“Sure, but you’re not taking into account that I expended a lot of energy taking out those hooded figures.” I paused as his eyes lit up at my explanation as if he believed whatever I said. “Which reminds me, do you know who those hooded people are?”
“Oh, they looked like some of my uncle’s lackeys. I’m guessing you tripped some kind of outer layer trigger, and he sent out people to go find the cause and exterminate it.” I blinked, making sure my face didn’t change, just nodding like everything he told me was normal, even though there was a lot of information to unpack from that single sentence.
“And before you go thinking that you can go get your buddies, come back here, and storm this hideout, I will tell you that you won’t be able to find it. You have to have this”—he turned, motioning to the circle with a smoky-looking D in the center—“to even see, let alone get into the entrance.”
This time, my eyes widened as I realized that would take a lot of magic to pull off. “Man, he must have a really good mage on staff.”
He nodded, settling his head in my lap as he looked up at me. “The third best. After the Winstales, of course.”
This was too easy, far too easy, and it was making me suspicious. I needed to ask something big, something that he would want to lie about. I didn’t know when I stopped, but he grabbed my hand, closed his eyes, and put it back on his head, telling me to keep running my fingers through his hair. He was like a puppy, begging for the simple thing that brought him pleasure.
He sighed after I resumed my touch. “I really like the look of you in my shirt. Our scents mingled together... Mmmm.”
“Lex?” He gave a closed mouth moan in response. Since he was in such a good mood. “Why did you and your uncle come back if you didn’t want to join the Syndicate?”
His whole body seized up, his face squinching before he rolled off my lap and sat up to face me. His mouth pinched as he glanced at me, then away. This repeated a couple more times as he was clearly uncomfortable telling me. I waited patiently, seeing if he would keep to his promise or not.
He shook his head, looking down at his clenched hands turning white from his tight grip. “Ray, I don’t want to lie to you. I made you a promise, and I would like to keep it, but I ask that you just hear me out first.” He peeked at me from underneath his lashes, and I nodded. He scoffed as his dark pools stared into mine in disbelief. “I’m serious, Ray. I don’t want to get into a physical altercation with you because I would let you beat me to a pulp, and then it would be a hassle to explain that to my uncle.”
I blew out a breath, then looked around the room before shoving my hands beneath my ass and nodding to him. “I will sit on them. This way it will give you a second to dodge a punch if one is coming. Deal?” It was the best I could fucking do.
He nodded, still smiling at me like I was the cutest person on the planet before his lips turned down into a frown. “Look, after we left and were on the run, my uncle and I were basically homeless. Having to keep moving to keep the bosses off our trail.”
I made a single peep, desperately wanting to defend my dad. There was no way my dad wanted him dead, I needed to convince him of that, but Lex glared at me. I wanted the information he was going to give, but I also wanted Lex to trust me. Exhaling deeply, my shoulders slumped as I tilted my chin at him to continue.
“My uncle connected with a mage. I only know him as Kevin, and that’s when plans started to be made about taking down the Syndicate. Actually, more like get rid of the bosses and take it over.” It was hard for me to keep my face still. I had to keep telling myself to keep it together. My hands twitched underneath my ass, wanting to strike, but I needed to hear him out first. I promised.
“You see, Kevin hates the Winstales. Pissed that they are labeled the most powerful mages when they rely more on their elemental power than the use of runes. He has a whole dissertation about it, but anyway.” He rolled his eyes like he had heard it a million times already.
“At first, I was kept in the loop, but as soon as my assassin training was done, my uncle sent me out to recruit. From that point on, I was in a need-to-know kind of information situation, which was fine with me because I had other hobbies keeping my attention.” He raised his eyebrows at me, letting me know that his stalking was the hobby he was talking about.
When he saw I was not amused, he rushed out, “I told him that I wanted to keep the heirs out of it. Well... I mean, not completely. You guys would need to pledge your allegiance to us, and we could find a place for you in the Devil clan....”
After he phrased that as a question, I knew he was done with his piece. “Can I remove my hands?” He flinched at my polite tone, and his smile wavered as he flicked his hand to confirm it was my turn.
I set my hands in my lap, trying to keep my face neutral. “So, your plan was to kill my dad and the other bosses, take over the Syndicate, and run it as your own organization with the heirs as your captains to keep their men in line and on your side. Is that correct?”
My blood was boiling underneath my skin, and the urge to launch myself at Lex and strangle him was playing in my head. I couldn’t believe him. He had to know I would stop him, that I would not go along with his plan. That he was basically telling me that one day soon we would be enemies. I was not about toRomeo and Julietthis shit. I was not cool with dying for no reason. Also, if I was going to die, I would go out like a fucking boss, not pining away for another.
“Ray.” Lex scooted closer, and I leaned away. We were enemies now, right? The rippling, tan chest muscles on display caught my attention, and I pinched myself.Look away, Ray, that fruit is no longer for you.It is forbidden.My inner slut purred out, but forbidden fruit was the best to bite into.Damn it!
“Ray,” he said again, moving closer to my face. “I know you, remember? I have watched you for most of your life. I can tell when you are talking to yourself.” He puffed out a laugh. “I can even tell when you are reprimanding yourself.”
“Nosy stalker,” I mumbled out, looking away from him.
“Look, I know that this was not something you wanted to hear. Trust me, I don’t want to be obsessed with the daughter of the man who wanted me dead.” I glared at him. If he didn’t stop saying that stupid shit, I would punch him. He smiled, squeezing my fisted hands on the bed. “But I am.” He tilted his head, smiling so brightly I had to squint.
“I have been just as you said, a nosy stalker with an obsession when it comes to you, but now, after what has happened between us.” His hand on my chin tightened, turning bruising as his eyes darkened with lust and a dash of crazy sprinkled in. My heart skipped a beat, and my limbs turned to jelly. “I won’t ever be able to let you go. You will never be able to get rid of me.”
He pushed me back onto the bed, crawled on top of me, and crashed his lips onto mine. Teeth and tongue were assaulting me, and my arms raised on their own to bring him closer. He pulled away for a second. “Before, you were always on my mind. What were you doing? Who were you hanging out with? How did you feel? Did you eat enough? How fast could I get back to watch you? But now... now my thoughts are: When can I kiss her again? Will she let me pull her close? Does she like it when I do that? Is there a way that we can just meld our bodies together forever?” That last one made me puff out a laugh, but his serious face made me double think about it being a joke.
“I will never harm you, no matter what happens. If you asked me to, we could leave this all behind, run off together and live a life with just you and me. No Desmonds, no Devils, no Syndicate. Just you and me.” He kissed me against the crook of my neck while digging his hands into my hair as I moaned out. His lips made a trail to my collarbone, and my back arched in response.
His hot breath caressed my skin, making me wish his hands were lower, getting other things started. “I would do anything for you, Ray. Anything for my mate.”
I froze, everything in my brain and body freaking out. “W-what did you say?”
He chuckled, nibbling on my ear. “I have always had a hunch from the first day we met that you and I were meant to be, but now I know for certain. A demon’s horns don’t just grow for anyone, only when I get extremely angry or when I have found my mate do they grow beyond nubs that are buried in my hair.”
