Page 16 of Demon's Obsession

“Blissful Bond,” Merihem jabbed his thumb at Dakata, “It is life and death for the human realm if Daks doesn’t find his guy. You should’ve seen the mess he’s left already.”

That got the giant demon’s attention, focusing directly on Dakata. His large body shuddered making his cock bob up and down. “Oh fuck, you poor asshole. I heard it’s worse than getting cursed by the king of demons, Asmodeus, and we all know how much that sucks for the demon stupid enough to cross him.”

“I’m not here looking for sympathy, but to find Silas.”

Kishi’s brows pinched together, and his hand waved in the air. “You can find him yourself down here.”

“He’s in the human realm,” Dakata snapped, then reeled his temper back in. He needed Kishi on his side. “He’s a tree nymph.”

A dark chuckle and a spark of delight lit Kishi’s gaze as he slapped his thigh. “Well, ain’t that the kicker. That’s gonna beinteresting.”

There was something about the way he said it that made Dakata’s human side antsy. “What do you mean ‘interesting’?”

“Tree nymphs, their spirits connect to the forest, and directly to the tree they live in. They can’t leave for more than a few hours because it diminishes their life force.” Large shoulders shook with Kishi’s laughter. “You’re gonna have to go live in a tree, Mr. I don’t do slumming it.”

Merihem made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded decidedly like a chuckle. Dakata threw him a dark look, because even his demon wasn’t so sure he was ready to live without his home comforts.

“So, you still want me to find him?”

Merihem and Kishi stared at him, their amusement pissing him off when the answer remained a resounding, “Yes.”

Kishi clasped his hands together and his eyes rolled into the back of his head, leaving only the white visible. His lips moved and his fingers danced against each other. Every demon had their own ritual, so Dakata and Merihem kept silent.

After what felt like an eternity, Kishi’s eyes rolled back into place and he extended a hand to Dakata, grinning wildly. “I know where he is. You ready to get all blissed out in the forest?”

Were they?

Chapter Eleven

Silas

You stayed away too long this time.

“I know. I know. It wasn’t intentional.” Silas groaned as he flung off his town clothes, kicking off his boots, hanging his new top carefully on one of the lower branches, before clicking himself up one of his regular shifts—light material that left his legs and feet free, covering just enough for modesty’s sake.

He waited until the limbs of his tree contorted into a ladder, letting him climb up to the sweet hollow his tree created for him—his resting spot. His limbs could barely move, but he persisted,resting his head on the smooth wood that waited for him. “You heard him, didn’t you? You know why I took longer to come home. Do you know why that demon behaved that way? Was it my fault?”

It had taken the last of Silas’s strength to wait in town long enough for pizzas to be made and collected, George grumbling as he waited in a drive-through. Silas knew it was George’s concern about him that made him grumble and didn’t take offense. Between the screaming and the panic of so many humans, plus spending so much time soothing the demon so he would listen to him—Silas was confused and turned around in so many directions he didn’t know which was up anymore.

“I feel like I left a piece of myself behind tonight,” he whispered, so only his tree could hear. Silas opened up his senses, allowing the strength and durability of his oak to seep into his soul. “Can you feel it? Is there something wrong with me? Was I so wrong to take my gift to town? Can I be fixed, or has this demon broken me in some way?”

Oh, Silas.Silas was sure the tree was laughing at him.So many questions for a troubled mind. Breathe. Listen to the sounds of the night in the forest, focus your eyes upon the stars, fill your nostrils with the clean air, rest your ears with the tranquility of nature at night.

“You know what’s wrong with me. I can tell by the way you’re speaking to me now.” Silas went to sit up, only to get gently nudged back into position by a stray branch. “Surely I would rest more easily if I knew what I’ve done wrong.”

You’re always quick to think you’re the one in the wrong.The leaves of the tree rustled as if his oak was sighing.If you did as I asked, you’d see the answers for yourself.

Silas tried. His tree was an old soul, and when he’d been young, sent out to see which growth would make his heart sing, he’d wandered past the giant oak three times, unwilling tobelieve the old oak was interested in someone so untried as a dryad as he was. Eventually, the oak had taken matters into their own hands, grabbing Silas up in their lower branches, settling them on a sturdy branch more than ten feet above the ground.

Silas smiled as he remembered that day now. It had taken him a bit of time to realize he wasn’t annoying the tree by walking past—he was just oblivious to how the oak was trying to gain his attention.

You’ll see the answer for yourself now if you just calm your soul. Don’t think about the demon for a moment. Share your story about Jennifer and Oliver.

That was easy. “She was a kindred soul. Did you hear her say she felt she could see nature’s blooms when I sang? And her gift was truly thoughtful. Jennifer has clearly been mocked just for creating my lovely top, and yet she has the strength to do it, anyway. She is an incredible lady.”

And you trusted your instincts, calling on Oliver to protect your friend.Silas basked in the oak’s approval.He came into that club wondering if he’d ever have a purpose again, and you gave him one. They will form roots, those two. Of that, I am sure.

That was his tree’s highest compliment. “I hope so.” Silas laid back, staring at the night sky. “She is so creative. I really felt that she just needed someone in her corner.”

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