Page 16 of My Demon Mate

“Thank you,” he breathes, then plants his lips on mine. His kiss is desperate and hard, his hands roaming over my body like he does not know where he wants to touch me. I hold him close, letting him touch and kiss me how he wants. He needs this. He needs to know I am here for him and I will take care of him, just as I said.

The only thing that pulls our lips apart is the growling of our stomachs. Everest moves back, a shy grin on his face. “I’m a little hungry. We didn’t eat last night.”

“Let me feed you, then we will get some clothes. Whatever you want, the sky is the limit.”

“I can’t ask you to do that. If you want, we can go back to get some of my things. I can climb through my window. It’s never been secure.”

With a growl, I frame his face and stare into his eyes. “Unless we are going back so I can kill your father, you will not return there. Do you understand? You are mine now, so I will take care of you. And if I want to spend money on you, I will.”

“God, I’m sure that’s not supposed to be hot.” He claps a hand over his mouth. “Am I supposed to say God? Since, you know …?”

I chuckle, kissing him again quickly and leading him out of the house so we can get breakfast and go shopping. “You can say it if you want. I can as well, I just choose not to. I will not burn or anything like that.”

“Do all demons look like you?”

“What do you mean? Human?”

He nods and smiles as I put him in the car and slide his seatbelt on. When I climb into the driver’s seat, I answer his question. “If we want to take on this form. I look very different in my true form.”

“Can I see?”

I grin. “One day, baby. What do you want to eat?”

He directs me to a mom and pop diner the next town over that is practically empty. We have breakfast, Everest telling me more about his life and those that have mistreated him. There is his father, and some of his abuse I saw myself; his boss who I tried to convince him to stab in the neck before he summoned me; the sheriff who has been turning a blind eye to Everest’s abuse for years, as well as tormenting him for being gay; and his bully from school, Joey Michaels. Joey’s bullying was before my time, having last tormented Everest a few weeks before my mate turned eighteen. I had a vague awareness of the severe bullying from the thoughts that slipped through about it before Everest had the chance to shove them away, or the moments his emotions would take over when working on his graphic novels. He treated Everest like shit for years, making his days at school a living hell. He will die just as the rest will.

Everest stabs his eggs as he says, “He gave me hell since we were kids. It got even worse when people started saying I was a fa—” he cuts the word off and shakes his head, disgust and sorrow showing on his face in equal measures. “That’s what they called me since I was ten. After that, things with Joey got worse. Not just making me bring him money and calling me other terrible names, but beating me up after gym class, saying I looked at him while he was changing. That went on until senior year. He was a popular kid, so when others saw how he treated me, they followed suit. My time in school was terrible.”

“So you want him gone too?”

For the first time, steel enters those fathomless eyes and I feel my hearts quicken. Is he going to do it? “All of them, Raven. Everyone that’s done me wrong. They all need to die.”

“Is this your command?” I ask, leaning forward, hoping to hear the words.

“It is.”

I grin, inclining my head. I have my orders, now I just need to execute for Everest.

After breakfast, Everest directs me to a mall about an hour from the small town he lives in. He tries to be frugal, only picking up things that are on what is called a clearance rack. It takes some prodding—and a lot of begging—but I get him to buy the things he really wants, spending a good amount of money on everything he picks up.

We leave with at least five bags in each hand, Everest wearing a beautiful smile on his face. He seems lighter since deciding he really wants these people eliminated.

I did not think he would give me the command so quickly. He was so afraid this morning, I thought I would have to convince him to let me off my leash. But he was so brave, taking his life back and giving me permission to rob his tormentors of theirs.

Once back at the house, I relieve him of his bags and put everything away. I order us some dinner, and we eat in front of the fireplace, Everest peppering me with questions about Xendail.

A giggle bubbles from his throat as we talk about my home. “So you live in a tree? Won’t the fire burn it down?”

I grin at him with a shake of my head. “There is no fire. This is not like the fairy tales told to you. We do have fireplaces in the homes that are constructed of stone. And it is what you would call a treehouse here, but it is made of the tree. I cannot explain it more than that. I would have to show you.”

“Show me? I can really go?” His eyes are round, dancing with excitement.

“You can. But not until we are mated. You cannot cross to my plane unless you are tied to me. As I have not claimed you, you are not technically my mate.”

Everest pouts, his lip poking out adorably. “So we’re not dating?”

“We are here on Earth, but on Xendail, we do not date. We are only mated.”

He seems to accept that answer. “I’d like to see your treehouse. It sounds really beautiful.” He pauses thoughtfully, then asks, “There’s really no fire?”

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