TWENTY SEVEN

Azeroth

Something tugs at my chest like there's a lasso looped around me about to yank me off my feet. I stand from my desk and look around the room, but the apartment is silent. No puff of noxious smoke. No Mordicus. Just an achy feeling inside me and the need to do something about it.

I pull my phone from my pocket and check the time. It's only mid-morning, but I haven't heard from Elodie all day. She stayed at her place last night and the night before that.

I didn't enjoy that at all.

At the time, I thought it was for the best, encouraging her to stay away from me until I work out what the fuck to do about Mordicus, but I regretted it. I very nearly transported myself into her bedroom last night just to watch her sleep.

I decide right then I'm going to take her out for a fancy dinner and spend the night with her, even if that means staying at her place. Even if that means sleeping in a circle of salt and flaming torches all night long.

I send her a quick text to see what she's up to.

Azeroth: are you busy later? I'd like to take you out.

When there's no answer after five minutes, I ring, but she doesn't answer that either. The achy feeling gets stronger and my tail flicks the air. I definitely don't like this. It's more than my lack of ability to delay gratification. It's this feeling. It's connected to her somehow, almost as if I'm still summoned. But we ended the summoning.

The only other thing that could make me feel this way is—

An almighty yank on the connection actually sets me off-balance.

Without thinking any more about it, I disappear and rematerialize right next to her, calling on that feeling to tug me in the right direction. It works perfectly.

Elodie shrieks, clutches at her chest, and almost jumps from the little ottoman she's sitting on. I look around us. We're in the dressing room of a fairly upmarket shop from the looks of it. There's a large mirror, angled so you can see each side, and the front view and a door, which Elodie has locked.

Disappointingly, I find she's fully dressed.

Then I realize she's been crying. Was that the cause of this awful feeling?

"Azeroth! How did you find me?"

"Nevermind that. Who made you cry? How would you like me to smite them?" I brush a lock of hair back from her cheek.

She laughs through the next bout of tears, and it just about rips my heart from my chest. This feeling should have gone away now that I'm right next to her. Instead it's worse than ever.

"This time, it's me who's the asshole."

"I find that difficult to believe."

She looks up at me through watery eyes. "I let my friend down. Again."

I make an irritated huff, bend down and pick her up, then I sit with her cradled in my lap. "I'm sure you didn't mean to."

She rests her head against my chest and lets out a little sigh and, God, I want to stay like that forever. "I didn't, but that doesn't change the fact I hurt them."

I consider this for a while. Good intentions have to count for something, don't they? I'm not sure. I've never had them before. The aching feeling is still there, and now there's a scratchy, niggling feeling at the back of my neck that feels a lot like I've always imagined guilt might feel.

"Well, we'll just buy them an expensive gift. That makes everything better, right?"

Elodie laughs. "That's actually a pretty good idea."

"Good. What's the point of having a demon billionaire lover, if he can't spoil you and your friend?"

Elodie looks shocked. "Oh! No, you can't do that. I mean if the gift is from me, it wouldn't feel right having you pay, but there is something you can help me with."

"Anything. I'm at your disposal."

She beams. "Oh, good. I think you're about the same size as Quinn, so you can be my model."

I twist and gaze at my ass in the reflection. These pants look great. I'm quite taken with the stripe of golden sequins down the sides and the way it contrasts with the sleek black fabric. My ass looks great in them, too, once I made a hole for my tail.

"Your friend will like these," I tell Elodie.

She laughs. "My friend, or you?"

"I have to admit I'm considering buying some. There is something satisfying about the way the sequins change color when you brush them." I demonstrate by brushing my hand down the stripe of sequins for the millionth time, turning them red. "If only codpieces were still in fashion. This would be perfect."

This draws a bark of laughter from Elodie and chases away a little of the tight feeling around my chest.

"Do you think the blouse is too much?" She fluffs the frills of fabric around the collar of the silky golden blouse she had me wear.

I'm less of a fan of the fussy frills, but apparently that's right up Quinn's alley. "You said your friend would like it. You should get it."

She chews her lip. "Easy for you to say, Mr. Moneybags."

"I told you I will pay."

She shakes her head. "Nope. Not happening."

"Is everything alright in there?" A lady calls to us from outside the dressing rooms.

"Of course. I'm just admiring your merchandise," I reply. As I do, I pull Elodie against me and squeeze her ass. "Very nice merchandise."

She smothers a giggle against my chest.

Outside the changing room is a long, silence.

The lady finally says, "OK, well just let me know if you ah... need anything."

There's a quality in her voice that suggests we should probably get changed and go. Instead, I keep fondling Elodie's ass. It's making me hard, though, and there's not much room in these trousers since they were made for women. Luckily, they're stretchy. I haven't worn tight-fitting, stretchy trousers in decades. Not since they were fashionable for men in the early nineteenth century. I had forgotten how practical they are for everything. Except hiding an erection.

Eventually, I untangle myself from her. Not before I've put a smile back on her face by finding every sensitive spot not clothed and kissing it. Turns out, fondling Elodie in dressing rooms is one of my new favorite things.

When we leave the dressing room with a large bundle of things, the shop assistant gives us an awkward smile. "Can I ring these up for you, sir?"

"Actually," Elodie cuts in. "I'm buying." She hands over her card before I can give the assistant mine.

"Better wrap up that pair of trousers for me and get another pair for her," I tell the shop assistant. I could repair the tail hole I made, but I've taken a fancy to them.

When the attendant hurries off to ring up our order, I turn to Elodie. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you to see your friend?"

She shakes her head. "No. I need to go grovel for a while. If they'll even answer the door. I'm not sure they will, but I have to try. I need to show them I'm going to be a better friend."

I scowl. "You are perfect. You shouldn't let anyone make you feel like you're not."

"Far from it, I'm afraid, but you're sweet to say so."

"Will I see you later?"

Elodie chews her lip. "I want to say yes, but it might be late. One of the things Quinn was upset about was the fact I haven't spent much time with them lately, so if I cut them short..."

I sigh. "I understand. In that case I insist on having you all to myself tomorrow. Is that a fair trade?"

She smiles. "That sounds wonderful."

The shop assistant hands Elodie the bags and I lean in to give her a lingering kiss on the cheek. When I pull back, I am rewarded by a soft smile on her face and flushed cheeks.

Perhaps it's good for me to have some time to think. I need to consider what she said about good intentions not being enough.

I still have a lot to learn about being good.