“I’m already making a mental list,” Roger said, and sounded as tired as I felt.

* * *

Connor had arrived in an SUV, and we walked back to the vehicle at a slower pace than usual. This was the time to heal for the next round, not push. Because I knew there’d be a next round.

“She triggers another ward, and she might bring down an entire neighborhood,” I said.

“She’s shown herself now,” Connor said. “Used her magic. You’ll get her.”

“I damn well will. And I hope it’s before she does more damage. But I don’t think it will be. We don’t have enough information. We don’t know how to stop her—and we certainly don’t have a giant demon-killing machine.”

We reached the car—and saw the Leo’s coffee truck parked a half block farther down.

I made a noise. No coherent words but definitely noise.

“You’ve earned it,” Connor said.

I agreed, so I got the largest they offered. And also a churro, because churros are amazing.

We walked back to his SUV and sat on the curb.

“Late-night human partiers,” Connor said after taking a bite of my churro, “and hungry Sups make the perfect food truck Venn diagram.”

“I’m happy to share the bounty,” I said, sipping my drink. There was a chill in the air—due to weather, not demons—and it paired nicely with hot coffee and the warm shifter beside me. I stretched out my legs, winced at the jolt of pain.

“I still don’t like him.”

I presumed the “him” was Jonathan Black. “This isn’t his fault,” I said. “And he did save my life.”

“I like that less.”

I lifted my brows at the growl in his voice. “You don’t like me being alive?”

He gave me a Very Dry look. “I don’t like you being in danger, but I accept that you will be. I really don’t like a grifter thinking you owe him a favor. He’s dishonest about who and what he is, he has shady clients he won’t identify, and he attacked you.”

“He sounds like a member of a supernatural mafia.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he asked you to come to his place and then the demon appeared across the street.”

“I hadn’t even thought of that, actually. I just figured it was right place, right time. Besides, it wasn’t that close. It was like half a mile away. Don’t look at me like that,” I said, and nearly flicked him. “I really don’t think he knows the demon. His clients, maybe. But that’s another issue. The point is we don’t have any evidence he’s directly involved, and he saved my life. In the meantime, we’ll tolerate him.”

“For now. And only for that reason.” He leaned in, pressed a kiss to my forehead that lingered, as if he needed to maintain the contact to assure himself that I was safe. “If he touches you, I will break his fingers.”