“That’s surprising, considering who you are and all.” The man’s gaze lingered on Rhett before Rhett let out a low warning growl.
The man took a small step back as he shifted his gaze to Damien. “Fletcher, I haven’t seen you since you left for Fate Hollow. Your folks told us you were coming. Didn’t expect to see you with Everhart, though.” He leaned to the side so he could see me better. “And who is this little thing?”
Damien’s other arm wrapped around me until he had me in an embrace with my face smashed against his chest. He let out a possessive growl. “Mine.”
“Right… Well, we have to be going.Good to see you both.” I could hear their footsteps scattering away.
Damien loosened his hold enough for me to glance over at Rhett. Rhett’s gaze was cold as he watched them walk away.
I reached over and grabbed his hand.
His brows rose as he looked at me. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. And being here is bringing back some memories.”
“I understand.” I squeezed his hand. “Do demons always address each other with their last names?”
Rhett nodded. “It’s a formality of our culture. Unless we’re close friends or family.”
“Speaking of family…” Damien let out an amused chuckle. “We’re staying with my parents.”
My heart slammed against my rib cage. “I’m meeting your parents?”
His lips pulled up into a smirk, and he nodded. “They’ll love you.”
“The meeting won’t be until tomorrow, so we have the rest of the day to ourselves,” Rhett interrupted, calming my nerves slightly with the shift in topic. “Rowan got the email from the council just before we left when you were still getting ready.”
The cawing of a bird overhead barely penetrated my mind as I frowned. The rest of the guys weren’t thrilled that I came with them to the Demon Capital. Thorn and Alister had been there for the meeting, so while they were reluctant, they knew it wasn’t up for debate.
But Lachlan and Kian were perplexed about me leaving. They were in class during that meeting, so when I told them, they were caught off guard. Neither of them wanted me to go, but unlike the other guys, theyaskedme to stay instead of trying to tell me. The respect from them was appreciated, and it hurt me to tell them no. I explained that I needed to be there for Damien and Rhett. In the end, they understood my decision to go.
“Let’s get settled at my parents’ house.” Damien stepped forward, pulling me along with him. Rhett walked next to us as we fell into the pacing of the demons walking through the middle of the buildings.
My shoes made soft clonk sounds against the hardened earth, and sweat formed on my skin, making my clothing stick uncomfortably. It was annoying to have so much sweat pouring off of me, but the worst part was the inability to stop myself from semi-shifting. My ears and tail were on display, causing a lot of demons to look over in interest. But I was an arctic shifter. What did they expect? Even in the shorts and tank top I wore, it was still far too hot for me.
My hair was up in a neat bun thanks to Trixie, but beads of sweat still continued to roll down my neck.
“It’s hot as fuck here, little bird. I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner.” Damien’s shadows slithered down the back of my tank top and up the front of my stomach.
I let out an audible sigh as the icy shadows flattened themselves over my skin. “How do you get them to change temperature? Mine only stays the same as my body heat.”
Damien ran a finger down my chest, pulling the top of my tank down slightly as he brushed over his mate mark. “It just takes control. Once you get better control of the tendril, you should be able to do it without a problem. All I have to do is think about turning my shadows to ice, which I always make sure I do for you.”
Rhett’s cheeks turned pink as he stared at the spot between my breasts that held Damien’s mark. “He’s only soft with you.”
“So are you.” Damien smirked at him.
Ididn’tknowwhatto expect from the customs of demons. From what I had read back in Briesia, demons were cruel, murderous monsters incapable of feeling anything. Rhett and Damien both proved that information wrong.
Damien’s parents’ house was massive. It extended up at least four stories, and the exterior had been made of a caramel-colored clay. The door was as tall as Rhett and Damien put together.
Damien’s cold shadows brought my magical energy down enough for me to force my ears and tail in before I met his parents. I let out a breath of relief at not having to meet them semi-shifted.
Once Damien knocked, two demons opened the door to greet us with brilliant smiles on their faces. I assumed they were his parents from the way they looked at him.
Damien had the woman’s dark gray eyes, but she had dark brown hair that tumbled down her back in glossy curls. She was a few inches taller than me, and her eyes filled with tears as she took in her son.
“My baby!” She moved forward and wrapped him in her arms, the air fanning over me from the speed she used to get to him.
I stepped closer to Rhett, and he laced his fingers through mine before squeezing my hand, sending an immense comfort through me, along with a trickle of tingles.
