Page 81 of The Demon's Pet

My cheeks heated because I got the feeling that the way this fae warrior wanted to get to know me was more than friendly.

And Sam had warned me not to get too close to them.

But Zadis seemed nice, and what could happen when Sam probably wasn’t far away and Griffin and Os were nearby also?

“What did you have in mind?” I asked.

“Just a walk in the woods,” he said.

I wrinkled my nose. “Where?”

“Past the other side of our village are some beautiful fae wilds, cultivated by our horticulturists. You’ll love it. It might even inspire you to shift.”

His green eyes lightened to almost a moss color in his excitement, and I laughed. I didn’t hate being a wolf, if it didn’t come with being an omega, and shifting might be kind of fun…

And I’d never met a man like this. So polite, so kind. Instantly treating me like an equal while still showing interest.

Not harassing and pushing me away like Sam.

I still felt confused about how he could just walk out after practically giving me an orgasm.

My cheeks must have reddened because I felt Zadis staring at me even more intensely, as if trying to make out what I was feeling.

Unlike the other fae who wore robes, Zadis wore a dark-green tee shirt and black jeans, plus sneakers. His broad shoulders were relaxed, and he shoved his hands in his tight pockets.

“Look, I’m not going to hurt you. Ask anyone. I love humans and shifters. I think they’re so interesting. I even dress like them.” He spun in a quick circle. “Way sexier than robes, don’t you think?”

I laughed. “So if your brother is the high priest here, what does that make you?”

“Something like a prince?” He grinned. “Though, I suppose I’m what you’d call a nerd about humans and other rare creatures, so I’m not very prince-like.” He reached out to take my hand, grabbing it, to my shock, and pulling me with him away from the house.

I barely managed to pull the door shut behind us.

“Come on,” Zadis said. “I promise you’re safe with me.”

I pulled my hand away from his, blushing furiously despite my best attempts not to. “I just don’t like being forced to do anything.”

He froze, studying me for a moment, then nodded. “I am sorry.” He reached out a hand. “Come with me?”

I looked down at his hand, then shook my head. “I’ll walk normally.”

He grinned, a pleading look in his huge green eyes, as he wiggled his fingers at me again. “Come on, we’re going to be friends, aren’t we? And friends build their bonds.”

“Bonds?” I asked, ignoring his hand and falling into step beside him. “I did want to hear more about that.”

“Fae bonds,” he said. “We believe that our innate powers can be linked to one another, shared and made greater through our connection. The highest being the bond between bonded mates.”

“What are bonded mates?”

He cocked his head, then looked forward, picking up his pace so I had to almost jog to keep up. “I have to keep some mystery if this relationship is going to work.”

“It’s not going to work,” I said, drinking in the fresh, mulchy, humid air as we walked along the paths around the village. Tall trees rose on all sides, sending fragrant green scents to my sensitive nose.

“Why not?” he asked, walking backward as he faced me.

Gods, he was beautiful. I preferred Sam with his dark, wicked eyes and harsh beauty, but this man was a close second for now.

Just talking to men who didn’t see me as only an omega was incredible.

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