Two

Two

DESI

I thought coming to the human realm was going to be the solution to all my problems, that I'd just know how to attract the ideal eternal partner.

Wrong.

How foolish I'd been.

In Infernis, everyone is so chaotic. Demons don't follow the same type of social norms that humans do. We celebrate sexuality, especially in its rawest forms. All we require is consent, so seeing a demon walk up to someone they don't know and ask if they want to hook up is normal.

I may not be bold enough to operate the way everyone else does in Infernis, but at least I know something about the way the world works.

Here, I am totally clueless.

I heave a sigh and stare at my iPhone, which seems to be a good deal smaller than Jace's. He's been tapping on it between stirring an unknown concoction and taking sips of some drink he says is healthy. I think the juice looks and smells like liquified grass. Why humans choose to torture themselves by consuming disgusting beverages all in the name of fitness, I'll never understand.

I refocus on the problem at hand. Jace and Cannon always seem to be typing on their phones. Even Glen found this house using his phone. Maybe it has the answers I need. I stare down at the little rectangle in my hand and wish an onslaught of terrible things on my brothers. How could they let me come to this realm without teaching me more about the technology humans rely on?

"Can my phone help me find someone to date?" I blurt.

Jace drops what sounds like a large utensil into the sink and it clatters in the metal basin. He curses under his breath, clearly startled, before saying, "You mean like a dating app? I've never used one before."

I chew the inside of my cheek, feeling a little guilty for practically screaming at the man; we have been sitting in comfortable silence for over an hour now. But instead of apologizing, I crack a joke. "My bad, I didn't realize there was also a rule against talking between the hours of six and eight."

His shoulders relax and his face betrays the slightest hint of a smile. "Very funny. I have not imposed a no-talking rule." He glances at me from the corner of his eye. "Yet. I'm just still not used to having anyone around. And you've been so quiet all night." He grabs three dishes from the cupboard and spoons pasta into them. "Dinner is ready. Will you let Cannon know?"

I remove the blanket from my lap and fold it, wishing I could use my power. I hate manually completing all these small human tasks—folding, sorting, and placing. How do they have time for anything fun? It is such a waste of energy, but I can't upset Mr. Clean by leaving it balled on the couch.

Standing at the bottom of the stairs, I yell, "Cannon, dinner's ready."

"I'll be down in a second," he calls back.

Jace rolls his eyes and takes a deep breath as I hop onto the barstool next to him.

"What?" I ask with a shrug.

He doesn't answer but pushes my bowl in front of me. I peer into the dish, all thoughts of Jace's clear annoyance with me forgotten, and a bright smile consumes my face. Fettuccine alfredo. My dad always has the chefs cook it for our Friday night dinners even though he doesn't really like it. "Thank you. This is my favorite food. Look at you. You're already winning on the roommate front. Not that you have much competition. I've only ever had six brothers as roommates, and, well . . . anyone could win against them because they are the literal embodiment of—" I stop myself before I say too much. "Well, they're royal pains in my ass."

"Hey, Jace has some competition now," Cannon says as he enters the kitchen, settling on the barstool next to me and flashing a grin before digging into his pasta. "This smells fantastic, Jace. Thanks."

Jace twirls his fork, wrapping the fettuccine around it, and nods at Cannon before turning back to me. "Six brothers, huh? And none of them ever taught you about cell phones or dating apps?"

I nearly choke on the bite I'd just taken and wipe my mouth with my napkin before speaking. "Six older brothers. They're all sort of a big deal where we come from, so connecting with others was easy for them. I'm the only one on the dating struggle bus."

"I'm an only child. I'll never understand that overprotective big brother thing," Jace says.

"Oh, no, they're not overprotective. Far from it. Things are . . . different where I'm from."

"Isn't that the truth? I'm starting to believe you've been hidden away in some secret compound your entire life. I've never seen someone our age so clueless about technology," Cannon says with a snicker.

I hate that he and Jace think I'm incompetent, but explaining my realm's technology to them isn't possible without blowing my cover. The last thing I have time for is house hunting again when they learn they're living with a demon princess who needs to find a partner to reign beside her for the rest of eternity.

I let out a nervous chuckle. "Right. So, these dating apps . . . you can really meet people on those things? It's not, like, some kind of scam or something?"

Jace snorts into his pasta and Cannon shrugs. "I mean, yeah, it could be a scam, but most of the time there's a real person behind the screen. Dating apps are designed to connect people with common interests. You know, farmers, lovers of hot sauce, gluten-free people, even clowns have a dating app. Some people even meet their person online."

Their person. That sounds like an eternal partner to me. "Their ‘person.' Like, the person they want to be with forever?"

"If you believe in that shit," Jace mumbles before Cannon can answer.

My gaze darts to Jace, and he avoids my eyes. "Oh, and you don't?"

Jace grabs his empty bowl and stands. "There is only right now and the things you can control in this moment. Nothing else matters."

Without another word, Jace rinses his bowl and loads it in the dishwasher before walking out of the kitchen and down a hallway next to the dining room. Then a door clicks shut, and Cannon and I are left in silence. I clear my throat and shift my gaze to Cannon as I continue eating. "Well, that was awkward."

"That's what love can do, Desi. It can turn a man into a jaded human being," Cannon says, shoveling a forkful of pasta into his mouth.

I look down the hall to where Jace disappeared and then back at Cannon. "Wait, what? You think Jace had his heart broken or something, and that's why he feels that way?"

"I'd bet my Lexus on it." That's a steep bet considering Cannon's silver sports car is top of the line. I've never seen anything like it in Infernis, which is saying something because demons have an obsession with fast, decked-out cars.

"But you believe in love. Right?" I ask.

He sets down his fork and turns to me, his eyes bright as they search my face. "Yes, Desi. I believe in love."

A strange feeling gnaws at me, and I force myself to look away and back at my pasta to take the last bite. "I'm glad I'm not the only one. That would make doing what I need to impossible."

"And what is it you're doing exactly?"

I chew the inside of my cheek and deliberate about what to say. I can't tell him too much; I've only known him for a couple of days and there's no way I can trust him—or Jace—yet. So, I tell him a bastardized version of the truth.

"I need to find a person to bring home to my father, a person who is suitable for me to marry. Where I'm from, our family is . . . in the public eye, I guess you could say, and it's important that I—" I clear my throat. "Make a good match. And since I'm in sort of a time crunch, I'm only allowed to be gone a certain amount of time."

"That's right! That explains the ninety days. Sounds like something out of one of those chick-flick movies. Hold on, I bet you want me to think your dad is some kind of politician, but he's actually a king and he's going to bypass all your brothers and crown you queen because he wants his land to be run by a woman of grace and beauty."

"Aww, Cannon, you think I'm beautiful?" I say with an exaggerated sigh.

"No."

The flush deepens and I want to crawl into a hole and dig my way back to Infernis with the fork in my hand. "Oh, no, I know, I was just—"

"You're stunning, Desi. Absolutely stunning."

Now my face is on fire, and I'm not sure what to say to that. No one has ever said something so sweet to me, and when I think of the things I'd want to hear from a man . . .

That would be one of them.

I realize too late that I still haven't responded, and I finally say, "Thank you, Cannon. That's kind of you."

He shrugs and pushes his bowl to the center of the countertop. "It's true. Not to mention I understand what it's like to have parents who have high expectations for you. My dad puts a lot of pressure on me as well. Sometimes I feel like whatever I do it isn't good enough for him."

"Finding a husband is the only difficult thing my father has ever asked of me. I hate feeling like I'm letting him down."

He taps my phone. "Unlock the screen." I do and watch as he goes through a series of steps before a new icon pops up. "That's the most popular dating app. Just follow the instructions and you will be all set to peruse the internet for a date."

"Thank you."

"No problem. See you in the morning, Desi."

"Night, Cannon."

I sigh and get to my feet, pick up our dishes, and rinse them before putting them in the dishwasher, grumbling the whole time because I want to use my power. But it's still too soon. What if Jace comes out of his office? He'd hit the ceiling and then I'd definitely be out on my ass.

With that grueling task done, I settle back on the couch under my blanket and follow the instructions to set up my profile. It isn't long before I'm swiping right for guys who interest me. Most of the men I swipe right on return the gesture, which is a good sign.

For at least an hour I repeat this process, and before bedtime, I have a date set up for tomorrow night. I can't keep a goofy smile from spreading over my face. This is happening far faster than I could've hoped.

When I check the time, it's well past midnight, and my yawns are becoming more frequent. I stand up and reach for the blanket, but I can't help myself. I study the room as I hold my breath, listening for any indication that one of my roommates is coming this way. After waiting several seconds to make sure I won't get caught, I grin and curl my finger toward the blanket. The fabric swoops through the air, and I watch with satisfaction as it drapes itself over the arm of the couch.

My phone pings with another message from the dating app. I snatch it up, hoping it's not my date for tomorrow canceling already.

It isn't. It's a new, totally sexy guy I'd swiped right on, and the message is short.

Hey Desi. You're really gorgeous. Just wondering, are you DTF?

DTF? What does that mean? Racking my brain, I come up empty. I crane my neck up the stairs and see Cannon's light is off. I know he has to work early, so I don't want to bother him.

But Jace's light is still shining under the door down the hall.

Maybe he's working. Or playing more video games. Either way, he's still awake, and I need to know what this message means before I answer. I make my way down the hall and tap lightly on the door.

"Come in."

I crack it open and peek my head inside. Jace is seated behind a desk with a very large computer screen on top. His back is to a wall of shelves adorned with figurines of aliens, warriors, and superheroes. In the center of all his toys is a wooden sign with sharp-edged lettering that reads aftermath designs. The rusted steel wall across from him houses a television, with a fire burning underneath. Two leather chairs sit across from his desk, but don't look as if they've ever been sat in. But it is the wall at the far end of the room that takes my breath away. A floor-to-ceiling window looks into the backyard, where the pool is lit in shades of purple and blue.

He looks up in surprise, his eyes wide behind his glasses. "What's up?"

I slide the rest of the way inside and let the door click shut behind me, then cross over to his desk and lean on the back of one of the chairs.

"Umm, well, I just got a message from a guy on the dating app I downloaded earlier."

"A suitor already?" he asks, sarcasm lacing his voice.

"Uh, yeah, for tomorrow, but this message is from a different guy. Anyway, he said something to me, and I don't know what it means. I was hoping you could help."

"Okay, what is it?" He doesn't bother to look back up from his monitor. With one hand on his mouse, he clicks away at the keyboard with the other.

"He asked if I was ‘DTF.' What does that mean?"

Jace jerks his head up and the room falls silent. He holds out his hand and gestures with two fingers for me to pass him my phone. I give it to him, and he aggressively types away with a disgusted look on his face.

"Problem solved," he says, sliding my phone across the desk.

I snatch it up and read his response.

Nope. I'd rather play in traffic. Next time, man up and ask a girl to dinner first. And I suggest you splurge to make up for the disappointment she's bound to have after she experiences your subpar fucking skills.

A snort escapes me, and I cover my mouth with my palm. "Jace! Okay, clearly it meant something vile, so I'm going to go ahead and thank you for the save there, but come on, tell me. What does it mean?"

"It means ‘down to fuck.' I'm assuming you're not down. At least not directly after a hello."

My nose wrinkles and I shake my head, shoving my phone into my hoodie pocket. "No. Nope. Definitely not. That's—nope." My face is burning, and I push my hair behind my ears. "Thanks, Jace. I appreciate it. I'm glad I didn't just answer him without figuring that out first."

He gives a curt nod and I head for the door.

"Hey, Desi?" I spin around to face him again, and he says, "Be careful. Meet these guys in public places and don't go home with them until you're sure you aren't getting serial killer vibes."

I meet his gray eyes and notice that he's removed his glasses. Now they're even more striking. I've never seen eyes that color before. Shaking my head to clear the random thought, I say, "Right. Of course, sure. I won't do anything stupid."

"It may be a good idea for you to turn on your friend locator, so your brother knows where you are just in case."

I swallow and gnaw on my bottom lip. "Well, actually, my brother is—uh, out of the country. He and Glen left to go on a trip to eat food. Like, you know, one of those things where you just eat . . . a lot."

His eyebrow dips and he drawls, "A buffet?"

"Like, on a global scale, sure. Point being, he won't be any help if I get into any trouble, and I don't know anyone here besides you and Cannon. Well, and Meredith, but we don't know each other like that y—"

"What about your other five brothers?"

Shit, why does he remember everything I say?"They're all there at the, uh, buffet together."

"Okay, that's weird. Get Cannon to turn his on." He pauses and wrinkles his nose. "Never mind. He has an Android."

I mirror his facial expression even though I have no idea what that means. "Yeah, ew."

Jace leans back in his chair, and it tilts with his weight. Folding his hands over his abdomen, he lets out a quick breath. "Put me in your phone and allow me access to your location. If I don't hear from you by ten tomorrow night, I'll shoot you a text, and if you don't answer, I'll send the cops to go find you."

Something about him caring enough to send the cops to look for me warms my heart, but then another thought occurs to me. "What if I'm . . . busy doing . . . other things, and that's why I don't answer? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?"

He shakes his head and rolls his eyes, turning his attention back to his computer. "Then I guess you better text me back before that happens."

"Fair enough. Good plan."

"Glad you approve. Good night, Desideria."

My heart skips a beat at the sound of my full name leaving his lips. He learned how to say it. I've heard it all my life from countless people, and never once has it captured my attention like it does now. Each syllable is like a smooth melody in a low octave. It vibrates through me in all the right places.

It takes the strength of a hundred demons to compose myself and say, "Night, Jace. See you tomorrow."

He nods, and before I can slip out the door, he says, "One more thing: next time you need to know what an acronym means, you know you can google it, right?"

I laugh and nod on my way out the door. "Right, of course. Google."

What the fuck is Google?

I press the heels of my hands to my eyes and lean against the wall at the other side of the hall. I'm ridiculous. Jace is not my type at all. Not to mention, he's made it clear I'm not his. I need to keep focused on those men who are interested in dating me, like the serial killers who require me to turn on my location tracker. I hope my date tomorrow doesn't end in disaster.