“Are we topside? We’re not, right? This is some…ancient dimension or something?” She can’t seem to stop scanning the area, her head swiveling back and forth.
“Probably. It was old when I was young. I’ve never seen anyone else here, but that doesn’t mean others don’t know about it. I also haven’t found anything truly scary hidden in the trees.”
“So I don’t have to worry about anything eating me?”
I tap her on the nose, and she fixes her gaze on me. “Only me.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s really calming here.”
“I think so. While I did want you to see it, I also figured this was the best place,” I say nonchalantly.
“Best place for what?”
“Well, you want to run from me…this is safer than a world riddled with volcanic activity.” I cross my arms and see the moment my words click into place.
She slips off the trunk and holds her hands up. “Whoa there, demon. I thought we were going to have like a picnic or something. Not a chase scene where you give me a minute head start, then chase after me.”
“Then fuck you against a tree. And then again on a bed of soft needles. And once more in the cave just to the north.” I tip my chin toward the mountain rising over the trees behind her, then obscured by wispy white clouds.
She glances over her shoulder, then back at me. “Except I don’t know where I’m going and you do. Doesn’t that seem like I’m at a disadvantage?”
“I’m a demon, spitfire. You’re always at a disadvantage in these cases.” I smirk at her scowl.
“And what do we do aboutthat?” She points behind me, and I follow the direction.
I search the trees, trying to peer through the fog at whatever she spotted. All while she attempts to sneak away. She probably would have gotten away with it if she hadn’t stepped on a twig. I grin, pretending I’m still focused on her imaginary sighting.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Marigold. There’s nothing there.”
Her giggle, quickly cut off, comes from the west, and I sigh before settling on the worn-down trunk. I count silently in my head to a hundred. She still isn’t far enough away to truly make this a chase, but she’s not ready for one of those yet. Eventually, we’ll explore more. For now, this is perfect.She’sperfect. At least for me.
The last few months have been an upheaval in both our lives. With Ludo suitably punished, they have yet to find a replacement. Triton took off to fuck-knows-where, and I’ve been stepping in for him. It doesn’t give me quite as much free time as I want with Mari. Apparently she’s been putting that extra time to good use. She’s still not ready to give up her life topside.
Providence and Karma have been planning something, but they won’t tell me what. I suspect it’s a way for us to travel freely through the dimensions. I don’t really give a fuck where we end up, as long as it’s wherever Mari is. I still haven’t fully come to grips with the fact she chose me. Whenever I say that, though, she gives me a look and tells me to pull my head out of my ass. A smile creeps to my lips as I remember when she shoved me out the window for telling her she could do better. Granted, she didn’t know the window was open, but still. Funny as hell.
I push to my feet and close my eyes. It only takes me a few seconds to pinpoint her location. She’s practically screaming where she is with how she’s crashing through the underbrush. I clear my throat and tip my head back.
“Ready or not, witch,” I call.
I’m met with another giggle, then take off for the tree line. I don’t even need to use any of my magic to weave my way through the trunks, the fog clearing a path for me. Mari stops half a mile ahead, and her harsh breaths ring around me. Grinning, I stalk toward her. Within minutes I spot her purple hair peeking from behind a trunk. I’m pretty sure she was trying to climb the thing, then gave up.
“Better run, witch,” I say softly, and the fog carries my words to her.
She gasps, then sprints deeper into the woods. She glances over her shoulder, her face a mixture of panic and desire. I launch over a fallen log and her eyes widen. The stream winding its way through the forest should stop her. It’s not far ahead. Andif she falls in, well, it’ll be a good reason to get her naked. As if I need one.
A frustrated groan echoes back to me as the trees open up. Instead of stopping, Mari’s feet fly over the ground. I open my mouth to stop her, but she’s already launching off the bank and sailing through the air. I rush forward, my wings bursting from my back and ripping my shirt from the sheer force of magic coursing through me. They’ve gotten stronger over the last few months. Hopefully enough to carry both of us once I save her sorry ass from drowning.
Her boots hit the soft soil on the opposite bank, and I stutter to a stop. She falls forward and scrambles up the small hill while the soil erodes under her weight. When she’s steady, she glances over her shoulder. A grin plays on her lips, and she blows me a kiss before taking off again.
“Fuck me,” I breathe.
“Will if you catch me, demon,” she yells, and I let out a laugh before I jump, allowing the wind to catch my wings. As fun as it would be to continue prowling after her, my cock is straining against my pants, and I can’t take another mini heart attack.
I land in front of her, and she skitters to a stop. She spins and runs back where we came. Snapping my fingers, I end up in front of her yet again. She glares at me, probably for using magic. She mutters something under her breath, then spins once more.
“I can do this all day, spitfire. You’ll get tired before I will,” I call with a laugh at her retreating back. My mouth drops open when a portal opens in her path and she sprints headlong into it. The last thing I see is her hair streaming behind her and her middle finger lifted over her head.
“Cheater,” I whisper harshly.
