Page 19 of Married to the Devil

And I almost lost him.

I would have died for him if I had to, but I didn’t have the ability to save him. Only his mate did.

And I endangered her to ensure it could be done.

I’ll understand if he never forgives me.

When I make it to the study, he sits on the windowsill, swiping through the tablet in his scaly black hands. Kalos almost never takes full human form. For the longest time, I thought it was to remind the people around him what he is, but now I think it’s to remind himself. He is an ancient creature who lives in modern times. The world is new and messy, but his connection to the dragon part of himself is constant.

“Morning.” My voice has a hoarse quality. I hate that he’s angry with me.

Instead of making me wait on his imperious mood as he’s done for the last couple of days, he responds immediately.

“Ben.” There’s no derision in his voice, and there’s a lightness to him today. The stress that had lined his body last night has lifted.

“Katarina?” I ask, though I’m hopeful that his good mood is because of her.

“She’s doing well.” The relief on his face is stark.

“Good,” I breathe. After the close call that endangered her child, she’s been…off. I’m glad that she’s healing. A little bit of the guilt that surrounds my heart leaves me. “I’m glad.”

Kalos nods in silence. There’s a moment where I relax. Everything had really worked out. Everyone in our family and territory is safe and whole. We did it.

He clears his throat. “I’ve received a message from Stoneheart this morning. He has an interesting proposal that I thought you may want to look at.”

I take the tablet from him, and the warmth in my heart douses as I read the message. The wording is sharp and direct, making me think the gargoyle himself drafted this up. The offeris a surprise, but the real surprise is that Kalos is entertaining it. “What is this?”

Kalos frowns. “Stoneheart says that it would be temporary.”

“Do you want me to leave?” I swallow the knot in my throat. I don’t need a pity assignment if I’m being dismissed. If Kalos doesn’t trust me anymore, I’m useless. “I know that I?—”

“Ben. Of course not,” Kalos interrupts me, standing.

The hurt still settles in my chest and makes it hard to speak.

Kalos takes a breath before he continues. It’s the only indication that he’s struggling. “I’m sorry I’ve been taking out my anger and fear on you.” The statement is one that he’d never have given before gaining his mate. Katarina has opened the part of his heart we all knew was there even if he never exposed it. “Of course, I don’t want you to leave.”

I blink and nod, the relief powerful. “Okay.”

Kalos continues, “I thought you may be interested in the arrangement because you were…concerned about Stella. But it would make sense to deny the offer. I can tell him that the current terms of our alliance stand.”

“I am concerned about her.” Concern is what makes my heart ache…

He tilts his head. “But would it be wise for you to be around her?”

No. But I did this. It was my strategy that led her to this life. Even with my determination to keep my distance, I can’t deny my need to ensure her safety. She needed me last night. She could need me again.

The offer seems too good to be true. Since it’s Stoneheart, it’s definitely too good to be true. He must have some sort of plan with this, but my suspicion won’t keep me from stepping into his snare.

“I can keep it professional,” I say. “What about my work here?”

Kalos’s golden eyes observe me carefully. Is anyone ignorant of my feelings for Stella? Have I walked around with a neon sign above my head titled “demon heartsick for the witch who insults him”?

“You are invaluable,” he says. “But if this is what you want to do, I can move people around and hold down the fort. You’ve put so many systems in place that much of the work isn’t something that has to manually be done.”

He’s not wrong. I’m good at coming up with efficient solutions to problems. It’s my forte.

This type of a position with Stoneheart isn’t, but with my skills, I feel confident that I can remove Stella from any bad situation.

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