Finally, she stood directly in front of me, studying my horns before her gaze collided with mine. My gut clenched. My dread spiked. My resolve to accept her disdain for me solidified. This was the moment I’d lose her to the monster I didn’t want to be when around her.
“I have a lot of questions,” she declared, suddenly cracking a nervous laugh.
My brows rose. “Aren’t you going to run?”
That question seemed to confuse her even more than my newly revealed identity. “Why would I run?”
“I’m ademon. You just learned I’m a fucking demon fromHell.”
“Okay. So?”
Something inside of me, residing in the deepest pit of my very being, swelled to life for what felt like the first time since the Prince of Darkness Himself breathed life into me.
Before I could process what I was feeling, she continued, “It’s not like I’m suddenly in a room with a completely unfamiliar anddangerous stranger. Have I discovered there’s a lot more to learn about you? Sure. But it’s stillyou.”
“B-But,” I started with a shake of my head, “I’m ademon. A monster. Do you not know anything about Hell or demons?”
“If you wanted to hurt me, you would’ve done it by now. You certainly wouldn’t have saved me from falling to my demise if you wanted to kill me.” Her cheeks grew pink, and she gave me a sheepish smile. “Thank you for that, by the way.”
My mouth opened and closed uselessly before I managed to ask, “How are you not freaking out over the fact that I exist?”
She pursed her lips and looked up as she considered my question. “Not sure. I guess my lack of freaking out leaves something to be said of my mental state.” She looked at me again with a growing smile and shrugged. “Honestly, I’m a dreamer. I spend most of my days with my head in the clouds, fantasizing about magic, monsters, and wonders. I’ve alwayswantedthose things to be real. So honestly? This is more exciting than it is scary or disturbing.”
I let out a quick, disbelieving laugh and shook my head. “Why does that actually make sense with you?”
She narrowed her eyes slightly and crossed her arms. “I’m not sure whether or not to be offended by that.”
The teasing faded as I stared down at her and she up at me. I was painfully aware of my demonic features on clear display, yet shesmiled. She didn’t scream in horror or point at me while declaring me an unlovable beast. She didn’t suddenly snicker with thoughts of tying me into some demonic contract or duty. She didn’t rush to put me back in that deep well I’d managed to get out of all those centuries ago.
And I just couldn’t wrap my head around that. I’d become jaded and hardened in the belief that someone like me was incapable of feeling love and receiving that in return. Once someone knew what I was, they’d either use me for somethingthey thought a demon could give them or flee while holding their crucifixes in my direction. That’s thebetterof the reactions from the past.
But Serenity wasn’t the past.
Serenity was right here, right now.
Serenitysmiled.
“I lied to you,” I pointed out softly, still trying to get ahead of the downward spiral that would surely come. “I hid my identity from you.”
Serenity gave a small laugh. “I also hid mine. SC Draven, remember? Looks like we both found out the truth today.”
Her grin was warm and fascinated. The expression was in stark contrast with the defeat and hurt she’d worn all evening. I wasn’t sure if her glee came from the realization that “magic” was real or if it was becauseIwas “magic,” but regardless of the reason, I was glad to see her smiling again.
“How did you save me?” she asked. “Did you freeze time to catch me or something?”
Growing more amused and less afraid, I waved the suggestion away with my clawed hand. “I can’t do anything like that. I’m an Incubus, not—”
She gasped, her gray eyes brightening. “You’re asexdemon?”
Her excitement over that fact had blood rushing to my cock.Fuck. Her reaction to that news was so much better than anything I could’ve hoped for.
“Yeah,” I answered gruffly, trying to keep my lustful voice smooth.
Her gaze went hazy with barely contained curiosity, one now tinged in desire. A spike in arousal saturated the air around her, and I nearly let loose a low growl in response.
“What does that entail?” she asked softly. “What powers come with being an Incubus? What can you do?”
“Oh, Serenity,” I chuckled darkly. “You shouldn’t have asked that.”
