Page 128 of The Demon's Pet

I was better off escaping his grasp, even if it meant going to a fae prince I barely knew.

It was my only option.

29

Zadis was home when I knocked rapidly on his door, still panting from exertion.

“You didn’t watch the execution, did you?” he asked, his green eyes filling with worry.

Seeing his handsome, comforting face should have alleviated the worry in me, but it didn’t for some reason.

A stupid part of me, probably my inner demon who wanted to feed his incubus, kept telling me to go back to Sam.

“This is a wonderful surprise, regardless,” Zadis said, ushering me in with an arm around my shoulders. “Here, let me get you some tea. You look ready to pass out.”

I was shaking slightly as I sat on the cushion, and when Zadis came back with tea, I cupped it with both hands, savoring the heat as it seemed to bring blood back into my digits.

“I saw,” I said. “As much as anyone did. Sam blocked the gory part with his wings.” I swallowed. “He made it fast.”

“He had no choice,” Zadis said, looking sympathetic. “I hate the man, but he had to kill that creature.” He cocked his head. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m the one who benefits from you abandoning him. But why? Why for that creature?” He wrinkled his nose. “Cleo, it was a demon.”

“I know,” I said. “I suppose because I can relate.”

He straightened. “Why?” His tone was sharp enough to cut glass. “How can you relate?”

“Because I was almost executed,” I said.

“Yes, but that was for an unfair reason,” Zadis said. “Not for being a demon.”

“Right,” I said, still trying to regulate my breathing.

Don’t let him find out you’re a demon. Keep the collar on until you escape him too.

Escape? I wondered why my inner demon thought we had to escape right now. We’d just escaped Sam, as we needed to.

Idiot.

Argh, it was like Sam had even tainted my inner demon’s voice.

Run.

Zadis was still studying me intently, watching me drink the tea. It felt so soothing.

“I’m glad you came to see me. But what exactly is it you’re wanting?” He sat upright with one leg crossed gingerly over the other, still wearing his black robes. “I can’t bring that thing back.”

“I know,” I said, twisting my hands together. “But before, you offered… you know.”

“To protect you from that psychopath?”

I nodded. “It’s not that, so much. I think I could defend myself. But I have nowhere to go.” I raised my eyes to his. “I know no one outside my haven, and I’d rather die than go back there.”

Zadis studied me thoughtfully. “You seemed irritated with me earlier. You were angry with me for kidnapping that creature. How do I know that won’t come up again? Are you holding it against me, but you just see me as a safer option than Sam?”

I raised my eyes to his. “I don’t know. But you’ve been kind. So when I was panicked, I came here.”

“As you should,” he said, pouting in a way that was slightly condescending as he stood and pulled me into a hug.

His arms were warm and strong, but I felt nothing as his hand brushed my hair back and he lowered his head for a kiss.

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