"Imae tseramòr,"he says, tapping his heart as he smiles back at me.
24
HEIDI
Zak yawns and stretches,drawing my attention to the half-demon's bare torso full of sleek muscles. I could stare at him shirtless for way too long, but I notice strange symbols carved down the length of one of his arms.
When he bends down to scoop his jacket off the living room floor, I try not to gasp at the sight of more scars—dozens of pale little tally marks across his shoulders and a few going down his spine.
Are those…scores? For all his victorious fights in Amadeus’s arena?
"Great. Since that's settled," the half-demon says, shrugging back into his jacket and grinning at me again.
His emotions have returned to what I was familiar with in the Nether from him—a steady stream of fixed interest, desire, care, and fascination all dazzlingly centered on me. But there's a slight undercurrent of exhaustion and hunger, too.
"What're your house rules about eating candy for dinner? Been dying for another taste,” the half-demon tacks on.
“Smooth," Jess approves, slow clapping.
Zak's sudden return to flirting is such a change in tone that I'm getting whiplash. I rub my eyes, staving off another yawn of my own. Outside, the wind howls louder, and another deluge of rain begins, pattering on my roof and porch.
"Wow. Okay. Um…if you guys are all hungry, I can make?—"
"You're not making us a damn thing," Asher says, gently taking my arm to guide me into the hallway that leads to my room, away from the others, despite my protests. He pauses for a second to stare at my shoulder that was hurting earlier and sighs. "I'm an idiot. I swear you won't hurt because of me ever again."
"It's fine," I assure him, shrugging. "You were just doing your job."
"Protecting an empath by hurting someone around her? Fuckingidiot."
"You just forgot. Give yourself a break. Even gorgeous bodyguards can make mistakes."
He meets my eye, studying my face with surprisingly tender green eyes before he swaps back to being professional again.
"Ignore those fuckers. I'll get them straightened out, but I've been telling you to get more rest all day so you can finish healing. We can figure out what to do with your starry-eyed, horny band of misfits tomorrow—for now, go to bed and get your sleep."
There's something so oddly nice about having someone concerned about me tell me what to do. I know he's right that I'm exhausted and still healing, even though the bruises on my arms are gone now, but I shake my head.
"I can't sleep yet. I just found out Ian and Zak are still alive, and Kaenon is probably really confused about this modern world he's woken up in. I have to grab blankets for them and make dinner, and I want to know how they got here and?—"
"Nope. Bed.Now."
I stifle another yawn. "I could at least whip up something quick. Paninis, maybe?"
"Are you hungry?"
"No, but?—"
He doesn't wait for me to finish before scooping me up. I yelp, arms going around his neck. All kinds of ugly, insecure, unrealistic comments from my mother about my natural body shape try to flood back from my childhood. But Asher carries me so easily to my room that heat floods my face.
My bodyguard sets me down just inside the doorway of my bedroom, glancing over my setup in here quickly before his fingers gently frame my chin so he can have my attention.
"If you step one little toe outside this room without getting some shuteye, I'll force a sleeping draught between those pretty lips. Got it?"
My heart is hammering. I study his handsome face and the bounty hunter tattoo on the column of his neck, getting the most ridiculous urge to bite him there teasingly. But he's not a shifter, and I doubt he'd appreciate me biting him, so instead, I fight a smile and lick my lips, wanting to see how much I can get away with right now.
"You're hot when you're bossy."
His gaze drops to my mouth before he releases me like I burned him, grumbling as he grabs my door handle to shut it behind him.
