It was a sooty gray color, standing about two feet tall, with a face like a bulldog, bright yellow eyes, and shiny red horns. I screamed and backed away, but the creature lunged at me, wrapping muscular arms around my leg. I expected to be mauled, but it just hung on, refusing to be dislodged even when I tried to shake it off.

“Azir, a little help, please,” I said.

The demon laughed. “Relax, he’s just excited to meet you. Eddie, this is Dork, one of my most trusted imps.”

“Dwerk,” the creature hugging my leg grunted.

“I beg your pardon?” I said, arching an eyebrow. The imp looked up at me, his wide, down-turned mouth cracking open to expose nubby yellow teeth.

“My name is Dwerk,” he said, his voice surprisingly deep. “Not Dork.”

“Whatever,” Azir said, hopping down from the counter. “I’ll see you in two hours and I expect good reports from both of you.”

“Wait,” I said before he could flame away again, “I wasn’t kidding. This isn’t a good time. I have...company.”

“Yes, I can smell him,” Azir said, “and it won’t be long before your neighbors do, too.” He gave me a pointed look.

“I was afraid of that,” I said, running a hand back through my hair. “I just don’t know what to do about him. He’s been through so much.”

“Oh, boo hoo,” Azir said, rolling his eyes. “He’s a demon. He’ll get over it.”

“You weren’t in the car,” I said, shaking my head. “You didn’t see the panic on his face.”

“Shame. I’m sure it would have been good for a laugh.” He glanced down at Dwerk, still holding tight to my leg. I was starting to lose feeling below my knee, my toes tingling. “Dork, get off of him. We’re leaving.”

The little imp began to bawl, a sound somewhere between a dog howling and a police siren.

“See what you’ve done?” Azir asked, gesturing to Dwerk.

“This isn’t my fault,” I said, reaching up to cover my ears as I raised my voice to be heard over the noise. “You should have checked with me before you brought him!”

Suddenly, the incubus rushed into the kitchen, water dripping from his hair and a towel wrapped around his narrow waist. I was shocked by the dark bruises marring his pale skin, and the shadow of each rib down his …