Jim ambled over, plopping itself down at her feet.

I glanced at the demon. ‘‘Er . . .’’

‘‘Jim, shoo,’’ Aisling said, correctly reading my thoughts.

‘‘What? I’m not doing anything!’’

‘‘You’re making May uncomfortable. Go see what the boys are doing.’’

‘‘Whatever it is, it won’t be nearly as interesting as this,’’ it answered.

‘‘Oh, it doesn’t matter, I guess,’’ I said with a tight smile. ‘‘Jim might have some helpful insights as well.’’

‘‘I’m all over helpful insights, sister,’’ it told me with an oddly endearing grin. ‘‘What’s the problem? You can tell Dr. Jim. Is it something in the romance department? Need some advice on how to handle Gabriel?’’

‘‘No, thank you—’’

‘‘Ah. Then it’s the sex, right? Fiery, animalistic, dragon sex too much for you?’’

It was difficult to keep from rolling my eyes. ‘‘Thank you, my sex life is not open to—’’

‘‘What’s the silver dragon element? Earth?’’ Jim’s face screwed up as it thought. ‘‘Oh, man, that means he’s gonna want to do it outdoors all the time. Buck naked in the wilderness. My advice is to take sunscreen and bug spray. And maybe a spatula or something to dig the sand out of your butt crack, in case he takes you to a beach.’’

‘‘Jim!’’ Aisling said, wrapping her hands around the demon’s muzzle. She shot me an apologetic look. ‘‘I’m so sorry. It knows better than to offer unwanted sexual advice.’’

‘‘Just trying to be helpful,’’ it said in a muffled voice.

‘‘Well, you’re not. And you can just be quiet unless you have something of importance to offer to the conversation,’’ Aisling told it as she released its muzzle. ‘‘Go on, May. Tell me what it is you want.’’

‘‘It’s about demon lords,’’ I said softly, glancing toward the open door. No one was visible, but I wanted to avoid Gabriel overhearing us.

‘‘Oh, that’s right—your twin said you were bound to one,’’ Aisling said, nodding. ‘‘Are you having a problem with . . . er . . . which one is it?’’

‘‘Magoth.’’

She thought for a moment, and then shook her head. ‘‘I don’t believe I’ve met him.’’

‘‘You’d remember if you did,’’ I said with a little laugh. ‘‘He’s very attractive.’’

‘‘If you like the smoldering, sensual, silent-movie-actor type,’’ Jim said with a sniff as it licked down the fur on one paw.

‘‘He looks like a smoldering, sensual actor?’’ Aisling looked somewhat startled.

‘‘He was a silent movie actor, but that was only a phase he was going through.’’

Aisling mentioned the name of a famous actor of the 1920s.

‘‘That was him. He was always a ham. But that’s not the issue. My problem is . . .’’ I checked the hallway quickly. It was empty. ‘‘Is there any way for someone to disobey a direct order you give? A demon, that is.’’

Aisling blinked a couple of times.