Page 121 of The Demon's Pet

“It’s about that,” I said, looking at the jewels on his hands. “Your ruby. Where did you get it?”

He flushed but quickly composed himself. “Why do you ask?”

“I just… That thing in the cage, it spoke to me.”

He reared back. “What? Why would you talk to that thing? It killed children.”

I sat on a cushion, sighing and intertwining my hands on my knees. “I know this is hard, Zadis, but don’t let them kill someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

Zadis’s eyes narrowed. “That thing deserves it, just by dint of what it is.” He took off his ruby ring and handed it to me. It was on a simple golden band.

I turned it over in my hands. “Can I make fire with it?”

Zadis cocked his head. “Depends. What are you?”

“A shifter,” I replied. “But, Zadis, I spoke to him. I know you brought him here. But why?” I asked quietly.

Zadis took a step back from me, looking genuinely shaken. “How on earth are you, a celestial, taking sides with that thing? How could you believe a demonic creature trying to save itself from death over someone who has been nothing but kind to you?”

I looked up at him somberly. “I don’t know, but I just do.”

Zadis let out a sigh, composing himself as he put a hand to his head. “I’m sorry for reacting so strongly.” His green eyes met mine. “It’s just that I’m already bonded to you, Cleo. I thought you would give me the benefit of the doubt over a known and imprisoned criminal and murderer.”

I just stared at him, still waiting for an answer.

“Well, I like that about you,” he said finally. “You’re sharp.” He moved over to sit on a tall cushion across from mine. “I’ll tell you what I know, and you can make up your own mind. And if you truly, truly don’t want that thing murdered, I will listen.”

I sucked in a deep breath, feeling oddly relieved that this wouldn’t be so tense. “I swear, I’m not accusing you of anything. It’s just that I was recently nearly executed, so I have to be sure.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. “What was it you were nearly executed for again?”

My cheeks burned. This was getting too close to discussing the fact that I was an actual demon too. Something Zadis could never know. “Rejecting the alpha’s son.”

Zadis grinned, flashing white teeth. “Of course. I knew you were powerful. Of course the alpha’s son would want you.”

“I’m not used to this,” I said. “I’m used to being bullied, overlooked. I’m not used to so much attention. Or a guy that likes me that isn’t trying to push me down or keep me caged.”

Zadis listened intently, the look in his emerald eyes soft. “I’m glad you met me, then. So I can treat you better. I swear, Cleo. Tell me what that demon said, and I’ll put your heart to rest about the matter.”

I swallowed, my throat tight and nervous. Despite Zadis’s reassurance, I didn’t really know him that well. He might still get upset.

But that creature had begged me.

“He says you kidnapped him,” I finally blurted out, still clasping my hands over my knee. “He says you used him to hunt rubies and that you forced him to open a portal to the hell realm—”

Zadis’s mouth firmed into a hard line, and a muscle in his strong jaw ticked. “Ridiculous.”

“But…” I thought for a moment. “Zadis, those fae. Were they killed by hellfire?”

“Yes, when that creature tried to escape,” Zadis said.

“So you did bring him here?” I asked.

He looked away. “I had no choice. I need rubies. But I didn’t do everything he said. He killed those fae on his own.”

I really wasn’t so sure.

“I’m a prince of my people,” Zadis said. “One of our top warriors. My strength is important. Yes, I needed a void walker to reach the hell realm and get what I needed. I brought him to our settlement, but I didn’t treat him wrongly. But I didn’t tell him to misfire that portal so it killed a whole family.”

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