“What reason have I to trust you?” Onyx asked.
“You said so yourself,” Maddox calmly responded. The calm part being most notable. No signs of the growly, snarly man I knew so well. He was resigned in his decision. “True peace isn’t possible unless we’re willing to take steps in that direction. Consider this my first step forward.”
Onyx studied him closely. Trying to spot signs of deception, maybe? Wariness of each other definitely went both ways. “I believe many more steps are needed before there can be trust between us, but for now… I’m willing to accept your proposal.”
Maddox gave him a sharp nod. “You say the mercenaries are unable to breach the barrier, but my knights and I can patrol as a precaution and assist your warriors.”
“Assist them?”
“Train with them and take on any needed duties.” Maddox glanced at Callum, then the other men against the wall. They nodded to him. “We understand if you’re reluctant to allow the return of our weapons, but—”
“I am,” came Onyx’s immediate response. “Your presence here has caused quite the unrest among my demons, as your volatile behavior toward my kind since the day you arrived has not gone unnoticed. Allowing you to wield weapons might cause some of them to see you as a threat and act on instinct.”
“Attack us, you mean,” Callum pointed out.
Onyx nodded. “However, if you wish to train and help my warriors, I’ll allow it under the condition that you be supervised. Seraphina and Borus will be charged with your care. Not only for the safety of my people but for yours as well.”
“Reasonable enough,” Maddox responded, though the clench of his jaw showed his aversion to the idea. A captain’s pride, no doubt, having someone else call the shots.
Steps sounded from the corridor, along with the creak of a cart.
“Nina brought yummiesss.” The female demon entered the room pushing a trolley filled with platters of food. Her wavy golden hair was pinned back in a low bun, and a dark shimmer covered her lids, making her yellow eyes pop. Her lips glistened with a pink tint.
“You look pretty,” I told her.
She lit up at the compliment. “Nina wanted to look nice for Evan.”
That caught the attention of all my men. Maddox narrowed his eyes at her, while Briar cocked his head. Lake’s ears perked up. Callum just looked confused. Rowan coughed into his closed fist.
Cyan followed behind her and placed the food on the table. Thin strips of salmon, pickled vegetables, rice, and bowls of what looked like miso soup.
I’d recently eaten, but the lunch looked too delicious to refuse. My stomach always had extra room.
Nina refilled Onyx’s cup of tea before pouring one for me, Briar, and the others. She and Cyan bowed and exited the sunroom, taking the creaky cart with them.
“I’ll leave you to your meal.” Onyx rose from his chair and smoothed down the front of his robe. The action revealed a peek of the red tattoo-like marking on his chest.
“You’re not eating with us?” I asked.
He seemed surprised. “Did you wish for me to?”
My heart thrummed faster. The word ‘yes’ caught in my throat. Truth was, I didn’t knowwhatI wanted. The past twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind of emotions.
“Either way, I must decline. I have other matters to attend to.” Onyx nodded to Maddox, then glanced back at me. It looked as though he wanted to say something, but he faced away and left through the patio doors without another word.
And like all the times before, as the demon lord left, something deep inside of me ached. The invisible tether that drew me to him was getting stronger—and more painful to ignore.
“I see it clearly now,” Maddox said, his gaze on the same set of doors.
“See what?” I asked.
“The longing he feels for you.” The skin around his eyes grew taut. “The way he looked at you before leaving reminds me much of myself. Of how I’d been in the beginning. The yearning to pull you close and never let go.”
“Can’t believe he’s actually part of the harem,” Quincy said, nodding. “I was merely jesting when saying it days ago. Nearly fell on my ass when the captain told us early this morn.”
I glared at the ‘H’ word, earning a toothy grin from the redhead sitting across from me. Their lack of surprise now made sense though. Everyone had been brought up to speed about the curveball fate had thrown at me in regard to the demon lord.
“Question is…” Baden shifted his weight to his other foot, arms crossed and biceps bulging. “Can we really trust him?”
