Page 30 of Demonic Affliction

Just what I said.

I take a deep breath in through my nose. I meant: What was I supposed to be thanking you for?

Saving your life. Duh.

You’re the one who saved me?

Not my first time inhabiting a human vessel. Your species requires a lot of maintenance.

Maintenance… like I’m a damn SUV in need of an oil change instead of a person who had their throat ripped out and lost a gallon of blood. I purse my lips, crossing my arms over my chest. Where the hell were you all the other times I was hurt or in danger, then?

Spoon laughs—actually laughs. I would never expend my energy on something non-life-threatening until we are fully assimilated. Your beloved males can handle your bumps and scrapes just fine.

You’re a dick.

A dick who just saved your sad little life.

I let out a deep groan, wishing I could punch Spoon in the face somehow. I’m done talking to you.

Goody. I was starting to worry you would never stop.

“Such an asshole,” I mutter under my breath. I hate you.

Love you too, Willow.

The way it throws my earlier words back at me has me seeing red. “I fucking hate you!”

“Willow?”

I turn my attention toward Rhune, guilt washing over me when I take in his heart-stricken expression. “Sorry, Rhune. I was yelling at Spoon.”

“Spoon?”

“Oh, right. That’s what I call the voice in my head. Kinda cute, right?”

“I guess so…” He looks at Nyx and Dravik, clearly still shaken.

“I’m okay. I promise.” I lay a hand on his thigh. “As okay as I can be.”

He whines, reaching out to touch the freshly healed skin on my neck once more. “I hate that I was not there to protect you.”

“We all do,” Nyx adds, dejectedly.

I console them as best I can, and slowly, the tension in the room eases.

Despite everything that has happened, my mind keeps circling back to Cin. I keep thinking about the tenderness in his eyes the moment before he was lost to madness. I feel a sense of guilt, like what happened was somehow because of me—or rather, because of the serafyn inhabiting my body.

I need to see Cin. I need to make sure he’s okay. More than anything, though, I need him to know I don’t blame him for what happened. I blame the serafyn.

“So…” I start. “Where is Cin?”

Rhune runs a palm down my back soothingly. “We locked him away in a separate room. Dagny’s mates are guarding him. He can’t hurt you anymore, Willow.”

“Oh. Good.” I drop my eyes to my lap.

Before I can ask anything more, there is a knock on the door. Dagny comes in, wearing a tired smile and eyes filled with worry.

“Hi, Willow,” she says softly. “You gave us all quite a scare.”