Page 47 of The Demon's Discovery
“Speak clearly, Magnus.” I gritted my teeth and delivered the words with a growl. I felt my fangs prickle in my mouth, and I had no doubt my eyes were red.
“Saints and stars, you are a mess today, aren’t you?”
“If you aren’t going to be helpful…” I pushed my chair back, ready to get up and walk out before Greta came back in and I did something unforgivable. I’d already been unable to do much more than gruntgood morningat her. Perhaps I needed to take a quick flight somewhere, lose myself in the woods for a while?—
He waved a hand at me. “It’s a mate bond waking up, you daft demon.”
I squinted at him. “Surely not.” A mate bond was a blessing, and I was cursed. It was as simple and as complicated as that.
Magnus sighed, leaning forward on the table with his hands laced together as though preparing for an interrogation. “When did the chest pain start?”
“Weeks ago.”
“Elaborate, Vassago.” He unlinked his fingers and gestured for me to keep going with one hand.
“During one of my visits to the Belette manor.” I scrubbed a hand over my face, heart thumping as the reality of what he’d suggested began to sink in. It made a certain kind of sense but was also terrifying.
“Go on,” Magnus prompted, the lopsided grin on his mouth unreasonably infuriating.
“The first time I met Greta,” I relented, and he began to laugh again as inside my body, everything churned. “I physically bumped into her that night. After that…”Everything had changed.I was terrified to begin with. My chest truly did hurt, the burning had only gotten worse, and now? Now I had the fizzy sensation of hope to contend with as well.
“Rylan performed a spell to confirm that he and Calla were fated. Perhaps you could go visit him, and he could instruct you how?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m no mage. No matter how similar divination seems, spell casting is not my strength. I don’t doubt you’re speaking truth, statue. It just… complicates things.”
“Does it? Seems to me that simplifies quite a lot.”
All the bluster of my bad mood evaporated like steam as the idea of a long future with Greta by my side settled in. No more guilt over my desire to kiss her, to hold her. To make her mine in every way.
Unless, of course, she didn’t feel the same.
I flared my nostrils and forced several slow breaths. The rush of frustration chased away all my fleeting good feelings. My balance was terrifyingly off, and I needed to get it back.
Magnus checked the kitchen door again. Whatever they were doing in there had consumed their attention in the same way this conversation had ours. I was intensely curious what they were talking about, no matter the irony of me certainly not wanting to share what we were discussing with them.
He cleared his throat, jovial expression replaced by a serious stare. “It’s my duty to remind you that she’s my niece. One that I’ve had regrettably little exposure to due to unfortunate circumstances. She is my sister’s child, nonetheless, and therefore under my watch in Rowan’s absence. If you do anything to hurt her?—”
“I would never, Magnus.” I shook my head, melancholy at the thought of something bad happening to her. “If I did, I would hand you the blade myself, for whatever good it might do you.”
“Even if it didn’t kill you, I could make it hurt. A lot.”
“Yes, Rylan’s told me all about the odd beginnings of your friendship. I applaud your valiant efforts to rid the world of him, but it seems we’re all stuck here for the long haul.”
“One can hope, demon.” His grin was borderline malicious. I’d never felt like I’d understood him better than in that moment. “So long as we have an understanding. And we do, yes?”
“Quite.”
He sat back, relaxed once again, and picked up his tankard. “What will you tell her?”
“I don’t know yet. She’s dealing with a lot already.”
“She’s strong.”
“Yes, very. It’s just one of her many attractive qualities.”
“Good. I’m sure the pair of you will figure out your way.” He smirked, shaking his head. “I’ll be damned. I’ll be excommunicated from the clan for sure. Collecting demon princes as in-laws? Unheard of.”
I couldn’t help but grin. The world had become a very strange place indeed.
