‘‘Sally, I’m not marrying Magoth—’’ I started to say, but she cut me off with a frown.

‘‘No talking, sugar! I just told you that! Where were we? Oh, yes, how appearances can be deceiving.’’ Her frown deepened somewhat as she eyeballed me. I squirmed in the chair, never comfortable to be the center of anyone’s attention . . . with one notable exception.

My heart gave a little quiver as a familiar ache started within me at the vision that rose in my mind’s eye—a man laughing with utter delight, dimples set in his beautiful latte-colored skin, his eyes flashing like quicksilver. Just the thought of him had my heart speeding up even as I mourned the fact that I hadn’t seen Gabriel in more than a month.

‘‘You look like a normal woman. I have to say that the 1920s flapper hairstyle you seem to enjoy is a bit less than mainstream—but other than that, you look perfectly normal, kind almost, not at all like you were to become Mrs. Demon Lord.’’

‘‘I’m not marrying Magoth,’’ I said without moving my lips.

‘‘Oh, well, consort, marrying . . . it’s all the same thing, isn’t it? Just a smidgen more on your forehead, sugar. You need a lot of exfoliating there. Whatever have you been using on your face? No, don’t answer— let the mask dry. Here, do you want to see yourself?’’ Sally put down her things and peeled off the glove, admiring her handiwork for a moment before offering me a mirror.

I kept my jaw clamped shut as I said slowly, moving my mouth as little as possible, ‘‘No, thanks.’’

She admired her own image in the mirror for a moment, fluffing up a strand of extremely styled blond hair before setting down the mirror, giving me a big sharky smile. ‘‘Well, still, you have to admit that all this is awfully romantic.’’

‘‘Romantic?’’ I asked, my thoughts immediately turning to the dragon in human form who made my knees weak.

‘‘Yes! Terribly so!’’ She must have seen the look of confusion in my eyes, because she continued as she packed a good fifty pounds of cosmetics and accompanying items away into a small pink duffel bag. ‘‘Magoth making you his consort and giving you access to all that goes with such a position, I mean. It’s so incredibly romantic that he wants you so much, he’s willing to overlook the fact that you’re not at all suited for the position. It just goes to show that even a demon lord has his soft side.’’

I rolled my eyes. ‘‘Magoth has no soft side, and he doesn’t want me. Nor have I said I’d become his consort. I’m a wyvern’s mate, and that is where my heart lies, not here in Abaddon with Magoth.’’