Page 148 of Of Nine So Bold

I floundered, speechless. I wanted her too. Gods, I did. Sharing her with the others didn’t bother me a bit.

That wasn’t the point.

“But…” She took a step closer. “Maybe I was wrong to worry about the demon this time. Maybe I jumped to a conclusion based on my own fears from the past, when actually, hewouldbe willing to share. It wasn’t a particularly fair moment for meto have judged him in, sincenoneof us were fully under our own control. So maybe…” Her hand took my cheek. “The demon deserves a second chance.”

My eyes twitched toward her, but I couldn’t hold her gaze for long. Didn’t she understand what she was asking? I couldn’ttrustthe demon. Not with her. Okay, so maybe the magic had overcome him too. Maybe he couldn’t have stopped himself any more than the rest of them. ButI’dstill seen the issue and he wouldn’t let me protect her from it.

From him.

He was the problem. Healwayswas.

But arguing that—with herorhim—suddenly felt exhausting.

“You two should get rest.” I turned back to the window, trying to ignore how cold my skin felt when her soft, barely warm palm fell away from my cheek.

Silence followed, and then—thank the gods even though they hated me—Niko made a noise of agreement. “Probably, yeah. Since it’s been… Gods, what day is it anyway? How long was I gone?”

“Too long,” I said shortly. “So go on. I’ll keep watch.”

A moment passed, and then the two of them finally turned away. From the corner of my eye, I saw Gwyneira’s coat hit the floor as she got undressed for bed.

I locked my attention on the terrain.

Inside my head, the demon was watching me. I could feel its thoughts racing in the darkest depths of my mind, but I couldn’t hope to tell what it was thinking. It’d gone totally still.

Blankets rustled. A sigh left Gwyneira that made my cock hard and my heart ache.

I gritted my teeth. I wanted her. Gods, I wanted her.

Try again,said the demon suddenly, as clear as day in my head.

Fuck off,I thought back, shoving it away.

Try again.The demon pressed at my skin, urging me to turn around. To join them even though I knew it’d go so gods-damned wrong.Trust me.

Never.I squeezed my eyes shut, my head throbbing.Gods, I hate you.

The demon went quiet for a moment, his presence sinking back toward the dark.I know.

Alarm skittered through me because, as impossible as it seemed, there was a note in his voice that sounded like actual understanding.

His attention returned to me.But…I felt him smile in my mind, fangs and all.What if we made a deal?

39

GWYNEIRA

Guilt gnawed at me for leaving Roan on his own at the window.

But I also had no illusions about how willing he’d be to sleep whileIstayed up.

Leaving my outer layer of winter clothes on a chair nearby, I climbed into the bed. Niko quickly did the same, and a grateful sigh left me when he immediately pulled me closer beneath the covers.

“Gods, I missed you,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around me. “I clung every day to the faith I’d see you again, but to have you here…”

I nestled against his warm chest, holding him tight. “I missed you too.”

His hands slid down my sides, and my breath hitched.

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