Ashmedai stared, waiting for the punchline. When none came, he said, “That’s it?”
Daniel blinked at him. “You were expecting more?”
“Those aren’t sins or vices.”
Daniel sputtered. “Wh-What are you talking about? Pride, ignorance, jealousy?”
Ashmedai scoffed. “Weak sins. Figures.”
“Figures?” Daniel repeated, looking torn between affronted and amused. “How’s that?”
“You have a bright soul. Puny sins.”
Daniel laughed uproariously, throwing his head back. “I’m sorry I havepuny sins, sin eater. At least you aren’t tempted to snack on me.”
“I would never.” The very idea was appalling. Nicolas would hate it. Besides, bright souls probably tasted terrible. Like a raw, unseasoned thing.
Daniel smiled, looking endeared. “What’s a good sin, then, in your opinion? Do sins taste different?”
“They do. Good sins… Murder. Greed. Together, a nice flavor. Guilt washes out sin. True sinners feel none. Or they feel… justified. Defensive. Never admit wrongdoing.That’sprideful.”
Daniel’s face twisted. “Yeah, okay, that makes sense. The real monsters won’t see their actions as wrong. They’ll never feel bad about hurting someone else.”
“Exactly.” Ashmedai mulled those words over in his head. Real monsters. Wasn’t he a monster? He felt nothing for the sinners he devoured. But he felt other things. Longing. Heartache. Sadness. Frustration. Were all those thingsselfish in nature, because he only felt them in regards to himself? Because he wanted someone he couldn’t have?
“Ashmedai?” Daniel’s soft voice called his attention back to the present, and he couldn’t swallow back the question that bubbled to the surface.
“Why did he send me away?”
Daniel’s face collapsed with sorrow. “Because he’s an idiot.”
Ashmedai scoffed.
Daniel gave him a wan smile. “Nic has never been in a real relationship. He’s never felt real feelings for someone. I wholeheartedly believe that if he felt something real for you, he pushed you away to protect himself. Now,” he scooted to the edge of his seat and leaned forward, “can I be completely honest with you? I don’t know what you’re like when you get angry, and I’d rather not find out.”
Ashmedai nodded jerkily. “Honest, yes. Won’t get mad.”
Daniel pursed his lips, studying the shadowed hood in a way that made Ashmedai feel oddly exposed, before nodding in satisfaction. “You didn’t react well when he said he was going back to HQ to try and find those kids.”
Ashmedai’s gaze fell. Yes, Nicolas had made that very clear.
“I imagine it’s not easy for any of these demons to love their humans,” Daniel went on. “They always throw themselves into danger for the greater good. But you can’t tell him not to do it. It’s not in his nature to walk away when someone needs help.”
“What should I do, then?”
A slow smile bloomed on Daniel’s face.
“What?” Ashmedai asked.
“I just like that you’re asking. Trying to learn how to do right by him.”
That might not be possible. Maybe they were too different to ever make this work. But he wouldn’t stop until he’d tried.
Daniel saved him from having to think of a response. “Support him.”
An unhappy growl rattled out of him. “Even though he could die?”
“Well, yeah. Especially then. Because if he has somebody like you in his corner, how can he fail? You’re immortal, and crazy powerful.”
