Page 50 of I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend

“Is something wrong?” He looked at my hand.

“I didn’t think you were still looking.” I turned from him and focused on the muted screen depicting a group of wolves in battle.

“I told you I would.” He reached for his own glass. “I know it took a lot longer than I thought, but I keep my word. Problem is, I don’t have as many allies as I once did.”

“Right.” I honestly hadn’t thought of separating our bond in weeks. It didn’t feel necessary. Despite his lack of humanity, Metice had become one of my favorite people, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to end that. If our bond broke, what reason would he have for coming back? “How do we fix it?”

“I’m not sure yet. I have a lead on someone who might know, but-” He paused.

“But what?” That damn tinge of hope raised in my gut. Maybe he would say he didn’t want to do it.

“It will be dangerous.” Metice’s words crushed that budding hope like an ant beneath a boot. “From my research, the process is difficult and painful.”

“Painful? Is that for you or me?” I asked. Call me selfish, but I figured a centuries old demon had a higher pain tolerance than I ever would.

“Both of us.” He sipped his drink. “If it were just me, I would have done it already, but I wanted to give you a heads up so you know what to expect.”

“Do you still want to do it?” I asked. “Knowing that it will be painful and dangerous?”

“It’s the safest thing for you,” he answered.

“But the spell worked. They can’t find me,” I rebutted.

“They know about you. They know if they find you and hurt you, it will hurt me. That is motivation enough for them to keep trying.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “The unknowing downfall of becoming top in the business. Once you reach it, no one will let you go.”

“Hmm.” There I was, sitting next to a being I’d just found out had never been anything but a demon. My head spun with thoughts and budding emotions. Was the idea of his humanity that important to me? Did I want to sever our bond? Was I willing to deal with any demonic downfall if we didn’t? And what the hell had he been through to make the other demons want to hurt him so badly? Maybe he wasn’t innocent just because I wanted him to be.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “You look like your mind is somewhere else.”

“Yeah, sorry. You’ve given me a lot to think about,” I admitted.

“I understand. I should go.” He stood. “There are things I need to take care of. You take your time to think. I’ll be back, okay?”

“Okay.” I nodded, and he vanished.

He was gone for a week. Seven days of thinking about what he said. Seven days of worrying that the demons who hated him had finally gotten to him. Could I deal with that worry for the rest of my life? That’s what it would be if I chose to remain bonded to him, constant concern that he’d been hurt or that they’d finally found a way to get to me.

When I hit day seven, I realized I’d need to get food or I’d starve. Metice had taken the role of grocery delivery man, and I stood in front of an empty refrigerator with my stomach growling. I’d just stepped inside my home after a quick trip to the grocery store when I felt the familiar tension of his return.

“Rayna.” Metice appeared in the kitchen behind me.

The petty part of my brain wanted to ignore him, but then I smelled it: the sweet scent of apricots. I turned to find the demon standing in my home holding the little blue pet I’d convinced him to care for.

“Piko!” I screamed, holding my hands out. The damn thing went crazy.

He jumped from Metice’s arms, shot across the kitchen, knocked over every chair, and darted down the hall towards the stairs. Metice ran after him, and I prayed he wouldn’t completely destroy my home.

“Piko!” I ran after the two and flinched every time I heard something smash to the floor. “Please stop! It’s okay, boy.”

When I caught up to them, Metice had Piko blocked into the corner of my bedroom. The ugly little table that I hated so much was smashed on the floor. The shattered pieces looked far more beautiful than when they were whole.

“Is he okay?” I asked, standing behind Metice.

“He’s fine. Just shocked by the transition.” He lowered his voice. “Come on, buddy, calm down.”

Piko whimpered, and then his enormous eyes locked onto me. That silly little face grinned, and he bolted across the room, through Metice’s legs, and jumped into my arms. The impact knocked me backward and into the armchair next to my desk as he licked my face and chirped.

“I think he recognizes me.” I laughed, then pushed Piko back. “Okay, I like you and all, but no licking my face. I don’t get down like that.”

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