Page 52 of Claimed By Midnight

The realization turns my blood to ice. Love is weakness. Love is a weapon waiting to be turned against you. And she's human - fragile, mortal, everything I was taught to despise.

But watching her sleep, seeing the strength hidden beneath that delicate exterior, I know it's already too late. She's worked her way under my skin with every question, every stubborn argument, every moment she refuses to back down from my temper.

Terror claws at my throat. I need to leave, need to put distance between us before this destroys us both. Because I know that she will never want me like that and this growing obsession I have for her is only going to push her farther away.

I stalk back toward my workshop, my wings tight against my back as I ponder what to do. Do I let her go? Do I give in and force her to be mine? The familiar path does nothing to calm thestorm inside of me. The door bangs open under my hand, wood groaning in protest.

"Ah fuck, you're here again." Koros sprawls across my office couch, his dark wings draped over the leather. His mismatched eyes fix on me with too much knowing. "Can't anyone stay in their own damn house?"

"Some of us actually work for a living." Koros's deep rumble carries an edge of amusement. He shifts, revealing a collection of rare metals spread across my desk. "Though you seem distracted lately. The little human keeping you busy?"

My hand finds his throat before I process moving. The wall cracks where I slam him against it, plaster dusting his dark red hair. "Watch your fucking mouth."

Koros doesn't fight back, just watches me with that damned knowing look. His scarred face splits in a grin that would send most demons running. "Hit a nerve, did I?"

My grip tightens. Magic crackles between us, the air thick with potential violence. But Koros just laughs, the sound rough against my fingers.

"You're getting soft, old friend. You've put me through the wall for less in the past."

The truth in his words burns like acid. I release him, stepping back as my wings flare wide, casting shadows across the room. My carefully maintained control slips through my fingers like blood from a fresh wound.

"Get out." The words come out in a growl that makes the weapons on my walls vibrate.

Koros straightens, rubbing his throat. That knowing smirk never leaves his face. "Whatever you say. But you might want to figure out why a tiny human has you so rattled."

I don't have to, though. I know exactly why.

I fell in love with a woman who will always hate me. And it's destroying me.

28

ATHENA

It's quiet in the evening as I work on cleaning all the blades that Uriel has finished up. He doesn't quite trust me to help him still - since he knows I might mess up the runes just to spite him.

Not that I've been thwarting him too much lately. I've been far too confused about where we stand with each other to want to push boundaries. I can't even find where they lie anymore.

I'm so lost in my head that I don't hear anyone approaching, not until the door slams open and my head whips up at the sound of my name.

"Athena!" Astrid bursts through first, her raven hair wild around her face, twin daggers gripped in her hands. Her demon, V, towers behind her, his eyes blazing a violent crimson that bathes the room in an eerie glow.

Oh, gods. They've come to save me. And I don't want to go anywhere.

My throat closes. "Astrid?—"

She crosses the room in three swift strides and wraps her arms around me, the daggers still clutched in her grip. The metal is cold against my back. "Are you hurt? Did they touch you?"

I push back, my hands against her shoulders. "No, Astrid. I'm okay."

"Father didn't even—" Astrid's face twists into a snarl. "I came to see you and you weren't there. No one knew where you were. How could he not tell me you were taken?"

I gulp hard, not sure how to answer that. "Astrid, it's not?—"

"We need to get out of here," V warns. "Before someone finds us."

"He's right." She turns back to me. "Let's get you out of here."

Panic starts to rise in my throat. How do I explain this to her?

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