“Minias smiled. Great. Another charming demon. I sort of prefer the insane ones.”

“I was sure there were demons more dangerous than Minias, but his owing me a favor sounded like the back door into trouble, not the front door out of the same.”

“This can’t happen. Minias said it couldn’t happen. I’m not a demon. It shouldn’t work for me! I’m not a demon!” “Apparently,” Al said, slamming into the bars in time with his words, “you’re so damn close, it doesn’t matter!”

“And don’t try to sell me any crap about the kindly demon. I know three of you now, and you are all evil, insane, or just plain nasty.”

“My eyes narrowed. He wanted me to lie for him? Minias leaned so close to the barrier of ever-after that it buzzed a harsh warning. “If you don’t, I’ll give the public what they expect.” His eyes went to the people clustered at the window. “Proof that you deal in demons ought to do wonders for your…sterling reputation.” Mmmm. There is that. ”

“Winona!” I said, quashing my first initial panic at finding a horned, tailed, demonic creature smiling at me.”

“The demon had trouble remembering what she was doing, but she was powerful, sort of the crazy Wendy of the lost lord-of-the-flies boys.”