Page 74 of Demon Hunter

“Let’s go,” Dylan says, and I nod.

After leavingGus and Rachel in Ian’s care—and Dylan privately warning Marc to make sure Gus didn’t get near his computer—we drive back to the compound in silence. It’s been about fourteen hours since we left, but it feels like eternity. And my ordeal isn’t over yet.

If Dylan leaves me, I don’t know what I’ll do.

He waits until we’re in the house, door closed behind us, before he asks, “Anything you’d like to tell me?”

“Promise you won’t hate me,” I blurt. “Even if you leave me, just… I couldn’t handle it if you hated me.”

His face stills, then he puts a hand on my arm and guides me into the living room. “Maybe we should sit down.”

I collapse onto the couch, then instantly leap up and start pacing. “Sorry. Can’t sit. I… Just let me get this out.”

Dylan sits. “Okay.”

“I’m… It’s… Fuck.” I scrub my hands over my face. “Okay, so the thing is, I don’t know all the answers yet. But when Marc healed me, something happened, and I… evolved.”

He studies me. “You evolved.”

Gulping, I nod. “At first I thought I was going crazy. Then I thought… I thought Marc had maybe turned me into a demon. He says that’s impossible, though, so it’s not that,” I rush to add. “But I can hear better—a lot better—and see, and smell… and I’m stronger. Faster. So… I mean, this could all still be a coma dream. But if you leave me in a coma, I don’t think I’ll ever wake up in the real world. No pressure, though.”

Dylan blinks a few times. “Wait… what? No.” He holds up a hand when I open my mouth to repeat it. “Let me just… Your senses are improved, and you have superhuman strength and speed. Is that what you’re saying?”

I nod miserably.

“Why didn’t you say anything to me about it?”

“I was scared,” I admit. “I thought… well, like I said, I thought maybe Marc had accidentally made me a demon, and I didn’t think you’d stay with me in that case. Even now, I’m kind of a freak.”

He makes a huffing sound that might be a laugh and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Is this why you’ve been so distant lately? Why you never touch me?”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” I explain earnestly. “I got kind of rough last time we had sex, and… I can’t hurt you, Dyl. It would kill me. Plus, I was worried you’d guess, and I needed to talk to Marc first and see if the demon thing was true.”

“Oh my god,” he whispers, shaking his head, then looks up at me. “You aresuchan idiot.”

“I know,” I agree. “Why?”

Getting up, he crosses to me and wraps his arms around me in a huge, squeezy hug. “I love you, moron, and you were acting like you couldn’t stand to be near me. I thought you wanted to break up.”

“What?No!” I cringe. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I really am a moron.”

“We both are,” he concedes. “I should have brought it up, but I thought you were still working through some PTSD from the attack, and I wanted to give you space.”

He’s being very reasonable, but I’m still filled with guilt that I made him worry even for an instant. “So… now you know the truth. What… What do you think?” I try not to hold my breath.

“What do I think about you having superpowers that will make your job safer for you? Ah, jeez, how about ‘fucking awesome’?” He rests his head against mine and starts to laugh. “You really thought I’d leave you over this? Even knowing how much I worried about your safety?”

When he puts it like that… “It was mostly the demon thing that concerned me. I only got the chance to talk to Marc about it yesterday. He’s the one who said I evolved and I’m not in a coma—though I guess I’ll never know the truth about that. He’s gotta do some more research, though.”

Dylan buries his face in my neck. “We’re gonna talk about the whole coma thing later,” he says, voice muffled. “Along with everything else you and Marc talked about. But right now, I need you to fuck me until I can’t see straight.”

My dick instantly goes hard. “Yessss,” I hiss. “But… what if I hurt you?”

He pulls back and looks me in the eye. “Matty, I don’t think you’re capable of it. Just in case, though, since you’re still learning your new strength, how about I do this thing calledtelling you how I feel?” His emphasis on the last words makes me feel stupid. “I have a voice. I’m not afraid to use it. And I know you would never ignore me if I said to stop.”

“Never,” I swear.

He grins. “Race you to the bedroom.”

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