Page 8 of The Demon Prince's Accidental Mate
She shrugged. “You can hire people. Cast wards all over your place, stop creatures from coming in. Very expensive.”
“Oh.” I could hear my face falling in my response. I didn’t have money for that. I barely had money to eat. Everything was going into the bakery, trying to keep it afloat. I had to keep it running. Keep it going. Just in case she came back one day.
“Give it a few days, dear. Then maybe we’ll try again.”
She didn’t sound overly promising.
“Yeah, all right,” I said. “Can you at least recommend me something to educate myself?”
“Of course, of course! Come!” she said, shuffling off to a different aisle of books.
Ten minutes later, a book titledThe Basics of Witchcraft and Magicstucked under one arm, I headed for the tiny, rundown apartment that served as home. The cheap, fifth-floor unit in a building built fifty years ago was creaky, full of drafts—not to mention mice—and ready to fall apart at any second, but it was all I had.
Well, technically, myfatherhad it. But after the disappearance of his body, I hadn’t been able to bring myself totellanyone that he was gone. So, everything was in his name, for now. I would have to figure that out later.
Years ago, he’d put my name on the accounts, so at least I could keep it all running. His desire to make me do as much as possible while he did next to nothing had paid off.
By the time I climbed the steps—the elevator routinely got stuck—up to my front door, the sun was going down, and my brain was telling me it was bedtime. Three in the morning came very quickly.
After a quick shower, I fell into bed, my eyes already half-closed before my head hit the pillow. I couldn’t remember being this tired since—
Sleep claimed me before I could finish the thought. I drifted off into the darkness behind my eyes. Just like I had at the bookstore. I reached out to one of the stars. Just like I had at Andie’s, pretending it was a mind.
I sunk my mental claws into it. Nothing happened, of course, because I was dreaming. But I did it anyway. Showing myself how itshouldhave gone.
Irritated at how easy it was in my sleep, my mind reached out for another of the stars. I grabbed it and held on tighter than before.
Only this star reacted.
And it was ANGRY.
Chapter Five
Belial
Iwas in a middle of a workout with Dachor when the touch came again.
“Hold,” I hissed, lifting a hand at the immortal, who froze mid-swing. The vicious battle-axe held firm before he pulled it back with a flourish, flicking his head to clear it of sweat.
“What is it? Surely that last blow didn’t hurt?”
I waved him off, my eyes narrowing as I looked deep into my mind, trying to pinpoint the source of that brush against my mind. It couldn’t be … could it? There was no way she was stupid enough to try that again. Not after how poorly the first time had gone for her.
And yet …
“The arrogance of mortals never ceases to amaze me,” I snarled, reaching for the mind, grabbing it within my own, twisting it, pulling it closer.
“What are you talking about?” Dachor asked in his plain tenor. “Can we get back to fighting?”
I shook my head. “Remember that human I told you tried to bind me earlier?”
He nodded. “Yes. You ranted about her for a solid ten minutes when we could have been fighting.”
Sometimes Dachor could have a one-track mind. Especially when it came to violence. The immortal being wiped at his forehead with the back of one hand. Though we were both so bathed in sweat, it had little effect besides smearing it around. His bright green eyes flashed with irritation as I stepped away, further delaying the return to battle.
“She is back,” I informed him, tapping the side of my head as I toyed with Lilith’s mind, poking it, prodding it. I basked in the pain as she tried to escape.
No,I told her.You’re mine to do with as I please now. I control you because of your arrogance.
