The demon backed away with a deep-in-thought, toe-to-heel motion. White-gloved hand to its chin, it eyed me with a new intentness, giving me the sensation that it could see through me as easily as I could see through those green candles I had lit, not knowing what they were for. Its quick shift from anger to surprise to an insidious contriving went right to my core, shaking me.

“Well now, let’s not be hasty,” it amended, its brow furrowed as it glanced at the gadget-strewn watch that appeared on its wrist the instant it looked down. The watch was a twin to Nick’s. “What to do, what to do. Kill you or keep you? Hold to tradition or bow to progress? I do believe the only thing that will stand up in court is to let you decide.” It smiled, and an unstoppable shiver shook me. “And we do want this to be legal. Very, very legal.”

Frightened, I slid down the counter to tuck into Nick. When did what was legal mean anything to a demon?

“I will not kill you if you summon me without a circle,” the demon said abruptly, its heels making a sharp tap on the linoleum as it backed up, excitement showing in its jerky motions. “If I’m right, I will be giving you this anyway. We’ll know soon.” It grinned wickedly. “I can hardly wait. Either way, you’re mine.”

I jumped as Nick took my elbow. “I’ve never heard of a promise of safety without a circle,” he whispered, his gaze pinched. “Ever.”

“That’s because it’s only given to the walking dead, Nick Sparagmos.”

The bad feeling in the pit of my stomach started working its way upward, tightening every muscle on the way. There was nothing on this God-stinking earth worth a risk-free summoning, but it gave me that instead of absolving me from my debt? Oh, that had to be good.

I had overlooked something. I knew it. Resolute, I pushed the feeling aside. I’d made bad deals before and survived them. “Fine,” I said, my voice quavering. “I’m done with you. I want you to go directly back to the ever-after with no deviations along the way.”

The demon glanced at its wrist again. “Such a harsh mistress,” it said elegantly, in a grand mood as it opened the freezer and took out a frozen box of microwave fries. “But as you’re in the circle and I’m out here, I’ll leave when I damn well please.” Its white-gloved hand was enveloped in a red smear, clearing to show the fries steaming. Opening the fridge, it frowned. “No ketchup?”

Two p.m., I thought, glancing at the clock. Why was that important? “Nick,” I whispered, going cold. “Take the batteries out of your watch. Now.”

“What?”