“So…is that Mount Fuji?” He’d seen pictures but it looked different somehow. More…ethereal.
“It is.” Leviathan murmured. “I think it’s pretty here. I thought…you’d like it.”
“I do.” He admitted, keeping his voice just as low, as if to not disturb the surrounding quiet. “I’ve never been somewhere like this.”
“I know.”
His eyes flickered to his face. Of course Leviathan would know that. He knew everything Walker did and they had talked about so, so much during all those years together… A slow flush crept across his face at the thought. Leviathan knew so much about him, much more than he let on, Cullen was sure.
Hell, in some ways he knew him a little better than Walker did…
“You're staring at me again.”
He jolted, quickly turning back to gaze at the mountain with a quiet scoff. “No, I'm not.”
“You are. You do it a lot.”
“I–shut up.” He snapped, biting into his crepe with a bit too much force. Leviathan’s cheek pulled up in a smile, but he said nothing.
Silence fell and Cullen was grateful for it. Grateful for thechance to think, to force himself to focus on the negatives of this…whatever it was. Because he could feel the softening he’d fought so hard in the beginning starting to seep in. He didn’t mind sitting here with this demon lord beside him. He didn’t mind the way their knees brushed or the way Leviathan’s scent washed over him, mixing with the sweet smell of the nearby cherry blossom trees.
And that was dangerous.
And stupid. So instead he thought about what had happened that first week.
The snap of his ankle, the burst of pain. The acid poured down his throat that had stolen his very soul. The fear that Leviathan would force him to–
He didn’t have to force a thing.Whispered a quiet voice in the back of his mind. His jaw clenched. That first night…Leviathan had been forceful, yes but…it had taken very little for Cullen to say yes, to pull him closer… He shook that thought away, turning away from the mountain in front of him to hide his expression. Not his choice, he’d decided. His body’s choice. It seemed to have a mind of its own now, especially with that dark shadow hovering over him…
A slow frown pulled at his lips as he considered the rest. Held down, forced to eat…fingers. They hadn’t looked quite human, but he wasn’t sure that had made him feel any better. In fact, it might make it worse. Because that black demon blood that had once scorched his throat and left terrible burns…if it now tasted so sweet and delicious…like candy…
Stop it.He hissed silently to his body as it began to react in terrible, confusing ways.
“Your scent changed.” Leviathan murmured, his hand moving to rest over top of Cullen’s where it laid on theground between them. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” The word was little more than a whisper.
“Liar.”
Cullen drew his hand away with a soft scoff, shaking his head. “I don’t need to tell you everything that’s going on in my head.
Leviathan gave him a small, secretive smile. Cullen did not want to know the reason behind the expression.
“I think we should have another party.” He murmured, startling him.
“But…you just had one?” He couldn’t keep the little tinge of disappointment from his voice. To be around all those demons again so soon…to have them scent Leviathan on his body andknow…
“I wasn’t in a party mood the other night.” Leviathan murmured, examining his nails. “And, besides, we hardly got to have any fun at all. Maybe now that you’ve…openedupto me it might be a little more enjoyable.”
Heat rushed to his face. “Don’t drop creepy innuendos on me, you pervert.”
“But your face goes such a pretty color when I do it.” He murmured, shifting closer. His lips brushed his cheek–and Cullen jerked to his feet, flinching away from the touch.
“I…I’m ready to go h–” He broke off, his eyes widening in alarm when he realized what he’d been about to say. “Back.” He finished weakly. “I want to go back.”
Leviathan watched him for a long moment, a sly smirk on his face, and then pushed himself up and reached for his wrist.
31
