Page 208 of The Demon's Pet

He moved around the back of the couch and leaned over me, nuzzling into the back of my neck. “I hate being away from you. I thought bonds were impossible for me, but I think what’s truly impossible is breaking this bond I have with you.”

I looked up at him, putting my hands up to ruffle his hair. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you came back for me.” I patted the couch, and he walked around it to sit down next to me. “I… couldn’t have done it without you.”

He was close, so big and so heated, and looming over me, staring at me like I was something he didn’t understand. “I still can’t believe your sword emerged because of me.”

“Why would that be a surprise?”

His eyes were haunted. “You don’t understand, Cleo. I’ve never gotten along with anyone, even when I was younger. Killing always suited me. I assumed that even when I took up the hunt for the Morningstar, only out of guilt for my brother, that I would have little contact with the Morningstar and then move on.” He clasped his hands together. “I never expected the Morningstar to beyou.”

“Me?”

“You got under my skin,” he said. “You never judged me. I think I would have done everything I did for you even if you weren’t the Morningstar.”

“Ah.”

“When I thought of you as the most powerful weapon, I thought, why would she need a piece of trash like me hanging around? I’m not even the kind of slayer Cayne was. A legend. I just like killing because it makes the pain disappear, both inside myself and in preventing pain to others.”

“And I’ve admired that about you since you killed Zane in that prison.”

Sam’s eyes flashed angrily. “My only regret there was not acting sooner. I truly thought you would stop him. That it would be the moment you woke up. I hadn’t realized until that moment how much you’d been taught not to fight for yourself.” He sighed. “I would have taken you from that place either way, just like I took Griffin.”

“I know,” I said, taking his hands in mine. They were cold, and I wanted to make them warm.

I wanted to make everything about this man warm.

But I knew it would take time.

But he had come back. That was what mattered. We had fought for each other and been stronger by each other’s side.

“We should go inside, take a shower,” I said. “I’m practically doused in blood.”

“I know,” he said. “But when we go in, I’ll have to share you. Griffin will want to make sure you’re okay. Mor will want to know how the fight went. Simon will want to hear about your sword.” He brushed my hair back gently, and I could have gotten lost in the soft look in his eyes. “Right now, I don’t want to share you. I was so afraid I would be too late. You mean everything to me now, Cleo.”

He leaned in, and my lips parted, and his lips closed over mine.

Heat surged through me, feeling like it was healing me from everything that had happened.

The agony of my wounds had already faded, but the tiredness left in their wake was receding as Sam deepened the kiss, pulling me into his arms on the couch. His hand held my neck gently, cradling it, and with his kiss, he told me something I knew he would never say in words.

And as I kissed him back, I told him I felt the same.

There, underground, surrounded by books that made it clear we were more similar than I had ever expected, I could have sworn I had found my soul mate.

But I knew there was so much still awaiting us.

I pulled back, putting my forehead against his and catching my breath. If we went further, I would want so much more, and we both needed time to rest.

But I did want to be with him. I felt healed and strengthened by his presence.

“So you felt me, through the bond?”

He nodded. “I felt your pain. I was far away, on a slaying assignment. I’m so sorry, Cleo. So sorry.”

“Don’t,” I said. “This is unexpected for both of us. Besides, I wouldn’t change anything. Gabe’s gone, and we’re more united than ever before.”

“There’s still so much to do,” Sam said. “If Gabe was telling the truth, then there’s a chance Cayne can be brought back. Of course I want to see him again, but also, he knows so much more about the legend of the Morningstar than I do. We’ll have to travel to the deepest realms of hell, though.”

I brushed his hair back, treasuring the golden-brown curls as they caressed my hand. “If he’s there, we’ll definitely find him together,” I said.

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