Page 32 of Married to the Devil

Stella hums. “I won’t say it.”

Fiona laughs. “You don’t have to. I don’t think anyone expects you to like him yet, but he’ll grow on you.”

I frown at the sandwich in front of me.That’s what I’m afraid of.

But for the life of me I don’t know if I’m more worried about him growing on Stella…or me.

11

STELLA

It’slong after the sun has set, and the surrounding city lights come alive like glitter in a black sea when I push away from the charm I’m working on and stretch.

Ben’s gaze is like a touch. It’s not the gentle reminder to come back to the real world to tell me it was lunch and then the same for dinner, but it feels forbidden still.

Dinner had been just the two of us, Fiona must have been busy working for Stoneheart, and it’s hard not to feel a little jealous of the fact that her purpose is so clearly defined compared to mine.

Stoneheart has not gotten back to me with how I can help.

The ringing silence of the meal was a reminder of my new aimlessness. Freedom from tasks isn’t real freedom, and the constriction of this life is starting to feel like a rope around my chest that tugs tighter with every echo of forks against our plates.

It’s only been a day, but if I focus on the sensation, I’ll be begging to leave the penthouse within minutes.

And that means facing the Leonids. The extended family who are waiting with bated breath for me to mess up. The same people who cast my mother aside.

Lions may not be monogamous, but there is certainly a double standard, since infidelity was the explanation Lorenzo Leonid used to disown me.

There is no denying I’m a Leonid, I passed that blood test to enter the spelled compound when I involved myself in this mess. Lorenzo can’t be the only guilty party, and a good portion of me is still angry about what happened. The unfairness of it if not for the rejection alone.

If I’m going to socialize with them, I have to get over that.

Tomorrow.Tomorrow I’ll leave the penthouse and face the nameless cronies who allowed my mother to be abandoned with a newborn. I don’t think I can be cooped up any longer.

The bracelet that I’ve been working on lays in disjointed pieces, but I’m past the point of the patience I’d need to troubleshoot it more tonight.

“It looks like you made good progress,” Ben says, ignorant of my thoughts. The comment is a safe one to make since I started on this charm from scratch. I’ve already tried a few gem combinations, but it’s missing something.

I sigh. “It’s not working quite right, but I’ll solve it tomorrow. I have an idea of what to try.”

He doesn’t ask what the charm is for, which is fortunate because I’m not quite ready to tell him.

The creation of it is still too close to my heart and the possibilities of what it will allow too far reaching. I have a gargoyle to speak to and a territory to consider…

My yawn is sudden and cracking. I have no idea what time it is, but I need to sleep after the amount of magic I wove into the metal today.

“I’m going to start getting ready for bed,” I say. “I don’t know what Stoneheart expects you to do?—”

“I should stay close if not have my eye on you.”

I raise my brows. “Well, you can wait in our room while I shower then.”

Hopefully removing his scent from my skin.

I’m too sleepy to tease Ben about his blush. It’s the first sign of his feelings since he’d touched my arm to reassure me earlier. Since then, he’s kept to himself. Which is good… being cautious is good.

I rush through the shower. The echo of the bathroom and curling quiet of the day is starting to get to me now that I’m not distracted by my work. Before I’m mentally ready, I’m back in the generic bedroom in a modest but thin sleep set.

Ben lounges in the corner where a pair of sitting chairs angle toward each other. His hands are interlaced in front of him, his tablet missing for once. The lamp next to the chair is the only light in the room, and its warmth illuminates the coffee table with a fake fruit center piece in front of him.

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