“I didn’t actually build the house,” he admits. “I bought it and have been fixing it up slowly over the last few years.”
“You bought a house when you were sixteen?”
“With cash.”
I snort. “Show off.”
I could ask about the legalities of that, but in truth, I already know if there are any rules or laws that would challenge the sale of house to a teen, his title would have easily pushed anyone to overlook it, at least here.
He crosses the room and brushes his hand over my back to guide me farther down the hall. “It’s not finished either,” he says. “So, don’t judge my work too harshly.”
I roll my eyes. Like I would judge even an ounce of this place. It’s a beach house half on Myre Island and half in Oriziah, with a gorgeous bedroom and multiple waterfront balconies. The rest of it could be empty and I’d still be impressed.
The rest of the house is not empty, however.
The next room over is a second bedroom, similar to the first with exposed brick walls and natural wood furniture. There’s another balcony that overlooks the ocean on Myre Island. The sun is setting in earnest now, orange and pink clouds scattered across the sky.
Inside the bedroom too is a big wooden desk, a fireplace, and a massive bookshelf filled to the brim with books. I run my finger over the spines and find I recognize at least a few of them. Many are Orizian textbooks. Many others are potions books.
I tap three out of the bunch that I’d checked out of the Elite Library at one point or another.
“I’ve been keeping tabs on what you are interested in.” He shrugs.
I want to hassle him about being a creeper again, but then the breath freezes in my lungs. My heart races when I pull out a special edition copy of my favorite fiction series.
So much of my time and interest has been spent on things that make me stronger, smarter, better, that there are only a few fiction books I’ve fallen in love with, but this is one of them.
The Cruel Prince.
The edges of this copy are sprayed black, and there’s character art inside the front jacket. I open the book and nearly drop it when I find it’s been signed by the author.
Candice,
You’re stronger than you think.
My lips part and tears well up.
I’ve never told him I love this series. “How—”
“My instincts are too strong to leave you entirely alone for years at a time.”
I can feel the bashfulness he’s trying to hide. A slight sense of shame, maybe a little fear at how I’ll react. But my heart is only full of adoration and wonder. “Did you keep tabs on me?”
“I checked in at the schools you attended every once in a while. I didn’t follow you around or anything. I just needed to get a visual to assure my demon you were okay and taken care of. And I collected bits of information for this project as well. I saw you carrying around this series more than once. I’m guessing based off your reaction that my hunch about it meaning something to you was correct.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat.
Another realization settles in my heart as well. He loved me. He cherished me and protected me, even when I hated him. For years, he waited for me.
He’s right that if I’d known about all of this back then, I’d have freaked out. Even though he was my friend before, I thought such negative things about his nature as a demon.
But now? Now that I know and trust him, it feels like such a wondrous thing to be this adored.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Suddenly, I’m in his arms, wrapped up in his warmth. “You have no idea how much I love you, sunshine.”
I shiver. “I’m beginning to.”
