“It’s a gift and a curse.” I exaggerated a sigh. “A true skill. Not everyone can do it.”
A smile touched his lips. “Elias held the same air about him as you. Lighthearted and full of hope. As a tamer, he held sway over demons; however, I believe it was his gentle spirit that made them not only obey him… but love him as well. Especially the Fenrir.”
“Like Oreo,” I said, thinking of the cute puppy.
“Yes. Another thing you have in common.” The skin around his eyes grew taut. “When news reached the Shadow Realm of Elias’ death, their mournful howls could be heard all through the surrounding mountains.”
The backs of my eyes prickled.
“Knowing you’re his son makes me believe you can be trusted. But know this.” His gaze met mine, hardening at the edges. “If you betray my trust, Evan Clark, I will show you the monster the stories make me out to be.”
“Is that why you wanted to talk to me today?” I asked, folding my hands together on my lap and pressing my thumb against my opposite palm. “To threaten me?”
“Threaten? Not at all. I only wished to inform you of what would happen should you ever make me regret welcoming you here.”
“So… a threat.”
The hardness in his eyes lifted, albeit slightly. “If you say so.”
“I hope you know that I won’t hurt you or anyone else here.” I squirmed on the bench, hating the thought of him thinking me capable of such a thing. “Unless something I bake gives someone a belly ache. Too much sugar will do that. But it’d be an accident, I swear.”
More of his ice chipped away. “Perhaps I’ve become soft in my many years, but I believe you.”
“How many years are we talking here?” I asked, scrutinizing his face. He looked in his upper twenties. Early thirties, maybe, but definitely no older than that.
“Nearly three centuries,” he answered.
My eyes bugged before I remembered my manners and composed myself. “You… uh… look good for your age.”
“Quite different from a human, yes?”
“Just a little,” I answered with a short laugh. “In three hundred years, I’ll just be a sack of dust and bones.”
“Yet, I’m sure you’d still find a way to bless everyone nearby with that mouth.”
“Rude.” I crossed my arms. “I was going to bake you something special as thanks for letting my men come here, but now I don’t think I will.”
“No?” A spark of humor lit his eyes.
“No,” I confirmed. “You can starve.”
He laughed. “Oh, how I envy your lovers then. I’m sure you spoil them with all the sweet treats.”
“A little, yeah.” Warmth filled my chest. But so did an ache I couldn’t pinpoint. It worsened when looking into his eyes. “I may be swayed to bake you a treat or two. If you behave.”
“Behave?”
“Yep. Bad boys don’t get muffins.” Nerves rolled in my gut. “When they get here, they might not be the friendliest bunch. I don’t know the details about the human and demon war, but I know things are… tense.”
“Tense is an understatement,” he said. “The war ended long ago, yet our kinds have remained in conflict, never truly knowing peace. But rest assured, I vowed to give your lovers safe passage and intend to keep my word. Until they give me reason not to.”
A clear warning. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that.
“War is so dumb,” I said, a wobble in my sternum. “Killing each other gets us no closer to peace.”
“You speak of peace.” He shook his head. “A nice idea but an impossible one.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” I said shakily. “The fighting has to stop somewhere. Why not let it stop with us?”
