I felt tears prick my eyes and attempted to turn away. Samael wasn’t tolerating that. He pulled me back toward him and an embarrassing hiccup left my throat.
“Gary’s aperson,Samael. His life matters.”
He drew me into his arms, and despite myself, I nestled into his chest, drawing his cedar and citrus scent into my lungs.
“It does matter. Paranormal rulers are centuries old, little witch. Some of us have been alive for a millennia. It makes us… forget what it means to care for others.”
I got it. When you were at the top of the food chain, you got used to everyone bowing and scraping. You probably started to believe that you were inherently more worthy than the people doing the bowing and scraping.
I sniffed and he heaved a sigh. “It doesn’t mean we don’t care. It simply means that sometimes we need to be reminded to care. You’ve done that for me, Danica.”
We were in awkward territory now, and I attempted to push my way out of his arms.
“Uh-uh.”
I scowled, but I was trapped against his chest. The demon would release me when he damn well pleased and not a moment sooner.
“Why does everything have to be a power struggle between us, Samael?”
He laughed, the sound raising goosebumps on my arms as he pressed my head to his chest. I’d always thought him heartless, but there was his heart, thumping away.
“I don’t know, Danica, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. You will amuse, delight, and entrance me for centuries to come.”
“I think you mean decades.”
He was silent and I pushed against his chest.
“Let me go.Now,Samael, I mean it.”
He released me, angling his head as if confused. Fucker.
“Centuries?”
A languid shrug. “You’re half demon, Danica. You’ll likely cease aging in the next few years.”
The world had just hit me in the face. I was going to vomit. Everyone I knew would crumble into dust, and I would remain. My sister…
My lips were numb. My knees turned weak. Samael reached for my arm again and I retreated, slamming into the outside wall of his tower.
“If you break down here, there will be talk. Come with me, and your precious reputation will be spared.”
My eyes found his. I nodded, ignoring the hand he held out. Instead, I turned, stepping back into the ball. Samael was instantly at my side, catching my elbow with his large hand. He steered me toward the door, replying to the occasional greeting thrown our way.
I was vaguely aware of him leading me out of the ballroom and through another door.
“What happened?” Vas asked.
Samael ignored the question. “Take her upstairs and stay with her until I come to you.”
He gave me a lingering look, then turned and strode away.
“You look good in a tux,” I muttered to Vas. He merely stepped back, gesturing for me to walk up the stairs. I turned toward the door, and he shook his head.
“Samael’s orders. Don’t make me the bad guy here, Danica.”
I sneered at him and picked up the skirt of my dress, stalking up the stairs. The curtains were open, and I made sure to sit in the shadows, staring down at the ballroom below me. The music slowly stopped, and the crowd turned to where a dark fae male was standing on a raised platform. He waited until the room was silent, and then he spoke, the microphone charm in his hand allowing his voice to carry over the crowd.
“Tonight, you bear witness to a historical event like none other. Tonight, the unseelie fae and the high demons join forces in an alliance that paves the way for further cooperation and peace between our races for centuries to come.”
