Her fingers stilled.
The admission terrified her.
She hadn’t realized she’d actually grown to care for him—to actuallyenjoyhis company.
The realization felt like being doused in cold water.
Friends, sure. Lovers, fine. But there was no way she had fallen head-over-heels for a demon.
No.Her throat closed.Please, no.
She didn’t want to—couldn’t love a monster.
She had guarded her heart so carefully.How could I have let this happen?
Images pressed upon her mind. Dead bodies—skinned and left like deer carcasses, goblets of blood, and women found in the woods with their throats ripped out.
Nasera’s words came back to her: Another woman disappeared last week—any friends of demons are no friends of mine.
She felt sick.
Her eyes became unspeakably sad as she stared at the wall. Perhaps the angel was right to warn her. Could she really blame an angel for denying her admittance to the Peaceful Realms if they knew she had stayed with a demon willingly? That she had turned a blind eye to so many atrocities because the monster had a handsome face?
She swallowed.
A finger lifted her chin to tilt her face up to his.
“Elizabeth, my beauty, what’s wrong?” Caspian asked in concern.
She looked at him—those green eyes so sincere, so human. She touched his jaw, staring into his eyes and trying to find the words to say that. Yet, even though he had regained some small measure of his humanity while being with her, it wasn’t enough.
I just realized I’m half in love with you, and I will either be the enemy of my heart if I leave or damn my eternal soul if I stay.
“Tell me what’s bothering you, so that I can make it better,” Caspian said seriously, his hand coming to rest gently on her back.
Slowly, she said, “I am thinking about returning home soon. And consequences. I am thinking about consequences.”
He raised his brows. “Whatever you need, my carriage is yours. It goes without saying.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, but the words felt hollow.
Home. Where she was an outcast—a disgrace. Where she would be paraded about for the court hens to gossip about.
“Why do you look sad?” he asked, tilting his head and smirking. “Did we not just make love?”
“We did, and it was nice. I just … I feel like I am becoming a ruined woman.”
“Yes, but you’remyruined woman,” he growled. “So, you are perfect.”
My ruined woman.The possessiveness in his voice sent heat spiraling through her even as it confirmed her worst fears. She was his. Completely. And that felt like the most beautiful and terrible thing in the world.
“You would say that.” She raised an eyebrow and gave him a wry smile, ignoring the twisting in her gut.
He smiled broadly—a rare moment of peaceful joy written across his face. “But tell me, what’s troubling you, my beauty, so that I can fix it.” He stroked her arm comfortingly.
My beauty.
Even his pet name for her reeked of possessiveness. A demon had offered her safe shelter, and she had willingly wandered into his waiting claws.
