Or at all, for that matter.
Even more relief flooded her as she felt his grip on the ropes that held her bound. For the first time ever, she was grateful he was here. Grateful to feel his strong grip on her hands.
With a fierce grimace, he tore her bindings away and scooped her up into his arms.
Sobbing in relief, she clung to him and buried her face against his neck. The scent of his skin and the hardness of his body anchored her and reassured her that she was finally safe and that no one could harm her.
A beast he might be, but he would always keep her safe. That much she knew beyond doubt. If not for her own sanity, then to at least protect his own life.
He was her beast, and never had she been more grateful for it.
Devyl hesitated at Mara’s embrace. At the warmth of her breath on his skin as she clung to him. Never once had she touched him so intimately. She sank her hand into his hair and fisted it there to hold him as if he were sacred. As if she were desperate to keep him close.
“Thank you,” she breathed against his ear, causing chills to rise up along his arms and back.
And other things to rise he was best to not think upon.
He gave her a bashful grin. “You’ve got to quit falling into such messes, my lady. One day I might not find you and then what would happen to us?”
She laughed nervously. “Perhaps you should teach me to use a sword, then?”
He arched a brow at her teasing tone and knew better than what she suggested. “A Deruvian swordmaiden?”
“Why not? You’re a Druid warrior.”
She had a point. It would be no more unlikely or out of character than his own past. “Perhaps I shall teach you, then.”
He set her down by Rafael and Alabama. “Would you mind escorting her back to the ship while I finish this?”
She hesitated at his tone. “Finish what?”
“I’m not sure you want to know my answer, given how they need to be dispatched, lest they return to prey on more hapless victims. And since their primary targets would normally be the children of Rafe’s orphanage…”
She placed her hand on his arm. “Do whatever you must.”
And with that, she headed back toward the docks with Alabama, leaving him to stand in total stupefaction after her departure.
Rafe gave him a knowing grin. “You’re gaping, Devyl. And, no offense, it’s scaring me.”
Indeed. He was flat-out floored by her words.
Baffled beyond rational thought, he set about destroying the demons’ remains while Rafe left to join the others. Yet he couldn’t quite get the strangeness of the day from his mind. What had caused Mara to change so drastically where he was concerned?
To touch him when she normally couldn’t look at him without sneering. Dare he even hope that …
Don’t think it. You know better.
She hated him.
Nothing had changed. It never would. Ever since Thorn had brought them back, she’d been as frigid and vicious to him as always.
He was everything Mara despised. Everything she found repellent in the world.
Meanwhile, she was the epitome of beauty and grace to him, even though he did his best to deny and extinguish all untoward thoughts. A light that shined so brightly he didn’t dare look at her for fear of going blind from the intensity of her innocent purity. Never had he met her equal in character or kindness.
If only she’d have shown some to him. Instead, they had fought worse than his parents. Any time she came into his presence, it ended in a vicious verbal altercation that left him wanting to strangle her. Left him one heartbeat away from the violence he deplored as much as she did.
Nay, there was nothing between them except centuries of hostile regret and bitter words.
