Page 18 of Demon Daddy's Secret Twins

He doesn't reach for me, doesn't try to close the careful distance between us. Just watches and a part of me is afraid of what he sees.

His voice flows like warm honey, deep and rich. "I'm not waiting for anything, Loxley."

My name on his lips makes my skin tingle. The way he says it - like it's something precious, something worth protecting.

"I simply enjoy being here. With you." Those copper-red eyes hold mine, unflinching yet gentle. No hidden agenda lurks in their depths, no predatory gleam like I'd grown accustomed to seeing in the dark elves who'd owned me.

My chest tightens. The honesty in his words strips away my defenses, leaving me raw and exposed. But for once, that vulnerability doesn't feel like weakness.

His wings shift, adjusting their midnight-blue span to block the harsh morning glare from my eyes - such a small gesture, yet it speaks volumes. Even now, he thinks of my comfort first.

"Why?" The question slips out, barely a whisper above the lapping waves.

Mazan's gold markings pulse softly across his obsidian skin and his lips tug into a soft smile. "Because you're strong." His massive frame remains perfectly still, giving me space. "Interesting. You can be funny when you want to be. I enjoy your company.”

Emotion swirls in me, and I’m certain he can see it on my face. But I refuse to look away from his steady gaze. For the first time, the urge to flee doesn't come. Instead, something warmunfurls in my chest - fragile as a new leaf, yet stronger than I expected.

"I see you," he continues, his voice dropping lower. "Not what they tried to make you, not what they did to you. Just you, Loxley. And that's worth every moment."

The sincerity in his words wraps around me like a blanket. My hands tremble in the sand, but I don't try to hide it. Not from him. Not anymore.

14

MAZAN

The waterfall's constant thunder fills my ears as I wait in our usual spot, perched on the smooth boulder worn down by centuries of mist. Her question from last time echoes in my mind.Are you tired of waiting?

My wings twitch at the sound of approaching footsteps. Loxley emerges from the jungle path, her auburn braids catching the filtered sunlight. Something in her expression makes my chest tighten - a mix of determination and vulnerability I've never seen before.

She stops a few feet away, her golden-brown eyes fixed on mine. The lines of tension in her shoulders betray her unease.

"Mazan." Her voice barely carries over the rushing water.

I remain still, noting something in her tone. After months of careful distance, this feels like balancing on a knife's edge. My markings pulse faintly with suppressed emotion.

"I need to ask you something." She takes a deep breath, fingers twisting in the hem of her shirt. "Do you... do you only want to be friends?"

The question hits like a physical blow. My wings snap tight against my back as I wrestle with how to answer. The wrongwords now could shatter everything we've built. She's already shifting her weight, ready to bolt.

I choose my words with excruciating care. "I want whatever you're willing to give, Loxley. Nothing more."

Her eyes search my face. "That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I can give without putting pressure on you." I keep my voice steady despite the way my heart pounds. "Your comfort matters more than my wants."

"But you do want more." It's not quite a question.

I meet her gaze directly, letting her see the truth there. I’m not even sure when it happened. At first, I was drawn to her. I followed her out of pure intrigue. And then I grew more and more enraptured, watching her, protecting her. Until I got to the point where I wantedeverything.

But I can’t take that from her. She doesn’t deserve to bend to anyone.

"What I want doesn't matter if it makes you uncomfortable. I meant what I said - I'll take whatever you freely offer. Friend, companion... anything. The choice is yours."

Loxley's fingers still twist in her shirt, but her chin lifts with resolve. "I've been thinking about this for weeks. You're... different." She takes a small step closer. "I trust you, Mazan."

The words hit harder than any physical blow could. My markings flare bright gold before I can control the surge of emotion.

"I think-" She swallows hard. "I think I want more. With you. But..." Her voice cracks. "The only touch I've known has been cruel. Has hurt."

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