“This isn’t a game, Simkey.”
“No.” Thorn gently nudged her toward Kat. “It’s not and I’m here to ask you something important.”
Styxx scoffed. “Are you kidding? You just laid waste to a good portion of prime Las Vegas real estate. There’s a body count out there that warrants the governor calling out the National Guard.”
Thorn cringed at that. “I would say I’m sorry, but we both know it would be insincere. And I’d tell you that I don’t remember it, except I doubt you’d believe me. Even if it’s true.”
“Then what happened?” Ash asked.
“I really don’t know. My last memory is fuzzy. All I can recall is being stuffed in a room and left there after I had a bad conversation with my son.” He gestured toward Simi. “I really lost myself. Paimon and Noir knew what they were doing when they trapped me. I can’t handle what I damned my son to. Something inside me broke and it unleashed the demon. I had no control over myself. I never would have attacked humans had I been in my right mind.”
Styxx scowled at him. “So what? You’re here to apologize?”
Thorn turned toward Acheron. “Well, yes, and I’m here to ask for Simi’s hand in marriage.”
Faster than anyone could blink, Acheron exploded. His skin turned a swirling blue. Black horns jutted from his head at the same time a pair of black wings sprang out.
One second, he was in front of Thorn, the next, he had him on the ground in a choke hold so tight, that Thorn actually feared dying.
“Akri, no! Stop!” Simi grabbed Acheron’s arms. “Let him go! Don’t you dare hurt him!”
For the first time in his extremely long life, Thorn didn’t fight back. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Simi, and of all people, he knew how much Simi loved her akri. If it meant his life to keep from breaking her heart, he would.
He felt the demon drain out of him. All of it. He was in human form, on the floor and he was pretty sure he was turning the same shade of blue as Acheron.
The moment he was no longer a demon, Acheron returned to his own human form.
But he didn’t release Thorn.
“Would you kindly remove your hands from my throat, Acheron?”
His grip tightened for a moment. Then Ash let out a fierce roar, released him and stood up. “I should rip your head off your shoulders.”
“I would not enjoy that.”
“And neither would the Simi.” She moved to stand between them.
To Thorn’s shock, she turned toward him and scowled as she saw his neck. “No! You damaged my Thorny! How could you, akri?”
Acheron’s nostrils flared. “How could you, Simi? It was bad with Nick, but Thorn? Seriously? Thorn?”
Wow. No one had ever used his name as an insult before. It was quite impressive.
Thorn pushed himself to his feet. “Let’s be clear, Blue Man Group. I haven’t touched Simi.”
That took some of the bluster from him. “What?”
“I love her, Acheron. I want to marry her. But I haven’t touched her … other than a kiss.”
A myriad of emotions played across Acheron’s face. With an astonished expression, he turned toward Simi. “No?”
“No. Thorny always been a gentle demon. That why the Simi’s in love with him. ’Cause he’s not only quality. He’s the bestest. So, don’t you hurt him, akri. The Simi would never forgive you.”
Styxx let out a low whistle at that. “So … how do we proceed?”
Kat clapped him on the back. “Bad news, Dad. Simi grew up.”
“Would you all stop!” It was obvious Acheron wasn’t enjoying their teasing. “I’m trying hard to process this without committing murder. And none of you are helping.” He turned back toward Thorn. “You have more nerve than anyone I’ve ever known.”
