“You will not harm Asmodeus. He is mine.”
Everyone stared at her with varying expressions of shock. Except Belial, who looked strangely delighted. Probably because, for once, he wasn’t the one having the temper tantrum.
“He is mine!”
It felt so damned good to lay claim to the fierce demon beside her. He would make a worthy mate. He would protect her and be loyal and sate her body’s needs. She would give him the same in return.
Ash pulled her into his arms, and they stared heatedly into each other’s eyes. His blood soaked her clothing where their bodies pressed together, but neither of them paid it any mind.
“Eva, snap out of it!” her dad shouted from far away, but it was easy to ignore him.
“You’re mine,” she said again to Ash.
“And you’re mine,” he replied, lips curving into a smile. “And I will eviscerate anyone who touches you.”
God, he was sexy when he talked like that. But her demon was injured. Reaching up, she curled her hands around those sleek black horns and pulled him down for a kiss. When their lips met, she poured a little of her potent power into him, willing it to heal his wounds. Then, she sent it out to do the same to his injured brothers.
She and Ash broke apart and stared at each other, and just like that, the dark rush felt sated, as if sensing that, with her demon’s vow of protection and the knowledge she had protected him in turn, it was safe to slumber again. Giving a sleepy sigh of satisfaction, it retreated within her.
She felt herself shrinking, returning to her normal height and frame of mind. In the aftermath, she felt a little shell-shocked, but she wasn’t disconnected from herself anymore, and that was all that mattered.Never again.
“Holy shit,” someone said.
She looked at Ash, still in his impressive demon form, and took a moment to admire his horns. Had she thought them freaky before? Because she couldn’t get the feeling of gripping them out of her head and wanted to do it again.
Except her parents and his brothers were right there, and that was just embarrassing.
She turned to face them with a grimace. “Um...”
Dan dragged a hand down his face. “I see your powers have already awoken.”
“You healed me.” Ash stared at his chest in amazement. His skin was unmarred, as if the wound had never existed. He could tell his back was healed too. Such a complete recovery would normally take all night or longer, especially for a wound made by a consecrated weapon.
“And me.” Raum was looking at his hands. Sure enough, the gory, mangled flesh was as good as new. All his fingers had regrown.
“And Meph,” Bel said. Though he was still unconscious, the wound in Meph’s chest had closed over as if it had never been.
“I don’t know how I...” Eva looked dazed, not that Ash blamed her. This was a lot for even him to take in.
“You can never use your power that way again,” Dan said. “It’s against the rules.”
Everyone glared at him.
“Look, I get I made a mistake here, but I was only trying to protect Eva. Everything I’ve ever done since the day she was born was to protect Eva.” Dan looked at his daughter. “Every time you use your angelic abilities, it leaves traces in the ether that could leave a trail for others trying to track you. If an angel discovers you, you will be destroyed on the spot. No trials, no questions asked. Do you understand?”
Eva nodded mutely.
“I never planned to have you, but I’ve never once regretted it. You’ve brought more light into my life than anything I’ve ever known. I’m sorry I lied to you, but as far as I knew, you were going to live a normal human life. I would have done anything to prevent this”—he gestured at the destruction around them—“from happening. I would have paid any price, even if it meant you stayed angry at me for the rest of your life.”
“It’s okay, Dad,” Eva said softly. Was it okay? She didn’t know. “But everything is different now.” She turned to face the demons. “I propose a trade. You offer me protection and teach me how to use whatever powers I can to protect myself. In exchange, I’ll give you my fancy blood and keep you hidden.”
“Eva, no,” Ash said.
“The fact that you’re resisting proves how worthy you are.” Their gazes locked. “You’ve made me happier than I’ve ever been and done your best to protect me from danger.”
“DangerIbrought into your life,” he muttered, not feeling particularly heroic.
“Danger that, evidently, was part of my life all along. Honestly, I’m glad this happened. Not only because it brought me to you, but because I’d rather know who I really am than spend my life believing I’m something I’m not. My whole life, I felt this sense of disconnect, like a part of myself was missing. For the first time, I feel whole. I wouldn’t trade that for all the safety in the world.”
