Page 72 of The Demon Court

He dragged her forward to press his lips to her forehead. “Thank you for telling me.”

“Please don’t make me regret doing so.”

“Ah, I can promise little, but that one I can make.” And because he couldn’t help himself, he tilted her head back with his hand and kissed her.

He took his time, enjoying the way her lips molded to his. How she remained stiff for all but a few heartbeats before she melted into his touch. He delved into her mouth, tasting her on his tongue so he could leave with something other than the faint promise of pleasure.

And when she was breathless, he let her go.

“Enjoy your bath,” he said, leaving the room before he lost his nerve and went back to her. “I’ll see you tonight.”

ChapterTwenty-Four

No, no, no. This was all going so wrong. She had to get control over herself and the situation or she was... lost.

Selene laid on the floor of the balcony, staring up at the sky while trying to cajole herself back underneath the icy waves of her mind. But every time she tried to convince herself to shove those emotions back underneath the ice, it just hurt. Physically made her ache, like she was putting away something very important.

She was being stupid. Her mother and her sisters had sent her here for a reason. They’d left their mark on the back of her neck so she would never forget they were her real family. They were the ones protecting her.

He needed to be under her thumb, not the other way around.

Lust didn’t know how much he affected her. Of course, he could sense her desire now, and he used that to his advantage. But if he really knew how fond she was of him, how he’d wiggled his way into her heart, then he would exploit that. She knew he would. He had to. He was a demon, after all. He’d want to know that he had somehow changed her for the worse.

“For the worse?” a melodic voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Affection, please don’t read my mind. You know I don’t like it when you do that.”

“I didn’t mean to this time! Your thoughts are so loud.” The spirit gathered itself on her chest, coiling on her like a cat. “He’s not going to hurt your feelings, you know.”

“You have no way of knowing that for certain.”

“I do. Because I can also look into his thoughts, and I know he’s very enamored with you. You’re the first person he’s ever had to work for, you know?”

She had no idea what that meant. “Because he doesn’t like me, but he wanted to understand what makes me tick? Of course. But now he knows the answer to his question and he can do whatever he wants now. He can send me back to the Tower. All I had over him was that I was a curiosity, and now he can make me leave with satisfaction that he figured it out.”

She’d been so stupid! Why would she offer him up the truth that easily? Everything she’d worked so hard for, gone. In an instant.

Selene had no more cards to play. Nothing to hold over his head to get her mother and her sisters here so they could at least try to bind him. Nothing. Now she was just another woman who had come to the castle, and what use was she to him?

Affection leaned over her, sunlight playing through its form. It had... features, now. Sort of. A cute little button nose and bright red lips that sort of floated in the mass of color.

The spirit looked a bit like a puzzle missing pieces, but it was clearly trying to look more mortal.

“What happened to you?” she asked at the same time Affection spoke.

“He’s not going to toss you aside.”

They both stared at each other before again answering at the same time.

“Why wouldn’t he toss me aside? He’s figured out the question he wanted an answer to.”

“Nothing has happened to me. I thought you would be more comfortable talking to me like this.”

Selene took a deep breath and blew it out. “Can you listen to my answer before you talk?”

Affection nodded, although sullenly. “If you ask questions, then I’m going to answer them.”

“Yes, I understand that.” She sat up, letting the little spirit roll into her lap. “Why do you think he will not toss me aside? He has every reason to now. There are plenty of women in this castle who will warm his bed, and I’m sure some of them are even keeping secrets from him. There’s no reason to keep me around.”

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