In the Demon's Company (Demon's Assistant Book 2) by Tori Centanni Page B

arcane hangout, at least not until we’re somewhere private and he can freak out without causing a scene.
    “No sign of Gabriel,” I say, watching the door like I can will him to come through.
    “Can you get his home address from Azmos?” Cam suggests, putting a ceramic mug of caramel mocha in front of me.
    “Maybe.” I call Az’s number but he doesn’t answer. He never does. What’s the point of having a phone if you just ignore it?
    Cam, Boy Scout that he is, has come prepared with homework. He pulls out his physics text book and gets to work. I doodle in a notebook while I go over everything I know, but it’s not much: there are different types of demons. Xanan helps protect the balance between our realm, the demon realm, and the spirit realm. Azmos’ power is giving people more time. If someone made a deal with him or a creature like him, why would they cut it short?
    Unless Cam hit it on the nose and Mrs. Crane was just freaked out by the existence of demons. A split-second decision to save your own life doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be comfortable with the idea of magic. Some people might have trouble accepting the reality of demons, especially that their life is owed to one. Some people might think it meant they were damned.
    Gabriel arrives an hour later. He spots me immediately and raises his eyebrows, and then he glances at Cam. He sits down in the chair next to Cam even though there’s more room on the bench seat next to me.
    “Hello,” he says, sounding more cheerful than usual. He still looks ragged, like he got caught in a typhoon on the walk over. His coat is slick with rain and his short black hair is pushed up in all directions. The dark smudges beneath his eyes remain. But he smiles and it reaches his eyes.
    “Hi,” Cam says.
    “Gabriel.” He extends a hand. He was not this friendly when he met me. “And you are?”
    “Cameron,” he replies, shaking back. He closes his book and sets his notebook on top of it.
    “Since you’re with her,” he nods at me, “can I assume you work for Azmos as well?” Cam looks scandalized by the accusation but Gabriel doesn’t seem to notice. “And by the way, why exactly does he have a penchant for working with teenagers? That’s a bit twisted, isn’t it?”
    “Cam is my boyfriend,” I say. “He’s just here to keep me company.”
    Gabriel deflates a little. “Of course. Let me go grab a coffee.”
    “He’s…friendly,” Cam says, watching Gabriel head to the register.
    “No,” I say, smirking. “He’s not. I think he likes you.”
    Cam winks at me and smiles mischievously. “Not surprising. A lot of people love the smart, rugged type.”
    “And exactly which part of you is rugged?” I ask, teasingly. Cam might be an athlete, but he’s not climb-a-mountain-and-ski-down-it sporty. Of course, I’m not one to talk. My version of sports is getting off the couch and doing a few jumping-jacks when my legs fall asleep.
    Gabriel returns with a paper cup and sits next to Cam again. “He want more names? Because I don’t have any.”
    “No, actually,” I say. “You know a lot about demons, right?”
    “Yes,” he says, suddenly wary. He taps his fingers against the coffee cup. “Why?”
    I’m unsure how to phrase it. Cam jumps in. “Because we only know two demons and not very well. We were hoping you could answer some questions.”
    Seeing the two of them next to each other, it’s striking how they look like two parts of the same set. Both are tall and thin, though Cam is thin in an athletic way and Gabriel looks more like he’s been eroded down to his bones. Cam’s skin is pale white and Gabriel’s is a rich brown. Cam’s hair isn’t curly like Gabriel’s but it would be if it grew a few inches longer. They both wear thin wire-framed glasses and have strong jaws. I’m not thin or tall, myself. I’m short and have big hips and couldn’t be called skinny. They are two sides of a coin and I’m a crumpled dollar