Page 84 of The Demon's Pet

“No!” I shook my head, my cheeks burning once again.

“Good,” Zadis said. “Because I’d have to kill him.”

I looked up at Zadis then, so handsome in the light of the torches that were being lit all around the roads of the village.

It was the first time a man had offered to protect me without asking for anything in return.

I was stymied.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Zadis said. “I’m no angel. But I can’t stand seeing a woman forced to be with someone she doesn’t want.”

“No,” I said. “Sam and I made a deal.” The other option was death, but I decided not to mention that.

Zadis turned to me suddenly, taking my hands in his. “I think this is fate. I’ve been wanting to meet a celestial shifter my whole life, and you come into my village. And you need protection, which I can offer. I want to bond with you, to share powers with the wild animal inside you. Can you at least think about it?”

I blinked at the whirlwind of emotions that moved through me at his words. I nodded because I had no idea what else to say.

This man was unlike anyone I’d ever met. Plus, Zadis stated his intentions clearly, and Sam only lied or refused to tell me things outright.

“I’m serious about you,” Zadis said, squeezing my hands lightly in his large, warm ones. “And I will share my power with you as well.”

Sam wasn’t serious about me. Then again, Zadis didn’t know I had a demon inside me.

Choices, choices.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, pulling my hands away and standing up. “We should probably get back.” I didn’t want Sam to start hunting for us.

“But I haven’t told you about bonds,” Zadis said. “Promise to go out with me tomorrow while your angel is hunting leads, and I’ll tell you all you need to know.”

I thought for a moment. I liked this guy. Like me, he thought the celestials were less than worthy of worship. I wanted to know why he thought that.

And I wanted to know about fae bonds.

And my wolf wanted to be out in the fresh air.

“I’ll let you know,” I said. After all, I was a demon wolf on probation, not a normal woman who could date.

But that seemed to be enough for Zadis, and he nodded. “Just one more thing before we go back. Can you shift for me?”

I stared at him, shocked by the question. “Seriously?”

“Please, please, please,” he said, clasping his hands together. It looked so silly for a big warrior to be doing that I nearly laughed at him.

“Fine,” I said. “Just for a second.”

But before I could, I heard voices calling out in our direction and jolted away from Zadis, putting at least a few feet between us as we stood there.

It was Os, followed by Griffin. Os was wearing some kind of purple tunic with silver embroidery over tight purple leggings and soft slippers. With his light-purple hair and eyes, he looked gorgeous as always.

Griffin wore a blue tee shirt and jeans, and his hair was standing up in all directions as if he’d been napping. He was panting from exertion, his eyes wide with worry until they met mine and relaxed.

I had no idea why he was so protective of me.

Os looked at Zadis with disapproval. “Sam won’t like you being here.”

“Sam doesn’t have to know, does he?” Zadis asked lightly, though there was an edge to his tone.

Os frowned. “I will not keep it from him.”

---