“Disgusting,” I mumbled as I ran my fingers over my suit jacket, making sure every line was in place. I eyed the purple handkerchief. It looked fine but I felt compelled to redo it anyway. It would be easier if I just did it instead of the constant niggling until I finally and inevitably gave in.

I sighed. I wasn’t usually this bad but I was on edge tonight because Lacey was here. I’d been anticipating this moment for a long time. Longer than the other two realized.

Slipping up wasn’t an option tonight–there could be no cracks in the facade. I moved towards the exit but looked at the mirrors over the sinks as I went. As I passed each one, the demon smiled nefariously at me.

Tonight would be hard.

I pushed from the room, gliding down the hall towards the main casino floor. I hadn’t eaten in too long and it made me worried.

“That’s not true,” the demon whispered in my head. Fuck, I had fed, hadn't I? A tiny little taste of Puca. His pleasure tasted like fresh, earthy moss. Clean and refreshing. Despite that little slip-up, I was still starving. I tried to suspend my hunger for lust as long as possible. This time, I feared I might have gone too long and let myself get too hungry. The demon was ravenous and offering him even a small treat was dangerous.

Before I hit the end of the hall, a body came into view. Dullahan was large and imposing, his frame taking up the entire exit. I blew out a breath. Dullahan was a conundrum. He could calm me down and help me like no one else could.

However, I found it very difficult to control myself with him. Something he didn’t know. I feared that if I told him he’d back away. If he backed away then who would I be left with? Even if I had an alternative though…I wouldn’t want them.

Dullahan had taken me in when I was eighteen and living on the streets. He, of course, wasn’t the first to offer me help but something about him made me accept. It was how he looked at me, like a person instead of a snack. There had been no lusty haze in his eyes and he hadn’t tried to touch me.

I wasn’t a fool. I knew no one was immune. Dullahan hid it though, acting as if he felt no attraction. I appreciated that more than anyone knew. He made me feel almost normal. However, each day I stayed close was just one day closer to me ruining what we had. The moment I lost control was the day Dullahan would certainly leave. I heard the distant dark chuckle of my demon in my head like a warning lick of thunder heralding the coming storm.

Shoving my hands in my pockets, I came to a stop near Dullahan. I gave him the briefest look over before turning my eyes away. He looked like an ex-con biker that came to terrorize the rich people in the casino.