Page 68 of Demons of Eden

“Who else knows?”

“My adoptive parents are the only ones who are supposed to know. I also think maybe Torrin suspects something, but he’s never asked about it. Pretty sure that Ash has somehow clocked it, too.”

“And Rio?”

“Has no idea, which is probably for the best,” he answers, and I have to stomp down on the urge to comfort him at the obvious sadness he feels about that. At the pain he feels simply thinking about the reaction his brother would have if he knew the truth about him.

Because now it’s time for the things I really don’t want to ask but absolutely need to know…

“Did you only help me because of what you are? Is that the real reason you slept with me, since you felt some kind of…link to my situation?”

“No, of course not.” He grabs my hands in his and meets my eyes, something almost scarily intense in the way he looks at me. “I told you I wanted you, Eden, and I do. It wasn’t a lie then, and it still isn’t one.”

“So you’re really saying the fact you’re half-demon had nothing to do with any of it?” I ask, still not fully believing it couldn’t have affected his willingness to help. How could it not have an effect?

“I…” Daion trails off and then sighs. “I’ll admit, it was why I stepped between you and Rio on the day we met. The second I realised what the cause of the energy was, I knew I had to protect you. The way I wished someone would have protected her.”

I try to pull my hands back, feeling my heart sinking into my stomach, but he doesn’t let go.

“Let me finish,” he pleads, continuing on before I can object. “I may have initially felt drawn to help you due to the parallels between our situation, but I swear, nothing else was down to that. If I wasn't attracted to you, I’d have let Torrin help you with your vitav instead. I care about you, not about the species of the child you’re carrying.”

“Look, it doesn’t really matter, anyway,” I say, and this time, he lets me pull my hands away. “Whether you did it all out of some misguided sense of obligation or not. I know that nothing about this situation is fair to you or Torrin. Especially now that Ash is back.”

“You’re right that him being back changes things, but it doesn’t have to end them.”

“How can it not mean that? Rio said I was?—”

“Screw whatever Rio said to you,” Daion interrupts me before I can keep spiralling. “Torrin and I are grown fucking adults. We can make our own choices, and I think it goes without saying that we choose you. Despite all of the complications that come with it, whether it’s figuring out how to share your attention with each other or putting up with your incubus baby daddy. We both still want you.”

“How can you say that? Are you crazy? All I’ve done is cause trouble and eat all of your food. And now there’s Ash involved?—”

“We invited youandAsh to stay, didn’t we?” he demands.

“I guess, but I thought you were just…being nice by giving in?”

“Nice?” Daion chokes on a laugh. “If I was beingnice, I wouldn’t be so selfish by making this more confusing for you. You’ve got enough to deal with already between the danger, a baby, and a clearly still-interested incubus, but I don't care. I want to keep being around you—beingwithyou.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely crazy,” I inform him, a small smile curling my lips despite my words. I lean closer and tilt my head up, pressing my lips to his in a gentle kiss, which he returns.

“You’re not still upset that I didn't tell you?” he asks when I pull away, his knuckles brushing down the side of my face before resting under my chin to keep me looking into his eyes.

“I wasn’t ever upset that you didn’t tell me your secret, Dai. I understand possibly more than anyone else why you’d keep something like that to yourself. I did have to confirm a few things, but honestly, I was only really upset at the idea you only cared because of it. That you’d lied about wanting me.”

“I wouldn’t lie about it. I thought I already convinced you of that,” he says, an almost teasing edge to his voice as he says the latter part.

“I mean, a girl can never get enough convincing of how wanted she is,” I reply playfully, grinning as he slides his hand up and into my hair, pulling me into another kiss.

It’s deeper this time, his soft lips pressing harder, but it’s also unrushed. Neither of us is in a hurry to get to a goal, just enjoying the moment and the closeness of each other. When we finally pull apart, I find myself resting up against his chest as we settle back onto the couch.

“Are you okay?” I ask quietly after a few moments.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” he questions back, arms tightening just a little bit where they encircle me.

“Figuring out who your demonic asshole of a sperm donor is can’t be easy.”

“It’s not,” he agrees, then presses another kiss to the top of my head, hand stroking across my back like I’m the one who needs comforting over this. “It’s given me one more reason to want the bastard dead, though. I promise I won’t let him hurt either of you. He won’t take you again.”

“He won’t hurt you again, either, Daion. You’re not fighting him alone. You have your family, and now you have me.” I reach over and lace our fingers together, holding him tightly. “We’ll protect each other.”

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