The glitter in his eyes fizzles, the corner of his lips twitching. “You know, usually when someone insults me, I curse them … or eat them, depending on my mood.”
“I’m already cursed,” I reply in a bored tone. “And you won’t eat me. I’m rotting. Expired. Outdated. Spoiled meat.”
“Who says I don’t find all those things tasty?” His brow arches. “I am a demon, after all, and according to the little society you work for, all demons are disgusting creatures that should be eliminated.”
“I’m not part of the society anymore,” I mumble grumpily. “I stopped being a member the moment I became this hideous beast. Or, well, the moment I died, I guess.” My lips turn downward. “And if you want to eat me, go ahead. It’s better than rotting away.”
He rubs his lips together, struggling not to smile.
I grind my teeth. “What’s so funny?”
He shrugs. “It’s nothing.” He shakes his head, removing his almost smile. “Look, I promise I’m not lying about slowing down your decaying process. It’s going to take some time, though, and we may have to go to a few places. But the first step is heading to my lair as we speak.” He rests his elbows on the table as he leans forward. “And I promise that, for now, I won’t eat you, even though I bet you’re pretty tasty.”
His words sound as though they carry a hidden innuendo, but I’m probably just misreading him. Sure, when I was a witch, guys flirted with me all the time. But who the hell is going to want me now when I look like a walking, rotting corpse, other than another walking, rotting corpse?
He grins at my silence, reclining back in his chair. “As for your name, I’m going to keep calling you my little zombie pet because I like the sound of it. And you’re my pet now, so it’s fitting.”
“I’m not your pet.” Sure, I may feel like I am, but he doesn’t need to know that.
His eyes twinkle once again. “If that’s what you need to say to make yourself feel better.”
“Okay, faerie eyes.” I smile haughtily.
He mirrors my smile. “You know, you’re quite fun when you’re hungry. It brings out a feisty side of you that’s”—he mulls over something, wetting his lips with his tongue—“appetizing.”
I point a finger at him. “You swore you wouldn’t eat me.”
He smiles wickedly. “And, for now, I won’t.”
Sounds like another innuendo.
I roll my eyes at my mental thoughts. Yeah right, Ryleigh. No male creature that’s not half rotted away is ever going to want you, let alone the most attractive demon you’ve ever seen. Besides, you shouldn’t be worrying about guys. You should be focusing on getting your skin to stop molting.
I heave a sigh. “If your first step isn’t going to be here for a bit, can I eat again?”
“I don’t have any brains in stock, but some should be arriving shortly.”
“You ordered me brains?” I’m oddly touched and sort of grossed out by my sentiment.
He gives a nonchalant shrug. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But thanks, anyway.” I smash my lips together as a few droplets of blood drip from my eyes, a sign my hunger is about to consume me. If I don’t feed soon, I am going to end up eating Max’s pretty little brain. “So, do your dragon fire snake babies hang out in your living room a lot?”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “I knew you ate it.”
“I did not,” I lie. “I’m just curious where they hang out. You know, so I can avoid them.”
“Oh, yeah?” Max asks. “Then why do you have one of their scales stuck in your hair? It’s been there since you were in my living room. You know, right after one of my pets went missing. And oddly, you had some brain on your lips and an overfed look in your eyes.”
“I didn’t … I don’t … I …” I wipe the blood dripping down my cheeks, feeling like a moron.
Seriously, who eats someone’s pet’s brain?
Embarrassment ripples through me, and my cheeks flood with warmth. A complete shock, since zombie’s bodies always run cold. Plus, we’re pretty emotionless except for when we’re hungry and cranky.
Max’s brows crinkle as he studies me. “Weird.”
My embarrassment grows. “What? Did I lose an eye or something?”
He shakes his head. “No. You’re just blushing, I think.” He extends his hand across the table and strokes his fingers along my peeling cheek. “I’ve never seen a zombie blush. Didn’t think they could.”
“Maybe they can in the right circumstances. I mean, I was able to cast spells back when I had my wand, and that’s definitely not a zombie trait.” I lean into his touch, loathing my reaction, that I’m acting so needy. But after being dead for weeks, and then being revived into a brain-eating monster, I’m starved for physical connection.
He wavers, sucking on his lip piercing. “Maybe after we reverse your decaying process, we should look more into who turned you. It might be good to know just in case they try to return for you. And we might be able to learn more about you. I’m pretty sure you might be the first of your kind.”
I sigh exhaustedly. “I’m just a zombie. Nothing special.”
He sweeps his thumb along my cheekbone then clears his throat and withdraws. “You can cast spells and blush. For a creature who supposedly can only focus on eating brains, that’s quite extraordinary. Perhaps you’re some sort of hybrid zombie-witch?”
Speaking of hybrids … “Aren’t you already preoccupied with another extraordinary creature? Goes by the name of Evalee, or as you called her, your little rainbow trout? Tell me, faerie eyes, why did you ditch her at the tent?” I measure his reaction carefully.
He rolls his tongue in his mouth, either to bite back a smile or his anger. My bet is the latter. “Because my plans changed.”
“That’s awfully flaky of you.”
“I’m a demon. We’re known for our flakiness.”
“And for being liars.”
He smirks. “You’re quite clever for a zombie.”
“Don’t change the subject. Something happened, didn’t it? That’s why we took off from that tent without Eva.”
A brief frown touches his lips, but then he plasters on a wicked smile. “You should be grateful I changed my mind about taking her. If she were here, you probably would’ve eaten her brain, just like you did with my poor pet.”
Guilt crushes down on my chest. “I didn’t mean to eat it … I just …” Sniffling, I rise to my feet. “I think I should leave.”
His eyes widen and, as swiftly as a transporting vampire, he reaches out and captures my arm. “You’re crying.”
“Let me go.” I yank my arm, attempting to get away.
He tightens his grip. “Zombies aren’t supposed to be able to cry, yet here you are, crying. Just like you blushed. Just like you can cast spells.” He tugs on my arm, forcing me to face him. “You’re not a normal zombie.”
I huff in frustration and in hunger. “Then, what am I?”
“I have no idea, but we need to find out.” He traps my palm against the table and looks me in the eyes. “Until then, I don’t think you should run off anywhere. It might be too dangerous.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Since when do demons care if other creatures are in danger?”
He rubs his lips together. “They don’t.”
I open my mouth to blast him with questions, when the ding of the most ominous bell I’ve ever heard echoes through the lair.
Max releases my hand, a trace of a smile pulling at his pierced lips. “And step one has arrived.”
“Huh—”
A tall, cloaked demon enters the room. Followed by another. And another. And another. Before I know it, at least half a dozen demons surround me, all wearing evil smiles on their corpse-like faces, including Max. Well, except for his face isn’t corpse-like. No, unfortunately, he has a lovely, lovely face.
“All right, who’s ready to kill a zombie?” Max asks, rubbing his hands together.
&nbs
p; Shit. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted a demon.
I start to step back when they close in on me. I’m left with nowhere to go.
3
Max
At this point, I bet I can guess what you’re thinking. That I’m a demon asshole who probably killed my little rainbow trout and is now going to kill my new little pet, the hybrid in question witch-zombie.
Newsflash: I may be an asshole, and yes, I’ve killed other creatures before, but I have no intentions of permanently killing my little zombie pet, nor did I kill the weirdly pretty witch with the rainbow eyes. No, that was done by another creature. One even my demon super senses couldn’t track. Which means, whatever flew into that tent was beyond fast. And didn’t have a soul, a rare trait in the paranormal world. Even demons have souls.
While demons may be monsters, we know better than to hang around where soulless creatures are lurking, hence the reason I took off so quickly. I haven’t yet told Ryleigh about her fake sister’s death, mostly because upsetting a hungry zombie could result in me losing my pretty head. Plus, Evalee could still be hanging around in spirit form. At least, that’s what I sensed right before I split. Until I’m certain, I’d rather keep the information to myself to avoid being a zombie’s all-you-can-eat buffet.