Page 137 of Married to the Devil

I want to ask questions, but I don’t interrupt. Stoneheart’s words vibrate through his chest, both hypnotizing and calming me.

“It’s not an excuse, but it affects me. Makes me greedy in all things.” He pauses. “Especially when it comes to you.”

His brow creases in pain I want to wipe away, but I’m supposed to be angry with him still.

“I am very sorry that I reacted badly to the knowledge that the child you carry is Ben’s. I was jealous,” he says.

“And now you’re not?”

“In that moment, it felt like you were being snatched away from me. It took time for me to realize that I was my own worst enemy, and the real reason you turned away was me.”

“You’re allowed to be disappointed that it’s not yours,” I whisper. I’m not sure if I’m disappointed or not myself. I try not to think too much about it. I want the baby, I even want it to be part Ben, but it’s scary the idea of caring for something so fragile.

“I’m not. That it’s yours is the most important fact.” He hesitates. “But will you allow me to claim parentage of the child? To help raise it with you?”

I stiffen. “I don’t want to take that from Ben. Even if he doesn’t want it.”

Stoneheart relaxes. “I’m sure the demon will come to his senses eventually. Gargoyle clans share the term parent when it comes to those in relationships with multiple mates. We’d both be the father if you wished it.”

“I want that.” It sounds like a fantasy. “But do you think he’s really coming back? He accused us of trapping him.” I shake my head, getting upset all over again.

“Ah,” he says with a wince. “He may have a reason for that.”

I narrow my eyes. “What did you do?”

“I technically didn’t do anything.”

Ha.

Stoneheart continues, “I only put the pieces together for the best possible outcome.”

I raise my brows, waiting.

He huffs. “Demons bond naturally. I knew it was a possibility if you two spent a lot of time together and shared deep feelings.”

“So, you were waiting for his nature to do the work for you? And Ben didn’t anticipate that?” I ask, rubbing my chest.

Stoneheart shifts in discomfort. “Apparently he isn’t very familiar with his demon lineage or the ins and outs of it.”

Did we bond? I don’t ask it out loud because I don’t need to. The connection exists, it’s so subtle, I’d miss it if I wasn’t looking. I’d chalked the distant sensation as a fanciful thing.

“That explains it,” I say, thoughtful and sad. Ben would feel trapped especially if it wasn’t something he planned on.

But does Stoneheart know that he’s involved? Because I feel him. Felt him when he realized I’d broken apart the labradorite when he knew it symbolized something more to me.

There are too many questions that neither of us can answer without a certain demon’s presence.

But Ben left.

And despite Stoneheart’s confidence, I don’t think he’s coming back.

45

REMY

Touching Stellaafter days of distance and her ire is a gift. It makes me hesitant to let her go, so I don’t. We stay in the bed and enjoy the solace of being together.

I’m able to get her to stomach a few bites of lunch before coaxing her into taking a nap, her head on my lap. I don’t think she’s slept in the bed for more than an hour at a time since Ben left. Tiredness gives the skin under her eyes a purple hue.

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