Skel’s green eyes were glued to me like he couldn’t believe I was there. He brought his pipe up and took a few hits before rolling his eyes back and blowing the wisps of smoke up in the air.
What was that reaction for?
“Seriously?” Daryl asked, running a hand through his long hair. “I guess they’re not as bad as I thought if they helped you, but don’t think Iforgot about Hemlock disrespecting you last time.”
“Yeah, I know,” I murmured as Ashenfell called everyone to pair up with someone to practice feeding. “How’s everything going with the dark magic?”
His dark eyes swept the chamber before he sighed. “It’s at a standstill right now. We haven’t had any dark magic developments, and we’re investigating several leads right now. How are you feeling, though?”
“I’m okay.” I glanced over at the three demons who had saved me again before I ended up staring at Reed.
He’d walked off to pair up with another dream demon for a feeding exercise, and he was in his full demon form. I loved his purple horns and tail, and his galaxy eyes were adreamalone. There was also a galaxy-type haze surrounding him as if his dream magic were tangible. I watched him talk to the other dream demon as they laid on one of the red mats to go to sleep, and his lips looked so soft—Iknewthey were soft from experience.
Heat flushed up my neck as I thought about the fact that I hadkissedReed in front of Hunter. Oh, my Fates, I had!
“I think Hunter's good for you,” Daryl said casually, causing me to stiffen.
I’d almost forgotten he’d walked in on Hunterand I kissing. “I like him...but I also like Reed,” I rasped lowly.
Daryl did a double-take, his eyes searching mine before he let out a tired exhale. “Demons, just like all supernaturals, can have multiple fated mates. It's rarer in demons, but itdoeshappen,” he explained carefully as if navigating a freaking war.
Fated mates. My heart swelled. I hadn’t saidanythingabout fated mates to Daryl when it concerned Hunter or Reed. I’d always craved a fated mate, but to have more than one? The concept confused and excited me, the idea that amidst the trauma of my past, matebonds could form.
“You know, if you could learn to feed properly, to sustain yourself and keep your magic reserves filled, those bonds might strengthen and snap into place,” he told me with a smirk.
My heart thumped wildly in my chest at the thought. Matebonds? Demons had several different ways of forming a bond depending on the classification of demon, and I needed to read into it. Demons were special in matebonding because they shared bits of their power with their fated mates. But I also didn’t want to get my hopes up. “Can you teach me to feed on a soul without eating it whole?”
“Oh, of course, I can teach you how to snackon a soul.” He grinned as if me asking him for help absolutely delighted him.
We moved over to the back of the room, and Daryl whistled loud enough to gain everyone’s attention.
“Can we get a willing volunteer?” He smirked.
Everyone’s gazes darted away, back to their partners, except for Dex and Reed.
But Dex was the one to jump up from where he lounged on his mat with some other shadow demon. “I’ll totally volunteer to help trouble out!”
“Trouble?” Daryl scowled, shooting me a look. “Why’s he calling you that? You’re not trouble.”
I gave a half-shrug, my face on fire with embarrassment. “I don’t know. He’s always called me that.”
“Come on, then,” Daryl sighed, waving him over.
“Sure thing, Death!” Dex grinned maniacally and strode over, and the scent of blood that clung to him filled in around us. It wasn’t like a disgusting smell, though; it was oddly sweet and comforting. “What do you need me to do?”
“Stand on the mat in case you pass out,” Daryl told him, and he obliged.
Dex’s fog gray eyes met mine, and his grinwidened more.
“Remember, Pandora,” Daryl’s voice was a low rumble. “Demonic feeding is an art as much as it is a necessity, but that rings true so much more for soul eaters. We will not devour; we will savor. Only take what you need, leaving enough so the soul may heal, replenish. In a day or so, it’ll regenerate and be like you took nothing at all.”
I nodded, my throat tight. I had only ever fed on whole souls, and I only ever did it out of desperation for survival. The thought of taking only a fragment was freeing, and once I knew how, it would change everything.
The stadium fell silent, all eyes locked on my father and Dex.
Daryl outstretched a hand toward Dex, and the air seemed to thicken with soul magic.
“You have to use your soul-eating gift to see the soul, and instead of imagining devouring all of it, you need to focus on shredding a piece off. Only focus on that fragment,” he said.
