Why You Should Never Rescue Stray Demons Chapter 37

**KACIA**

“So we’re engaged now?” Oz leans down and whispers into my ear, quietly enough that the barista wouldn’t be able to hear him. I feel my entire face go hot. 

“You were the one groping me in the line. I just… Ran with the scene you set.” I insist. His grin is infuriating. The barista hands over our drinks, still cheerfully chatting about young love, and I pay as fast as I can before we finally escape back to the car. I manage to keep my expression neutral, barely, until we make it outside. But internally? I am screaming. Engaged. I said we were engaged. In public. What the hell was I thinking? It’s ASKING for trouble. Although… The choking sound he made when I said the word wedding? That might be worth every ounce of embarrassment. I practically dive into the driver’s seat and take a moment to breathe before pulling out my phone. Only 43% battery. Seriously? I don’t even USE magic, why does technology hate me so much? It’s totally unfair. I type up a message for Mikey, forwarding all of Amelia’s details, name, workplace, probable connection to Dave, and try to send it. It spins. Fails. I resend. Still nothing. By the fourth attempt, I mash the send button and toss the phone onto the dashboard like it personally betrayed me. Only then does it finally send. Hopefully Mikey actually receives it. If he doesn’t answer soon, I’ll just hunt him down at the station like a normal, non technologically cursed person. To be safe, I pick it up again, turn the sound on and then place the phone out of arm’s reach. Maybe if neither Oz nor I are touching it, the thing will behave for once. I glance at him and his grin is still so smug I want to shove him into traffic. 

“So, exactly when did I propose? Or did you propose to me? That would be very bold of you. Very romantic. Do you think your fae family will approve?” He teases. I glare. 

“Don’t push your luck.” I mutter. He presses a hand to his chest. 

“No luck required, darling fiancee. I’ll start looking for venues. Something tasteful, but demon proof. Maybe a cursed vineyard?” He suggests. I sigh. 

“I swear, if you start talking about matching rings I will stab you.” I say flatly.

“Oh no, no. Not rings.” He pauses dramatically. 

“I’m a demon, we don’t generally do rings, that’s a human thing. We generally get brands, or tattoos. What do you think, Kacia in large letters right across my bicep?” He suggests with a raised eyebrow. I let out a strangled sound that’s half mortified shriek, half laugh. 

“You’re unbearable.” I groan. 

“And yet you just publicly declared your love for me in a café full of witnesses. Don’t worry, I’m flattered.” He says with false sweetness. Then he pauses and continues. 

“I don’t think fae are into rings either, what do they do to show commitment?” He asks. I jerk the car a little bit, not expecting the line of questioning. 

“Are you trying to make me crash this car?” I mutter as we pull out of the lot.

“I was just wondering.” He says with a casual shrug. Oz sips his drink and asks, far too sweetly, 

“So, what now, dear?” His tone drips with mock affection. I roll my eyes. 

“I don’t know. We’ve got Amelia’s name, and some partial names for the blood draining crew. But it’s not enough. And I still haven’t figured out what to do about Angelo. I need to know who owns that damn bar.” I sigh heavily. At that, Oz straightens, instantly more serious.

“Where could we get more information, sweetheart?” He prompts. I shoot him a sideways look. 

“You don’t have to keep calling me pet names just because of what I said in there.” I point out. 

“But if I want to?” He asks, feigning innocence. I groan in frustration. I guess the pet names aren’t really new. At least we seem to be over the awkwardness from the failed kiss last night. Maybe I totally misread that situation after all. I ignore his comment. Barely.

“The police might be able to help.” I say instead. 

“With the bar, with Amelia. I texted Mikey, but who knows if it worked, and I didn’t think to mention the bar. I could just go straight to the station. Someone there will know where he is.” I reason. Oz nods like it’s already decided. 

“Then let’s do that.” He agrees. I glance at him again. 

“Are you sure you want to come? I mean, aren’t you sick of this yet?” I ask. He just gives me a look. Steady. Sure. Like there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. Which is stupid. But it still makes my heart do that stupid skip beat thing. 

“I couldn’t possibly let my darling fiancee deal with all of this alone. I need to prove I can be a good husband.” He announces. I flush red. Oz just sips his mocha like he didn’t nearly cause me to combust. I roll my eyes so hard I nearly run a red light. 

“I cannot believe I’m letting you come with me to the police station.” I grumble. 

“Please, precious. Where else would your loyal fiance be?” He asks innocently. 

“Besides, Mikey has to know we’re registering the marriage before we elope. It’s common courtesy.” He points out. I choke on a laugh and bite back a smile. 

“You are the worst.” I insist. He gives a thoughtful nod. 

“You’re right. We can’t elope. What would your family think? And then there’s my-” He stops suddenly, cutting himself off. I glance towards him and he looks kind of… Sad. 

“Your what?” I ask curiously. 

“My… Best man. I haven’t got one. I suppose you’re claiming Mikey as your maid of honour, so I’ll need another friend.” He announces cheerfully. Somehow I can’t help but think that he was about to say something else. But Oz just continues. 

“Maybe when we find Dave I can ask him, he’s supposedly already invited to the wedding, right?” He points out. 

“You are taking this way too far. I should just kick you out and save myself the trouble.” I complain.

“And yet here you are. Letting me come along. Letting me stay.” His tone dips a little softer, more sincere but still playful. I don’t answer that. I just stare out the windshield as my face burns.

The drive to the station doesn’t take long, but it’s quieter than I expected. I keep waiting for Oz to pick up where he left off with the relentless teasing, but instead, he just… Sits there, staring out the window like he’s deep in thought. Brooding, even. Which is fine, obviously. I’m not disappointed or anything. Just… surprised. And maybe slightly off-balance because when he’s not needling me every ten seconds. Anyway, the guy at the front desk barely glances up when we walk in, just waves us through. I’m here enough that most of the officers don’t question it anymore, even if they do shoot a few curious looks in Oz’s direction. He’s new, tall, and doesn’t exactly blend in. Of course they’re curious. I don’t stop until I reach Mikey’s desk, and thank the stars, he’s there. He looks up and gives me an easy smile. 

“Kaci? Hey. What’s up?” He asks. I sigh, sliding into the seat opposite. 

“So I’m guessing you didn’t get my text?” I ask. He glances at his phone. 

“Nope. You want me to throw it out the window for you again?” He offers. 

“Tempting. But no. I need a favour.” I explain everything I’ve learned about Amelia Lane, the missing barista, and the bar we suspect is connected to the draining crew.

“I can definitely pull Amelia’s address, the bar might take a little longer. I’ll have to check ownership records and maybe call a few people.” He says, already typing. 

“That’s fine, I’ll start with her address.” I reply. Mikey jots it down for me and passes the slip of paper across the desk. I glance at it, perfect. I know the neighborhood. It’s not far. Good thing too, since I’d put my chances of the GPS working on my phone somewhere between ‘unlikely’ and ‘laughable.’ Then Mikey’s gaze slides past me to where Oz is lingering behind me, looking around the station curiously. 

“You playing sidekick today, Oz?” Mikey asks, light and casual. I don’t even have time to groan before Oz perks up, eyes gleaming with mischief. 

“Oh no, I’ve been upgraded to fiance.” He says cheerfully. I groan for real this time. 

“Don’t you dare start this again.” I threaten. Oz ignores me, of course. His grin widens.

“I’m just saying, she’s already holding my hand in public, inviting strangers to our wedding reception…” He trails off, grinning at me. Mikey doesn’t miss a beat. 

“Congratulations. I’ll buy you a fancy tea set or something.” He says dryly. Oz looks momentarily disappointed by the lack of shock, but Mikey’s got that smug little glint in his eye, the one that says he knows something that we don’t. Of course, he doesn’t TELL us what. He just keeps typing.

“Thanks…” Oz replies, recovering. 

“You’re both impossible.” I mutter. They ignore me.

“Also, she hasn’t denied being madly in love with me all morning.” Oz adds.

“I’ve threatened to stab you. Several times.” I remind him. He winks. 

“That’s just your way of saying you adore me.” He reasons. Mikey snorts and shakes his head, but doesn’t look up from his screen. 

“I’m rooting for you Oz. This is gonna be such a disaster.” Mikey says fondly. Unfortunately, I think I’m starting to agree.