Page 15 of Magic and Mayhem

This is a fairytale, just like Cinderella. A prince comes to save a princess from her life of slavery and abuse. This doesn’t happen in the real world.

“Evolet,” Eryx says gently, tilting my face so that I’m looking up into the violet storm that is his eyes. “Why are you upset?”

A soft laugh escapes me. “I honestly don’t know. It just seems strange that Prince Charming came to save me. I’m no one.”

Eryx growls, stepping into me so that I am firmly against his chest.

“You will never say that again, my little flame. You are everything. And I’m a far cry from Prince Charming. More like a demon craving the most beautiful soul I have ever seen.”

I have no idea what that means, but my arm pulses with electricity and my heart swells. Before I can even begin to doubt his words, it’s like my soul connects with his, and I can hear the truth there as surely as if it were my own. A soul I can very much still feel inside of me.

“I thought you wanted to take my soul?” I say, pushing back and placing a hand over my chest.

Half his lip lifts in a grin. “I already have you. No need to remove a perfectly good soul.”

With a small laugh, I shake my head. “I have so many questions.”

He lightly chuckles in response, but it’s true. As soon as he answers one, it’s like ten more pop into my head.

Is Hell a real place, or is it dramatized by people like Dante? How do his flames work, and why do they hurt everything but me? Does he kill people?

He totally kills people.

Eryx takes my hand before I can spiral too much and leads me to the bath.

“Ask away, Love. Just as soon as you get in the bath.”

I think I quite like when he calls me that. My eyes widen as he takes the hem of my shirt and pulls it off of me. Instantly, I cover my chest and panic overtakes me.

“What are you doing?”

He tilts his head, reaching for the pants, but I bat his hand away.

“Get out.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m naked.”

His brows pinch. “So?”

“Soooo,” I say as I try to think of how to explain privacy to a demon.There’s a thought I didn’t think I’d ever have. “It’s immoral.”

He gestures to himself. “I’m a demon, Love. Besides, who gives a fuck about morals? I’m not trying to look at you sexually or take advantage of your body. And if I were, I can assure you that clothes would not be the thing to stop me. I am simply trying to help you bathe and relax after a life altering event.”

I keep my hands covering my breasts as I assess him. He isn’t gawking at me like Master would, and he seems genuine about me being clean.

But this is all too weird, too much to accept all at once with his handsome face and perfect jaw and strong arms staring at me.

“Could you just…maybe…turn around?”

He cocks a brow at me before he does as I ask, slowly. He may have a point, but I’m not ready to show him all of me…again.

With a sigh, I strip out of the pants he lent me. Just as I go to step into the large steaming tub, I catch a whiff of myself.

Damn, I do smell.

Once I’m submerged up to my neck, safe under the bubbles hiding my naked flesh, I clear my throat. Eryx turns around and with a wave of his hand, a stool appears right beside the tub. He sits, watching me like I might freak out if he moves too quickly.

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