Page 17 of Ex-Mas
7
“Huh?” He looks around like I’ve lost my mind, and at this moment I don’t see a demon at all. “You want me to join... after everything?”
Shrugging, I pull a handful of water up to my chest and let it slide down. “I can’t force you to, but it’s big enough for both of us. Even with your... wings.”
Because my accidentally murdered ex-boyfriend has raven wings now. Because I killed him and turned him into a demon.
I’m not sure I’ll ever wrap my head around it.
His head tilts as an amused look overtakes his face, and it’s an expression I missed so fucking much my chest tightens. He’s not thesame man, yet I see phantom glimpses of that man when I truly look at him.
“Alright, fuck it.” He steps into the water and makes himself comfortable across from me, his arms spread out as he stares unblinkingly. “You actually handled the wings better than I thought you would. I thought you’d run.”
“Where exactly would I run to?” I ask. “If everything you’ve told me is true, there’s nowhere for me to go.”
“You’d be surprised at how many people still try. I had one burst through my door a while back asking for help. I guess they thought Christmas seemed safe, but the second you’re brought down here you’re marked by whoever brought you. There’s no escaping. Kael found her within the hour, and it only took that long because he thinks hunting them down is fun.”
Well hello, Kael.
“And you? Are you disappointed I didn’t try to run?”
“You’re the only human I’ve ever brought down here, and I didn’t want you to run. Not like that, anyway. Feel behind your ear.” I do as told, sliding my fingertip down what feels like it could be a symbol or letter. “Mine.”
“What is it?”
“That’s my mark, inked with my blood. You’d see it as an A but other demons would be able to smell it before they ever set eyes on it. Not that it’d stop all of them. There are demons out there who would hunt you specifically because youhavea mark. I’d prefer to chase you somewhere where that isn’t a possibility.”
So he’s still just as possessive as ever, only now, there’s no escape for me.
“So Hell is more than just individual nightmares? Do you guys have like... bowling alleys and shit?”
Snorting, he splashes water at me like he thinks that question was nothing more than a joke, but it wasn’t. I genuinely need to know what’s out there.
When he realizes I’m serious, he shakes his head. “Demons don’t tend to have those sorts of hobbies, but I imagine if one wants to bowl, they’d just go topside. Someone’s Hell may be a bowling alley though.”
Yeah, that tracks.
I take a moment to actually clean up, then scoot forward to climb into his lap. “What are your hobbies then?”
His hands find home on my hips as they have so many times before, his tonguesnaking out to slide along my breasts like he’s stalling to answer. “I didn’t have many options.” I wait. I know there’s more, and for some reason, I don’t want to let him off the hook. “I usually burn this place to the ground and sit in the embers.”
Blinking, I glance around, not seeing any evidence that this place has ever been on fire. “And then... build it again?”
The damn song begins to skip, his jaw tensing and eyes closing as it does. “I guess I could show you.”
Adrian spins me around so I’m facing away, my back flush with his chest as he raises a hand and snaps his fingers, and in seconds the world around us is ablaze. Sitting in the center of it is surreal, the crackling almost deafening as the Christmas decorations fall to the ground and the music begins to warble and distort, but somehow I feel safe. Or maybe I’m losing my mind.
But together, we watch the tree, the wreaths, and all the garland whither and shrivel, the glass bulbs burst from the heat, and the snow covering the ground melt and evaporate. The smell is almost overwhelming, but it’s oddly peaceful when the fire fizzles out and our tub is the only thing left standing in the ashes.
It just doesn’t last.
Within about two minutes, things shift. I watch the room come back together as though I’m watching the video of it burning down in reverse, and the music starts louder.
“Oh, fuck,” I grumble, disgusted on his behalf. “That sucks.”
“Yup,” he says with a sigh. “Nice while it lasts though, huh?”
He spins me back around and meets my gaze, overwhelming me once again with how dark his eyes are. There’s no mistaking what he is now, even if he’s being sweet.
