ExcerptfromTheBoonCollectorbySaraJay

Theclosershegottothekitchen,thehottershefelt.Sweatbegantopearlonherforehead.Tisha
absentlywipeditoffwiththebackofawrist,wonderingwhyherkitchenlightsdimmedsolow.She
didntevenownadimmerswitch.

Theflickeringglowseemedtobemoving.

Justasshedecidedthatshewasseeingthings,Tishafrozeinthedoorwayofthekitchenandstaredin
shock.Feelingfaint,shegrabbedthedoorframe,onlytopullherfingersbackinstantlyfromthe
flickeringglow.

Theentirekitchenwasonfire.

Flamesranfuriouslyupanddownthewallsinvibrantdisplaysoforangeandyellow.Angryredwelts
slashedatherwallpaper,thoughnothingseemedtobeburning.Nosmokecouldbeseen.Theroomwas
simplysetablaze.

ThehairsonthebackofTishasneckleaptup.

Boo,adeep,masculinevoicegrowledbehindher.

Shrieking,Tishaleapedovertheflamesintothelitbutotherwiseemptykitchen.Backingawayfromthe
sourceofthesound,shesawacreaturestraightoutofhernightmares.

Hewasunnaturallytallandmuscularwithaleanathleticframehuggedwithanexpensivelookingsuit.
Longblackhairwildlyframedhisfaceinalionlikefashion,andagoateeofthesameshadeframedhis
quirkedmouth.FieryredeyesthatmatchedtheflamesinTishaskitchenpeeredatherinamusement.
Hecouldhaveeasilybeenahumanwearingcontacts,butthentherewashispurpleblackskin.Andthe
long,roundtippedtail.

Youyourewhatareyou?Tishawailed,coweringbackfromthecreaturehelplessly.Shefelt
behindherforaweaponbutonlyencounteredherburningwallpaper.Oddly,herfingersdidntburn
fromit.Theyonlyfeltwarm.

Themancasuallybrushedoffinvisiblelintfromhisexpensivesuit,sighing.Youknowtheanswertothat
questionalready,Tisha.

Somethingtoldherhewasright.Hedidseemfamiliar,butthatwasabsurd!Whywouldawell,
whateverhewaslookfamiliar?

Howdoyouknowmyname?shedemanded.Shelaterthoughtitwasabitofastupidquestion,ashe
wasinherhouse,afterall.

Iknowalotofthingsaboutyou.Iknowthatyouweresoshytocorrectyourteachersthatfortwelve
yearspeoplecalledyouTriciainsteadofyourgivenname.Iknowthatyoulivedwithadeadbeat
boyfriendforthreemonthsbeforeheleftyouhighanddry,nottomentionpenniless.Iknowyourestill
wonderingwhyyoueverlethimintoyourheart.AndIknowyouregoingtopayhisdebtforme.

Iwhat?Tishadesperatelysearchedaroundtheroomforawayoutbutsawnoescapefromthis
strangedebtcollectorortheapparentarsonhedcommittedinherhouse.Look,Idontknowhowyou
knowallofthatstuffaboutme,butIcanpayyou.IstillhavethehouseIcanmortgage.Please,dont
hurtme.

Idontwantyourhouseoryourmoney.Thepurplehuedmanlaughed.

Hiseyes,sosharpandcruel,crinkledatthecornersinjuxtaposition.Hereallylookedsofamiliarthe
angleofhissquarejaw,thewrynessofhissmile

YourmanbeseechedmeforaboonnotlongagoandIgrantedit.Ihavecometocollect.Sinceheisnt
here,itsyourdutytopayup.

Aparchmentscrollsuddenlyappearedintheair,fullydisplayingJeremystrademarkscrawl.Beforeshe
couldreadit,thefadedcontractrolledupintoitselfanddisappeared.

Boon?Tishatrembled.Youmeanlike,um,awish?Areyouagenie,then?

AwhooshofhotairblewbackTishashairfromherfaceandinstantly,thedarkmonsterstoodrightin
frontofher,toweringoverandnearlytouchingher.

DoIlooklikeagenie,mydear?hemurmuredintoherear.

Demon!shegasped,completelyunawareofwhyshewouldevenguessthatterm.Nowthatshehad
saidit,thewordfitperfectly,butTishahadntgrownupinareligioushousehold.Therewasreallyno
reasonforhertoguessthathewouldbesuchacreature.

Yes,hewhispered,thesoundbreezingpasthercheek.

Youyouwantmysoul,shewhisperedback,closingherpaleblueeyes.

Yes,hebreathed.AndIhavethisascollateralforit.Hepinchedalockofherblondhairbetweenhis
claws.

Wwhatdoesmyhairhavetodowithit?shestuttered.

Yourexmadesurehewouldnthavetopaywhenheprovidedapartofyouforthespellinsteadof
himself.Thedemonshrugged.Ithappenssometimes.Wedemonsarentapickybunch.

No,no!shethought,shakingasatearslippeddownherface.Thiscantbehappening!Itsnotreal.Ill
wakeup,andthiswillallbeabaddream.

Youarewellawake,sweetheart,thedemoncrooned.Sheheardarustleofclothingandopenedher
eyesagain.Thedemonnowstoodnaked,hisclothesmiraculouslyunseenintheroom.
Dazed,shestaredathisbody,abodythatwouldvebeenperfectsavefortheodd,unnaturalcolorand
thetail.Evenso,hislong,leanmusclesrippledacrosshisabdomen.Apairofstrong,boldshoulders
lookedripeforholdingonwhile

Well,whileridingthemonstrouscockhangingbelow,shesupposed.