But Esther waved me off, approaching the two smug little terrors, one hand outstretched. She squatted down, letting them sniff her palm.

“She fancies herself a bit of an animal whisperer.”

I jumped, almost breaking my ankle again, to find Jules standing beside me. She held Luci out to me. Despite her angelic attire, my sweet little girl was looking mighty put out to be up in arms and not on the floor with her two black-furred beaus.

“Right?” I mumbled, a tinge of doubt in my tone. Although who was I to be sceptical? My soul was on layby, and I still had two repayments left to get it back. And a ball to attend, a slutty demoness to impersonate, and a devil prince to woo, in order to do so.

But as I watched, and those two Hell Hounds in disguise met her eyes with the sort of intense focus that I’d only ever seen ferrets manage when they wanted something from the garbage bin, I started to wonder. And when the one with the white spot on its nose nodded once—I couldn’t even deny it was a proper nod—and Esther nodded back, a prickle of cold slithered up my spine.

Was she really talking to them? I mean, I knew they could communicate with people, when they wanted to. And would she just assume it was her ‘animal whispering’ ability?

Esther tugged a ferret treat from her pocket, split it in two, and while they munched, she stood, dusting off her hands and reaching for her camera.

“They can stay,” she announced and shooed me back towards the backdrop. “Lift Luci up above your head and kiss her nose.” Apparently there was to be no further discussion of how two black ferrets with creepy eyes just suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

I silently did as I was told, my hands trembling enough that I squeezed a grumpy Luci too tightly. She nipped at my finger—a warning—and I eased my grip.

Why the Hell were they here? Had he sent them to check up on me? Was he watching? Could he see me right now?

Forget cold! My body was suddenly aflush with warmth at the thought of him, spying through a portal at me in this skimpy corset.

A pang of disappointment rocked me at the thought. I’d rather him get the first glimpse of me in this getup when I walked through that portal into Hell tonight. Like when the groom saw the bride for the first time when she appeared at the end of the aisle.

I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity.

“Ooh yes, that looks like she’s coming down from heaven to bestow her sweetness upon the misguided demoness! I love it!”

Click went the camera. Hiss went Luci, who just wanted to hang out with her besties.