“From the piece of shit in your cell. I saw it come up at the auction. Vas said it belonged to your mother…”
“So you decided to get it back for me.”
I nodded. He returned his attention to the bracelet, stroking one finger slowly along the stones, linked together by a metal that gleamed with a dull fire.
“What are they?” I asked him.
“Underworld gems.”
They were stunning. They put diamonds to shame, glinting with a rainbow of colors which danced in the light. Samael held the bracelet gently in his hand and pure, exposed grief settled deep into his face. I didn’t know if it was from the bond between us, or my own memory of him losing his entire family, but I couldfeelhis grief.
“You have given me a priceless gift,” he said, his eyes glittering. “How can I repay you?”
I shook my head. “Not everything needs to be a bargain or a deal, Samael.” Although, if he was serious about repaying me, maybe I could convince him to break our little bond.
He let out a low laugh at whatever he saw on my face. “If you were hoping to convince me to free you, you have erred, little witch. This just proves that you are a woman like no other, and I am right to guard you like a dragon guarding his hoard.”
I frowned at him, but I couldn’t feel much indignance. His obvious pleasure in the gift, and the way he stroked the gems, his eyes distant as he remembered his mother… it was worth it.
“Stay here tonight,” he ordered. I opened my mouth to decline, and his voice softened. “I prefer my women conscious,” he purred. “We won’t do anything except sleep in the same bed.”
I eyed him. It was a bad idea. The demon was doing his best to give me an innocent look, but I was pretty sure he didn’t know what innocence actually was. I sighed. My clothes were covered in blood, I was so tired I was dead on my feet, and truthfully, I wanted nothing more than to bask in the heat of Samael’s body.
“My cat–”
“Will be fine. If you moved her into my tower, she would be even better.”
I blinked at him, and my mouth hung open in a way I was pretty sure wasn’t a good look for me. His silver eyes gleamed.
“Since when do you like cats?” I managed to get the words out.
“I’ve always enjoyed tiny felines. They’re independent, territorial, and live their lives on their own terms. Why wouldn’t I like them?”
Well, when he put it like that. I shook my head. “There’s no need for me to move my cat in here. The amount of time I’ve been spending at your tower is an outlier. Once the kids are safe, my life will go back to normal.”
He shook his head as if I was being stubborn for no reason and I gritted my teeth. Ihatedit when he gave me that look. He was as transparent as the window we stood in front of, and I knew damn well that he planned for me to “come to my senses” and move in with him.
He was dreaming.
I strode past him, effectively ending the conversation, and hopped into his bed, robe and all. He frowned at me. “You’ll overheat.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said sweetly.
He shrugged and dropped the towel. I slammed my eyes closed. “Samael!”
“I sleep naked,” he informed me, sliding into bed next to me. “As you well know.”
He ignored my half-assed struggles and pulled me into his arms.
“I’m lying on your wing!”
“It can take it.”
I indulged myself long enough to stroke one hand over the feathers beneath my body.
“Samael–”
“Sleep.”
