”…What happened?” Una asked, coming up behind her and placing her hand on her shoulder and then moving closer to her when she felt no resistance from her friend.

Demona relaxed back against Una’s familiar warmth. ”Too much, probably. It’s a long story.”

”One that ends in you being deposited on our doorstep in the company of a human?” Una asked softly. ”…One whom you felt the need to kiss goodbye, as you would a lover?”

Demona stiffened a little at that. Of course she would know that. There were security cameras, listening devices. She would have seen and heard everything that had passed between her and Elisa Maza in front of their home. Why had she not considered that? And why had she not called when she’d be late retuning? The answer was obvious of course. The charming police detective she’d met last night had affected her even more than she’d let herself realize. ”Yes.” She finally replied. ”One that ends that way, obviously.” She acknowledged softly, walking forward and going to sit on the bench by the window where she and Una often had their talks. Her pet, the ’dog’ she’d told Elisa of, asleep in stone form at her feet; she patted his head absently, perhaps to comfort herself. She treasured him very much, more than she could even say; after more than eight hundred years on her own, without any of her own kind for company, he had been a very welcome relief from her loneliness when she’d found him and managed to secure his release from a curse. The simple, wordless, uncomplicated affection and acceptance he’d given her, and the memories of happier times he stirred in her, had truly been a balm for her soul that she’d needed more than she would have been prepared to admit to anyone.

Una followed. Demona watched as the other woman folded her wings around her shoulders and sat down next to her. ”I don’t suppose you, of all of us, need to be reminded how dangerous it can be, to involve yourself with one of them?” Una offered a little cautiously.

Demona raised her gaze to meet her friend’s. ”In this case, perhaps I do.” She confessed.

”I… have to admit, it was something of a shock… to see you like that.” Una supplied. ”I never would have expected it… There was Fox of course, but she is Avalonian, at least on her mother’s side. You know that I don’t believe all humans wicked, of course… It’s only…”