dozen chances by now. Unless Serena was right. He needed something from me. Maybe after he got it, he’d kill me then.

My gut twisted, although fear didn’t flood me with adrenaline. I just felt mildly uneasy. Not scared. Deep down, I didn’t think Asmodeus was a killer, despite what the angels said. I also didn’t think he wanted to steal my soul. The contract had been insurance and nothing more. To get me to do what he needed.

Not that it made it right.