“Kit,” I say steadily. “Deep breath in, deep breath out.”
He does as I ask, repeating the motion until his breath slows. He sits back on his heels and drags his fingers through my hair, catching on the knots.
He slowly moves to the couch to lie down, face-first in the cushions.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” he says in the void.
I don’t say it’s okay. “Who was that guy?”
“Balores,” he says, even though he knows I know that. “He’s the reason I’m a demon.”
A spark of understanding hits me, a chill slithering over my skin. “Oh. He’s the one who took a liking to you? The one who…who tortured you?” I don’t need him to confirm, because I know the answer is yes. My fists clench with fury at the man who made Kit so miserable. He wasright there. I mean, there’s nothing I could do to him, but I can think of a few creative ways to express my anger.
“He can hear you when you talk, only if he really listens, but that’s why you needed to be quiet.”
“Oh,” I mumble. “You could have told me that.”
“I didn’t want to spend too much time explaining. I didn’t know what he would do if he knew you were awake. He…” Kit groans, flipping to his back so we’re staring at the ceiling. “He was going to take you.”
“…What do you mean?”
Kit shakes his head. “He wanted you. Your body. I…I don’t knowwhyexactly. Something you did or said years ago made him obsessed. But last week, he decided to take you as his host.”
I furrow my brow. “So, you took me instead? What? Did youcall dibs? Not that I’m not glad it’s you over him, but who cares? I’m still being held hostage.”
“I’m not holding you hostage.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
“He would have killed you.”
“Killed me?” I shake my head with a sigh. “Kit, I cannot have this conversation with you staring at the ceiling. Go to the mirror or something.”
He releases a huff of air, and feeling rushes back into my right arm. He appears before me in the void. I’m still sat in my chair, so he takes a seat on the ground at my feet.
He absently plays with the ankle of my sweatpants as he says, “He’s a mid-level demon. If he possessed you, you would have died. I couldn’t…I can’t let you die.”
“I…” I shake my head, trying to make sense of this. “Are you trying to tell me that you’re possessing me because you’re protecting me?”
He gazes up at me, eyes huge. “Yes, sweetness. Of course. I…fuck. If I let you go, he might possess you. And kill you. I know this situation is far from ideal, but I need to keep you alive.”
“I don’t… Why do you care?”
His head drops back. “Come on, Lace.”
“I understand why you carenow. But why did you care at the haunted house? Why were you even there? Did you just…I don’t know, also take a liking to me and decide I shouldn’t die because…why? I don’t get it.”
He laughs softly, fingers tracing over my ankle as hecontinues to play with the hem of my pants. “I thought you knew. After the memories, I thought… Lacy, ask me what my coffee order is.”
“Your coffee order? Kit, I don’t?—”
“Please. Humor me.”
I sigh. “What’s your coffee order?”
“Coffee. One cream.”
“Okay? I still don’t…” I look at his eyes. Really look at them. I don’t just know them because they’re Kit’s. No way. “You’recoffee-one-cream? Hudson? From the law firm? Wait, I don’t understand. You’re a lawyer? You’re not a lawyer.”
