Page 21 of All the Devils are Here

Adeepinhale ruffled my hair, and his voice joined his purr, like a soft exhalation of pleasure. I needed to stand up and figure out where the hell I was, why, and how I could get home. But the sound rumbling through me and how tired I was, along with how comfortable, made me reluctant to move.

The scent enveloping me was earthy and rich. It lifted straight from Ban’s skin into my nose and made me want to bury my face deeper. What the hell was wrong with me?

It was like the scent of him woke up a side of me that should definitelynotbe awake right now. Focus, Meg.

“You said I’m not safe,” I whispered. “Why?”

“I will keep you safe, kitten.”

I laughed, the sound muffled by his chest. “I’m not a kitten.”

A huffed, gentle sound that moved my hair again. “You are small and soft. You have a hard time standing on your own. You are defenseless without fur, and you smell delicious. You are a kitten.”

“But—” I didn’t know why I was feeling this way about the word. With the way his body was pressed against mine, I didn’t want him to think of me as something young and innocent. No matter if I shouldn’t be having those thoughts, and no matter if they didn’t make sense. I didn’t want to be something he saw as a burden.

I wanted something I definitely shouldn’t want—to let this monster consume me.

He nudged my temple again. “I have never held a human kitten before.” The purr was nearly deafening in my ear. “A beautiful kitten.”

A blush rose to my cheeks, followed by guilt. How long had it been since the boat sank? Did Laurent think I was dead? Did Christine? And I was here curled up with a creature who made me feel things I didn’t understand, not trying to get back to him.

But I still wanted those things. Like a burning need inside me, I wanted to touch and taste andplayif I didn’t still feel like death warmed over.

He stiffened, suddenly looking behind him toward the door. When he looked at me now, his eyes were full of fear and panic—nothing like the lazy pools of gold they’d been seconds ago.

Pressing his forehead to mine for one long moment, I felt him shifting. “Be careful, kitten.”

He slithered off the stone bed and onto the floor in his feline form before jumping out the window with eerie silence. I laid my head on the furs beneath me as I heard footsteps outside the door.

Heavy, steady footsteps thatfeltsinister even without Ban’s warning.

I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting, but a man who looked completely ordinary wasn’t it. He was older, with silvering hair and wrinkles on his face, but he seemed to be entirely human. The oddest part about him was the clothes.

He was wearing robes like he was in a bible play. Or maybe like he was going to a renaissance fair. But his eyes were bright, and he smiled at me when he saw me looking. “I’m happy to find you awake and recovering.”

I didn’t say anything. The way his voice carried—a rich baritone—it reminded me of some of the men who were in Joan. Bristling and performative. It put me on edge despite his smile.

“Where am I?”

“My home, and I welcome you to it. Terrible what happened to your boat, but I hope I can make you comfortable here.”

Holding the blanket to my chest, I tried to sit up, and it wasn’t easy, reminding me of Ban’s words. It was true. I could barely stand on my own right now. “Where are my clothes?”

“I feared you would fall ill in clothes that were so wet. There are others you can wear, of course.” He waved a hand, and glitter flashed in the air, followed by a bundle of white fabric landing on my legs. It was a filmy white dress that didn’t seem thick enough to hide much.

“Um, thank you.”

He stood there, waiting, and I stared back. “The least you could do is turn around.”

“Given how you were rescued, it’s hardly necessary.”

My face flushed with anger, but I held my tongue. This man was a stranger and I had no idea what he was capable of. I needed to be careful. Still, I couldn’t be completely silent. I took a breath, long and even. “As much as I love hearing about you violating my consent while I was unconscious and dying, now that I’m awake, turn the fuck around.”

His eyes narrowed a fraction, and I saw a tic in his jaw. But he turned his back, and I still kept the blanket covering most of my body as I pulled the dress over my head.

Just like I’d thought, the fabric was nearly sheer, and I was grateful it was thick enough to hide my nipples. But it felt good to be wearing anything at all.

“Good,” he said, turning too quickly to believe he hadn’t known exactly what was happening. “Let me show you around.”

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