“I have.” He straightened, his jaw clenching. “We might have a spy in our midst.”
I was tempted to look over at the bathroom, but I managed not to. Nodding, I crossed my arms. “Go on.”
Chapter 6
The rumble of voices on the other side of the door suggested he’d put me here to keep their conversation private, but the dagger he’d insisted on giving me before he left me in here was an odd move. Why had he insisted on me having it?
I looked at it, checking the weapon for tracking technology. Not that I’d know what demons used. Our technology was nearly non-existent since the Fall, but dragon society retained everything from before and even had magical advances on their side. It wouldn’t surprise me if the metal itself was the tracker.
Nothing screamed out at me, and I’d rather have it than not here in the den of devils. It was beautifully crafted. Something about it made me want to keep it with me everywhere I went. I was bound to the blade when my hand first wrapped around it. I didn’t want to go anywhere without it.
Maybe that was the purpose the dagger served, binding me to its master. I didn’t know much about their technology, but the gangs running our sector whispered about it. Through our regular intel collection, they’d insisted that demons were capable of more than what humans could devise before the Fall.
Magic, they called it.
And after knowing that these monstrous men turned into beasts that roamed the skies, breathing fire and conjuring disaster wherever they went, I didn’t think magic was such a far stretch of the imagination.
Nothing about what they did was seen before the Fall. We weren’t even sure if dragons were the only creatures capable of destructive magic. There could be others out there. What we did know was they were the most powerful. They’d reigned for hundreds of years after the Fall without contest.
And now it was my job to pit them against one another.
After hours of observation, I couldn’t figure Onyx out. Everything he did was contrary to what I knew about demons, what I’d seen with my own two eyes since coming here. And that scent, that fragrant citrus that saturated the air and destroyed all my mental faculties was a puzzle I couldn’t figure out.
The slick between my thighs grew heavier every second I was bombed by the scent of oranges. Was it a demon trick? A devious scent that rendered their victim helpless and horny?
I’d been suffering for hours, close to begging him to fuck me—and not for the reasons that brought me to enemy territory. Not even for the simple act of endearing myself to him and binding the powerful asshole through sexual manipulation.
I wantedhim.
Icravedhim.
Swallowing, arousal was a hard pulse between my legs. I clutched the dagger tighter. After several minutes of being free from the seductive scent, I could think again. My mind hadn’t been much use after the aroma intensified. I’d kept myself in check, but barely. If it was a trick, he hadn’t acted on it. Maybe because he expected me to throw myself at him.
And I nearly had.
I brought my legs closer and waited for the voices to either fade or for Onyx to return. Quietly waiting, always in my head, always preparing my next move.
The voices faded after going back and forth for nearly an hour. Then when another half hour passed and I didn’t sense anyone, I still didn’t leave my spot. I wouldn’t. I’d sleep here if I had to. Anything to avoid falling prey to the scent of oranges again. I couldn’t be sure if it was coming from him or the room itself.
My head was resting on my knees when the door to the bathroom opened. I dared a glance at it, and the person who appeared wasn’t who I expected. Onyx wasn’t anywhere in sight.
The female—the dragon who bathed and dressed me—sauntered in, smiling. It wasn’t a devious smile hiding sadistic intentions; it was warm and welcoming, a friendly greeting, and it confused me more than Onyx had.
“Hello, little one,” she murmured, her dark hair falling around her naked shoulders in tiny braided waves.
She was stunning, and I’d thought so when I first laid eyes on her. Everything about her was captivating. She was taller than I was and toned. She wore a similar outfit to mine, but a soft yellow instead of my black, and it sang on her dark skin. Beguiled on glance. If I hadn’t known better, I’d think her an angel instead of a demon.
Her silver eyes beamed down at me as she crouched and offered me her hand. “Are you hungry?”
Even though I was sure her question was a trap, I nodded.
Her smile grew. “Good. I had some food prepared for you, but I think we should eat it somewhere that’s not the bathroom…”
Her little laugh made me smile against my will. “That’s probably ideal. You know, germs and all,” I found myself saying before I could stop the saucy words from leaving my mouth.
She says sitting on said bathroom floor like a filthy street rat.
Her nose scrunched in a way far too adorable for a demon. “So uncivilized. Come on, then. Onyx will be gone for a while, and he’s given me permission to be your night-time companion.”
