Page 43 of My Guardian Demon

Osian and I were casually browsing the selection of balloons and banners when I suddenly heard an elderly woman shout "Demon!" I looked to the end of the aisle to see an old lady, pristinely dressed, and clutching a cross necklace. She pointed at Osian.

Osian rolled his eyes. He pulled his phone from his pocket and typed in the notes window:"Get what you want and let's go. The old lady's going to be a problem."He showed me the phone window.

An old woman who needed to mind her own business would not cut our shopping trip short.

"Back off, lady. Don't make me get a manager to throw you out," I said.

Luckily, I'd already looked around. I put a "happy birthday" banner in my cart, a pack of gold and black balloons, a birthday hat, and noisemakers.

The woman shouted, "Satan lives and his disciples walk the earth! Begone, foul demon."

I looked to Osian to see what his reaction was. He frowned at the woman, unaffected by her words.

How could she see his true form, anyway? No one else did.

I turned to the woman and said, "Look, you're only making everyone uncomfortable. You need to leave."

"He's a demon! He'll steal your soul before you know it! Get away from him, child."

I laughed. "Demons don't steal souls. They have to be freely given. You're hurling insults at my brother, who's being very patient with you and taking damn good care of me. You need to back the fuck off and leave."

"You'll be doomed if you stay with him."

"I don't care. I'll take my chances. Go the fuck away."

The woman crossed herself. "He's already corrupted you."

Osian typed in his phone again."Let's go. We can get Onyx a present elsewhere."

"Fine." I cast one last look at the old woman. "Have a wonderful day," I spat at her. I turned my cart, and Osian and I walked away.

"I'll pray for you," she called after me.

I flipped her off.

Osian chucked under his breath. He and I checked out without further incident.

Settled in Osian's car, I asked him, "Does that happen a lot?"

He wobbled his hand to indicate"sometimes."

Osian backed out of the parking spot and drove out of the parking lot.

"I'm sorry. You guys don't deserve that. You've done nothing but take care of me."

Osian shrugged like it was no big deal and patted my hand. How sad that it happened so often he was used to it. The demons I'd met, Onyx and Osian, had literally only looked out for me. They may act childish and go after their impulses sometimes, but who didn't? They didn't deserve to be harassed and targeted. Maybe that made me "corrupted", but I felt safe with them.

Osian signed to break the tension."Brother, huh?"

"Yes. I consider you my brother."

He made an "awww" face and offered me a fist bump across the console. Last week, I never would've predicted that moment of softness from the solemn bodyguard Onyx dropped in my lap.

I fist bumped him back then cleared my throat. "So what should we get Onyx for his birthday?"

Chapter 23

Wynn

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