Ten Lows A-Leaping: An Imp World Story Read online

  She did like humans. And she liked this Low. A lot.

  “So you’re to get a kiss when this twig is over top of your head, even though we’re not in a doorway?” she asked.

  His breathing turned fast and shallow. “Yes. We’ll have to imagine the doorway.”

  “What do we do afterward? Are we supposed to eat the leaves or something?”

  “I think they’re poisonous,” he confessed. “I’m willing to give it a try if you are. Or perhaps we could just keep kissing?”

  Beatrix stared at him solemnly. “We should keep kissing, to practice. Because these human customs don’t come easy to us angels, and it’s important to perfect the experience.”

  “Yes,” he breathed. “Lots of practice.”

  She bent forward, hesitating just a moment to share his breath before gently brushing her lips against his. Pulling back, she looked down at his yellow eyes, feeling oddly giddy, out of control, naughty. Then she took the twig from his hands and examined it, running her fingers over the glossy leaves, and sharp, brittle bark. It was poisonous. Leave it to humans to imbue such a tradition with a plant that would make them very sick, or quite possibly kill them.

  Raising the stick up, she placed it on top of her head. “My turn,” she told Snip, reaching out to touch the crumpled bow on his chest. “And Snip? I think out of all your presents, I like this one best of all.”

  Acknowledgments

  A huge thanks to my copyeditor Jennifer Cosham whose eagle eyes catch all my typos and keep my comma problem in line, and to Damonza, for cover design.

  Most of all, thanks to my children, who have suffered many nights of microwaved chicken nuggets and take-out pizza so that Mommy can follow her dream.

  About the Author

  Debra lives in a little house in the woods of Maryland with her sons and two slobbery bloodhounds. On a good day, she jogs and horseback rides, hopefully managing to keep the horse between herself and the ground. Her only known super power is 'Identify Roadkill'.

  debradunbar.com

  Also by Debra Dunbar

  The Templar Series

  Dead Rising

  Last Breath

  Bare Bones

  Famine’s Feast

  Dark Crossroads

  The Imp Series

  A Demon Bound

  Satan’s Sword

  Elven Blood

  Devil’s Paw

  Imp Forsaken

  Angel of Chaos

  Kingdom of Lies

  Exodus

  Queen of the Damned (Late 2017)

  Half-breed Series

  Demons of Desire

  Sins of the Flesh

  Cornucopia

  Unholy Pleasures

  City of Lust (Late 2017)

  Imp World Novels

  No Man’s Land

  Stolen Souls

  Three Wishes

  Northern Lights

  Far From Center

  Northern Wolves

  Juneau to Kenai

  Rogue

  Winter Fae

  Bad Seed