Page 29 of Claimed By Midnight

If she'd fight me or lean into it.

"Little demon," I mutter, the nickname tasting different on my tongue today. Less mocking, more... possessive.

Below, she's showing Raven how to crush the leaves, those delicate fingers working with surprising strength. Such gentle hands, meant for healing. I wonder how they'd feel clawing down my back instead.

A cruel smile twists my lips. There's something intoxicating about the thought of corrupting all that sweetness, of teaching those healing hands how to hurt instead.

I barely get any work done with them out there. My eyes stay on Athena until she and Raven are gone. Then I'm replaying that look on her face as I buried myself in her throat, how she tasted as she came on my tongue.

I can't get her the fuck out of my head.

By the time dinner rolls around, I know that I can't keep ignoring this. But I don't know what else to do, either. I never thought I'd be so physically attracted to someone, but my body is igniting with a desire I've never felt as I exit the workshop and head into the main house.

The dining room glows with golden light from the enchanted sconces when I enter. I sit at the head of the massive oak table, immediately trying to fix my attention on the rare delicaciesKoros brought back form his latest trip, but my attention keeps drifting to the other end where Athena sits beside him.

She's telling him about some healing potion she's perfecting, those small hands moving through the air as she explains. Her voice carries none of the tremor it held when she first met him. No more shrinking away from his hulking frame or averting her eyes from his scarred face.

"You should've seen the look on his face when the wound sealed." Athena beams up at Koros. "I thought his eyes would pop out."

Koros's deep laugh rumbles through the room. He leans closer, his massive frame dwarfing her. "Show me tomorrow? Could use something for these old battle scars."

My fork bends between my fingers. The metal groans, drawing Raven's attention from across the table. She arches an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing at her lips.

"Of course!" Athena's practically bouncing in her seat. "Though some of them might be too old-"

"Speaking of old," I cut in, my voice harder than intended. "Koros, that blade you promised?"

His mismatched eyes meet mine, understanding flickering across his scarred features. "Tomorrow. Got something special."

Athena touches his arm - actually touches him - to regain his attention. "But first, you're letting me look at that shoulder. I saw you favoring it earlier."

Pride and possession war in me. She's flourishing here, growing bolder by the day. No longer the frightened little mouse who flinched at shadows. But watching her gentle confidence with Koros sets my teeth on edge. Makes me want to remind her who she belongs to.

My wings spread slightly, casting deeper shadows across the table. Athena glances up, catching my stare. A blush creeps across her cheeks, but she doesn't look away.

Little demon's getting braver indeed.

I findher in my workshop the next morning, organizing my medical supplies with those precise, gentle movements. She doesn't hear me enter, too focused on sorting vials by color. The sunlight streaming through the windows catches in her hair, turning those honey-blonde ringlets to pure gold.

"Playing healer, little demon?" I know that she prefers it, she's studied it. But she hasn't requested that I let her do more since she's been here.

I'm not sure why I feel inclined to offer.

She jumps, nearly dropping a bottle. "I'm not playing at anything." Her chin lifts, defiant. "Your organization system is atrocious."

I close the distance between us, crowding her against the cabinet. I can't seem to help myself. Her breath catches, but she stands her ground. "Is that so?"

"Yes." She reaches past me for another vial, her arm brushing my chest. The contact sends heat racing through my blood. "How do you find anything in this mess?"

"I manage." I trap her between my arms, hands gripping the shelf on either side of her. "Though I suppose I could use a healing touch."

Her pulse jumps in her throat. Those golden-green eyes dart to my lips before skittering away. "Well, you could manage better if you let me-"

"Fuck's sake, get a room you two." Raven's voice cuts through the tension. She limps in, throwing herself onto my office couch. "Some of us are trying to work."

"You haven't worked a day in your life," I growl, but I step back. The loss of Athena's warmth is immediate.

"I work plenty." Raven stretches her wings, smirking. "Speaking of work, Koros says your little healer promised to look at his shoulder."

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