I felt my eyes widen. More time spent with the demon who currently held my leash? I don’t think so. “I’m good, thanks.”
His smile said I was being particularly adorable, and my hands clenched into fists.
The demon leaned so close he was inches away. His gaze dropped to my mouth before returning to my eyes. “You will attend these lessons for as long as I believe they are necessary.” He stroked one finger down my forearm in clear admiration of the gold design.
I glowered at him. “Why do you even care?”
“You’re my tool,” he told me. “I don’t like when my tools are broken before I’m finished using them.”
“That’s real nice.”
He raised one eyebrow and I scowled.
“Will you get off now?”
Amusement gleamed within his eyes and my scowl deepened. “Get offme.”
The amusement disappeared and I shivered at the expression on his face. That warning look told me exactly how he felt about taking orders from a witch.
“What did the demons want?” his tone made it clear I was going nowhere until heallowedme to.
“The knife we found at the last scene,” I pushed against his chest. “Where is it?” The thought of losing my only lead made my stomach clench.
“On the table with the rest of your weapons,” he said. “Tell me everything you remember.”
I sighed and relaxed back into the soft bed. The sooner I cooperated, the sooner I could go home, so I filled him in, up until the hellhound collapsed. “I heard a voice,” I frowned. “I don’t think the demons attacked on their own.”
“You’re correct. Lesser demons wouldn’t dare attempt to harm my people unless they were summoned and ordered to do exactly that. Tell me about the voice.”
I glanced away. I’d just pretend the huge demon wasn’t lying on top of me, that’s what I’d do. “I thought it was male at first, but the laugh… it was female.” I huffed. “I couldn’t place it, and I didn’t see its owner. But I’d know if I heard it again. Whoever that voice belongs to… they practically radiated power.”
Samael climbed off me, and I pushed up on my hands. “If they had that much power, why didn’t they attack us themselves?” I mused.
“They likely thought the demons would kill you and deliver the knife. They were wrong. So they decided to get the job done themselves, risking my wrath.”
“You didn’t see them either?”
“My attention was otherwise occupied.”
I shivered at the memory of Agaliarept’s choked breaths. “Agaliarept is your second. Why did he…”
“Succumb to an attack by lesser demons? His current weakness is his own business. Rest. I will have someone bring you food.”
He strode out the door and I positioned myself until I was leaning against the pillows once more. I let my gaze explore. Was this… Samael’s room? That would explain the scent of sin wafting from his sheets and pillow. If anyone had asked me what his bedroom would look like, I would’ve told them it would be unrelenting black. Black walls, black carpet, black sheets, black on black on black.
I would’ve been wrong. Oh it was dark. The furniture— including the bed— was a gleaming mahogany, while crimson drapes were held back by gleaming gold ropes. A lush, black rug covered the hardwood floor in front of the fire, and I itched to spend a rainy day reading on the dark chocolate-colored sofa positioned invitingly near the empty fireplace.
The light-colored walls were interrupted with sweeping windows on one side and sliding doors on another. They were currently closed, but offered access to a private balcony.
And I needed to get out of here. I had a job to do, and if someone was after the knife, it was even more important that I get it analyzed. I wasn’t risking being bound to a demon for the rest of my life just because I felt a little weak.
Okay, I felt very weak. So weak that the thought of getting out of bed was one of the worst thoughts I’d had all month. But if I was going to sneak out of here, now was my chance. Samael wouldn’t be expecting me to try to leave until after I was fed.
My stomach rumbled and I sighed. Food sounded good, but you know what sounded even better? Not living life as an indentured demon servant. It took me a few tries to find my feet, and my head spun around me.
I glanced around until I found my clothes. No luck. I was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt and I peeked down the neck of the t-shirt. My own bra. Excellent.
My head whirled and I reached out to steady myself on the armchair Samael had been sitting in as I hunted for my boots. They were tucked under the bedside table, and I took one look at them and froze.
