“I have existed for eons,” he said, his voice filled with wonder. “I have witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, the birth and death of stars. And in all that time, I have neverheard those words directed at me. Never thought I would. Never thought I could feel what I feel for you.”
My heart hammered in my chest. “And what do you feel?”
“Love,” he said simply. “A demon prince shouldn’t be capable of it. But I love you, Sam. With everything that I am—both demonic and human.”
The confession, so long hovering unspoken between us, filled the room with a warmth that had nothing to do with Malphas’s supernatural heat.
I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against his. “So I guess we’re keeping Gary’s influence,” I murmured.
Malphas laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. “I suppose we are. Though I maintain it’s evolved beyond mere influence now.”
“Into something new,” I agreed. “Something uniquely you.”
“Something uniquely us,” he corrected, pulling me closer.
His kiss was gentle at first, a soft press of lips that gradually deepened as I melted against him. I felt the subtle shift in his energy—the balance between demon and human, power and tenderness, ancient and new.
When we separated, both slightly breathless, I saw that his eyes were that perfect blend of red and hazel that I’d come to associate with moments of perfect harmony between his dual natures.
“So,” I said, settling against him, “what now? We’ve established that you’re keeping both aspects of yourself, and that we’re in love. That’s a productive Tuesday.”
Malphas chuckled, his arm tightening around me. “Now we continue evolving, I suppose. Together.”
“I like the sound of that,” I murmured, resting my head on his shoulder.
We sat in comfortable silence for a while, both processing the emotional revelations of the day. Eventually, Malphas spoke again:
“There is one thing I’ve been considering. A project that would combine both aspects of my nature in a meaningful way.”
“Oh?” I looked up at him curiously. “What kind of project?”
“A garden,” he said, sounding slightly hesitant. “But not just any garden. One with plants from both realms—this world and the lower realms.”
I blinked, trying to picture it. “Is that… possible? Can hellish plants grow here?”
“With the right conditions and care, yes,” he confirmed. “Some are quite beautiful, despite their origins. Fireblossom, shadow ferns, brimstone lilies… they have qualities no earthly plants possess.”
The idea was both bizarre and perfectly fitting. “A demon prince’s garden,” I mused. “Bridging two worlds. I love it.”
“You do?” He looked genuinely pleased by my enthusiasm.
“Absolutely. It’s the perfect metaphor for you—bringing beauty from both realms, creating something unique.” I grinned suddenly. “Plus, it’ll really confuse the neighbors during the garden tour.”
Malphas laughed, the sound full and rich. “Alice Deleon will have theories, I’m sure.”
“Oh, she definitely will,” I agreed, imagining her excitement over otherworldly plants. “So when do we start this supernatural garden?”
“This weekend?” he suggested. “I’ll need to create a small portal to transport the seedlings, but it shouldn’t be difficult.”
I marveled at how casually he mentioned creating interdimensional portals for gardening purposes. “Sure, this weekend works. As long as you promise no man-eating plants or anything that screams at night.”
“I make no promises about the screaming,” he said solemnly. “Some lower realm flora are quite vocal during full moons.”
I stared at him, trying to determine if he was joking. His serious expression cracked into a smile, and I shoved him playfully.
“Demon humor,” I grumbled. “Still not funny.”
“You love it,” he reminded me, pressing a kiss to my temple.
