“You’re not crazy, Vi. Not any more than usual. I promise.”
Thoughts drill through me all at once. How strong his arms feel locked around me. How sexy his eyes are. How his confidence must stem from somewhere. How confident he is witheverythinghe does.
I’m being a total creep with my imaginary friend. Imagining his imaginary dick. How pathetic.
Gently, I push out of his arms. They fall to his sides, and a look of confusion passes across his handsome face.
I try to clear my messy thoughts.
“He keeps sedating me,” I admit.
At the sound of my words, his dark brows lower over his eyes. The color changes so quickly. One second, they’re a beautiful blue, and the next, they’re completely black. It’s like a Demon and a Valkyrie had an affair, and Nollix Forester was the outcome. His jaw tics as he waits for me to say more.
“Twice now, he’s injected me with something he says will strengthen my powers as well as calm my mind.”
He looks at me through inky, narrowed eyes, and waves of anger roll off of his tense body. He’s a terrifying sight to see.
“Then what happens?”
My lips part with silence.
My mind races for traces of memories of today. But there are none.
“I don’t know. It fades out of my consciousness. I can’t remember.”
His long fingers fist into his palms. The small movement seems to cord every muscle in him. “I’m going to stay. I’m going to stay here and fucking rip him apart tomorrow morning.” His clipped words make a hesitant smile press to my lips.
“Are you fucking laughing at me?” His irrational anger points to me now, and it does cause a quiet laugh to slip from my mouth. “What the fuck is so funny?”
If he says one more fierce f-word, I’m going to burst.
With effort, I smooth the smile from my features. But it’s no use. It pushes right back into place.
“What?” His hands lift from his sides with impatience.
“It’s just funny. I don’t know. I guess I never thought my imaginary friend would be such an aggressive asshole.” Another small giggle shakes through me. When he finally smiles, a tingling feeling passes all through me.
He’s beautiful when he smiles. Even with a hint of Demon in his eyes, he’s beautiful. The curve of his lips holds all of my attention. Slow, stalking steps bring him closer to me.
“Just because youthinkI’m imaginary doesn’t mean I won’t fucking kill him for using you.”
A regretful feeling sinks through my stomach. My fingers push slowly up his smooth arm.
“I wish you’d been this sweet to me before.” It’s a quiet confession that barely leaves my lips.
His fingers lock with mine as his smile slips away. His emotions mirror mine for once. He pulls me against him and holds me to his chest. The sound of his strong, beating heart fills my ears.
“I do too.”
Two quick knocks at my door have me jerking my head away. The doorknob clicks as a lock is undone, and my breath is held in my chest. I curl my fingers into Nollix and lean into him, aware that I’m trembling. Black hair and brown eyes come into view.
Turning to face the door, I block Nollix’s body with my own as if I can hide what I doubt anybody can see anyway. Instead of my father, Merrick stands in the doorway, his mouth pressed into a firm line as he looks me over head to toe. His gaze lifts over my shoulder for a heartbeat, and I turn, some explanation already forming on my lips.
But as I expected, Nollix is gone. Again.
Chapter Seven
Merrick
