Page 19 of Cry for Help

“Yes,” Malphas said slowly. “But she needs more than one outfit.”

Stolas glanced at me and then down to his book. “I suppose I can take her.”

I tried not to be excited about going into the city. After all, I hadn’t gone into a shore inyears.

Cool, calm, and collected, that was me.

“Don’t forget to feed her,” Malphas called over his shoulder as he grabbed a bread roll and bit into it. “You bought her. You take care of her.”

Stolas closed his book, placing it on the table. He coughed, the action born from nerves.

I had no idea what he had to be nervous about. He was a demon in the Red City. He had magic. Agency. He wasn’t living out the rest of a life sentence. A second-class citizen.

Stolas pinched the bridge of his nose and forced a smile. It fell flat. His hair was stuck up in several places, adding to his harried appearance. “Should we start over?” He suggested.

“Why?” I signed. “You can’t understand me.”

He growled in frustration and muttered something thatsounded a lot like, ‘Caim is enjoying this too much.’

I had no idea what he meant by that.

“Come on,” Stolas reached for the jacket on the back of his chair, donning it as he stood—the swinging garment looked a lot like wings. He moved towards the door, passing beside me, his arm brushing mine as I watched him go.

I didn’t know him well, but I sensed that Stolas carried a lot on his shoulders—perhaps more than I understood.

He stopped, pausing to face me. He opened his mouth and closed it again, unable to find whatever words he needed. I met his dark, endless eyes, my brow furrowed in confusion as I waited.

We’d had a moment before, though maybe I’d just imagined it.

I definitely wasn’t imagining it now.

Stolas reached for my arms, his entire face locked in concentration as he stared at me like a complex equation he could not solve. He leaned in, at first, I thought, to study me. I froze, unsure what to do with his laser-point focus.

I was forgettable.

Ignorable.

Silent.

As Stolas pressed his lips against mine, like a man trying to find the solution to a problem, I didn’t feel forgettable.

I felt dangerous.

I reached up, my fingers tangling in his hair. Melting as I breathed in his scent and tasted the mint on his breath. Stolas kissed like a feather, leaving the skin of my lips burning, aching for more.

My nipples hardened, and I pressed myself to his chest, deepening the kiss. I wantedmore. Much more.

It had been years, and Stolas was tall, dark, and handsome. He smelled like magic and looked like the devil.

My own magic rose like nighttime shadows under my skin.

I wanted toclaimhim.

I stepped back, panting, holding my hands up to create a wall between us.

Jesus. I’d almost claimed him.

I shook my head to clear it.

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