I just left my perfectly normal world in favor of a supernatural world where demons and who knows what else roams free. Anyone would be feeling a sense of disbelief and tremendous fear. A normal reaction to being a non-powerful human in a world full of powerful creatures.
Except all I feel is numb.
Numb and so very tired.
“Miss Sinclair?—”
“Please, if you want to protect your peace and mine, you’ll call me Isabelle.” I do my best to suppress my mounting frustration due to the headache pounding in my skull. The migraine is coming on with a vengeance,and even the soft footfalls of my companion grate on my nerves.
“Isabelle,” Garvan corrects. “Would you care for a tour of the castle?”
“I imagine it’s more black furnishings and demons walking around, yeah?” I peer at him through my peripheral vision. I haven’t seen any other demons yet, but I’m certain they’re here. Somewhere.
Garvan chuckles, his hair bouncing with his movements. He reminds me of a professor, slightly nerdy and kind. Can demons even be kind? I suspect I’ll figure that out soon enough.
“Perhaps another time,” he says, not deterred by my less than enthusiastic response. “I’ll take you to your rooms then.”
We walk in silence down the hallway of the massive estate. Garvan’s blond hair is a beacon in an otherwise dark space. Light doesn’t belong here, and my eyes desperately try to adjust to the darkness. The dark is good for my migraine, but not so good for my sight.
Garvan stops abruptly, and I crash into his back, knocking the air from my lungs. “Fuck.” I catch my balance before I fall on my ass.
“Are you okay?” Garvan asks, amusement lacing his words. I think the bastard is laughing at me. I take back my kindness comment from earlier.
“Just peachy, Gar, just peachy,” I mumble, pretending I don’t hear him laugh as he opens the door to my new room. I’m hit with the smell of burning incense, a mixture of vanilla and wild berries. Garvan steps aside,not passing the threshold into my room, but allowing me to walk past him.
The room is lit by an enormous wrought-iron chandelier, its flickering candles casting eerie shadows that dance across stone walls. A deep crimson canopy bed dominates the chamber. The tall posts are carved with twisting, skeletal forms, and the canopy’s velvet drapes pooling onto the black marble floor look like spilled blood. The bed is layered with dark silks and furs, providing a stark contrast to the cold, hard surfaces of the room.
It’s…a lot.
But there’s more to it. A fire burns in a massive fireplace, heating the room to a near uncomfortable level. The only reprieve comes from the gust of cool air filtering in through an arched window shrouded in heavy black curtains.
“The washroom is just down the hall, and your wardrobe will be delivered later this evening,” Garvan says from his perch by the door. “I will have a hot meal sent up and inform King Oziel that you are getting settled in.”
“I’m sure the king is very worried about my well-being.”
Not catching on to my sarcasm, Garvan nods. “He is. Your presence here is important to us all.”
“And what exactly is my presence doing? Why does your all-mighty demon king need a human wife?” I whirl around to face Garvan, crossing my arms over my chest.
To his credit, Garvan doesn’t look down at my boobs that I inadvertently pushed up. “I’m afraid that is not myplace to tell you. King Oziel will need to be the one to have that discussion with you.”
I figured as much, but I had to test the waters. “Fine,” I sigh. “Then I want to be left alone. I haven’t slept in…” God, I don’t even remember. How long ago did I kill James? Two…three days ago? And leading up to his death, I slept like shit, my mind working in overdrive and not allowing me a moment of peace.
“Of course, I’ll let you rest.” Garvan reaches for the door to pull it shut.
“Is there a lock on the door?” I ask, strolling over to him.
“Yes, but?—”
“Perfect, thank you.” I cut him off and close the door in his face. I don’t have the energy to feel bad about it as I lock the heavy door. There’s no way anyone is getting in, at least not without waking me up.
The moment I’m alone, everything I have been running from finally catches up with me. Fear. Anger. Hurt. All the emotions hit me at once, like a heavy load placed upon my shoulders, threatening to pull me under. I let my backpack fall to the ground, relieving my shoulders of some tension.
I left in such a hurry and was so distracted, I didn’t pack any clothes to sleep in. So, instead, I undo my jeans and let them pool around my feet before stepping out and kicking them in a pile by the wall. I quickly add my bra to the pile and climb into bed in nothing but my shirt and underwear.
The blankets are soft against my skin, feeling like heaven after being forced to stay in a cold, hard cell. Theheat doesn’t even bother me as I slip under the mound of blankets into the softest damn mattress I’ve ever been on. Marrying a demon is worth it if I get this mattress.
The second my head hits the silk pillow, sleep claims me.
