“Yes,” she said. “It is. You should go find your own, much bigger, much more comfortable bed.”
I ignored that. It twisted something inside of me that I could no longer sleep well without Danica in my arms. If she knew, the witchling would likely laugh herself hoarse.
Turning, I gathered her close. One of her hands burrowed between us and she planted her fist into my gut. I smiled. “I’m happy to tussle, but we will wake your sister.”
I could practically hear her grinding her teeth. But she relaxed in my arms. I drew her even closer, resting my chin on her shoulder. The scent of her both aroused and comforted, and my eyes were instantly heavy.
Demons could go a long time without sleep. It had been weeks since I had truly rested. If my little witch knew just how desperate I was for her, how I could no longer sleep properly without her in my arms…
She sighed, and her muscles turned limp. The cat butted at me, then stalked over my thighs and lay down between us.
“We’re going to talk about this,” Danica slurred, and I smiled into the dark.
“Go to sleep.”
It made no sense– the indescribablewantI felt for the little witch. The little witch who had armed herself with what she imagined was my greatest vulnerability. I couldn’t feel the rowan unless it was pressed against my skin, but I knew it was there, invisible between us.
And yetshehad been my greatest vulnerability from the moment I dragged her kicking and screaming into my life. My mood darkened at the thought of our last spat. She was the only person in this world who had the ability to hurt me. And every day, I fought dual urges to both clamp her to my side and remove that vulnerability from my life.
I was still furious after our latest argument. This woman challenged and infuriated me like no other. But I was self-aware enough to admit that I wanted to hold her in my arms more than I wanted to roam the sky thinking dark thoughts.
I nuzzled her neck, enjoying her shiver, and closed my eyes as my body finally decided it needed sleep.
8
Danica
Iwoke feeling more rested than I had in days, and it pissed me off. I would have thought I’d dreamed Samael had climbed into my narrow bed, but when I woke, a single black feather had been lying next to Lia.
That was a taunt if I’d ever seen one.
“Next time, you need to bite him. No more snuggling with the demon.”
Lia opened one eye and then closed it again. I shook my head, climbed off the bed, and froze.
A brand new utility belt lay on my dresser, next to my battered, worn belt. I reached for it, opening a few of the pockets, where I found a few small pouches of wixbane, a new and improved first-aid kit, and a more powerful mini-flashlight. The utility belt had individual sheaths built in which could hold at least five throwing knives. The knives would lie against my left hip.
He’d even included a few spell-stones loaded with exploding spells and low-level pain charms. They were expensive as hell, and I’d been too busy recently to visit Gary’s and stock up.
I stared at the belt for a few more minutes. Just a few weeks ago, the demon had attempted to drape me in jewels. He’d been confused and a little baffled when I’d declined the diamonds in favor of a visit to his dragon when her egg hatched.
So he’d taken a new route when he noticed that my utility belt had seen better days.
Something warm took up residence in my chest and I struggled to push it back down.
I mentally planned my schedule as I showered, fueled up, and checked on Evie. She was still asleep, but she roused at the scent of coffee.
“Caffeine,” she murmured, her face still buried in her pillow.
I poured her a cup and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. She sat up, her eyes bleary. Since she wasn’t mercilessly teasing me about my late-night visitor, she obviously hadn’t heard Samael last night.
Sneaky demon.
He’d done nothing but hold me. I could’ve made enough noise to rouse Evie. I could’ve demanded he leave, but instead, I’d snuggled closer and slept like the dead.
“Dani?”
I glanced at Evie. She raised her eyebrow. “Mind elsewhere?”
