Page 19 of Magic and Mayhem

He seems to relax before standing and waving a hand so that a towel as soft as fur appears. Handing it to me, I slowly stand and begin to dry off while he gives me his back, respecting my privacy.Well, as much as he can while being in the same room at least.

There’s a violet nightgown laying across the chair he was sitting in. I get dressed, the fabric softer than silk and fitting me perfectly. None of the bruises or scars I’m used to seeing are in sight, and that feels oddly comforting.

‘Safe’that small voice seems to say again, and this time, I believe it. It’s louder now, so much more sure. Part of me wants to tell Eryx about it, but everything has been extremely overwhelming, and I honestly want to sleep for days.

‘Thank you’I send back to the voice as a sense of comfort surrounds me.

Making my way to the bed, I sit on the edge. “Can you show me your other form?”

Eryx turns back towards me, his mist appearing like a cloud, and smoke seems to coat his skin for a momentbefore something otherworldly takes its place.

Eryx suddenly grows taller, like seven feet at least. Long, straight black hair takes the place of his wavy, medium length strands, and the trimmed scruff of his beard is replaced with skin that looks as tough as diamonds.

Onyx claws stretch out of his nails, his clothes disappearing to give way to black shorts against dark shimmering purple skin that looks as beautiful as the night sky.

I stand, walking over to him while fully mesmerized. He isbeautiful.

Two silver horns protrude from his head, curling back, and his eyes that were already full of life seem to glitter as he looks at me.

My hand reaches up, grazing over one of his horns because they don’t look real. It’s like they were crafted from the purest of silver.

He growls low in the back of his throat, a sound that should make me back away, but I don’t. My fingers trail a path down his cheek until they reach his chin.

“You’re extraordinary.” My eyes never leave his. “Breathtaking.”

This odd feeling surges to life inside of me, not one of lust like before when I could feel him trying to pull a reaction from me. This is different, more refined, and true to me. It’s not sexual, it’s adoration— it’sreverence.

“Not as breathtaking as you.” Eryx’s voice is deeper, ethereal.

His clawed finger mimics my movements, tracing lines across my flesh that have me closing my eyes to embrace the tenderness of a demon who has the power to smite me before I take my next breath.

A yawn escapes me, and I’m abruptly swept off of my feet and carried back to the bed. He lays me down gently, those eyes stare deep into mine. I think I might never want to go a day without looking into them.

“Will you stay like that while I sleep?” My voice is low, just for us.

“Are you sure?” He looks down at himself as if his body should disgust me. It doesn’t though. Everything about him in his true form screams for mortals to bow.

Wrapping my arm around his neck, I pull him down onto the bed. I don’t know why I do it, but it feels right. My whole world settles when his arm drapes over my stomach, and I twist so I can nestle into his chest. I breathe him in, and it feels like I’ve found my true north.

Every aching bone and tired muscle knows it doesn’t have to fight anymore. That this is one demon I would gladly sell my soul to.

Yet, just before I’m about to fall asleep for what I know will be a very long time, one more question comes to me.

“What does your assistant do?”

I saw him performing for a minute before and didn’t see anyone else on stage.

“You will see, Love. For now, you need rest.”

I nod, yawning again. “And I can sleep in the bed?”

For some reason, that feels the most foreign compared to everything else I have witnessed tonight.

“My assistant sleeps in my arms. Rule number one.”

I roll my eyes at him, even if he can’t see me. “Now there are rules?”

“Lots of them.”

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