As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the unlikely journey that had brought us here. From suspicious professor and curious student to demon and boundary guardian to whatever new category we were creating together.
My professor was a demon. And somehow, impossibly, perfectly, he was mine.
Epilogue
Charlotte
One month later, I sat cross-legged on the floor of Oscar's apartment, surrounded by ancient texts and my own research notes. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the magical diagrams I'd sketched—far more precise now that I understood the principles behind them.
"Your energy control is improving," Oscar observed from his desk, where he was translating a boundary guardian text we'ddiscovered in Rose's collection. The formal professor persona had softened over the past weeks, though his academic precision remained intact.
"Having an actual understanding of what I am helps," I replied, tucking an escaped curl behind my ear.
His lips curved into that small smile I'd come to treasure. "Terminology matters."
"Says the being who's spent the past month redefining his own classification," I teased, rising to stretch my cramped muscles.
That earned a full laugh—a sound that had become more frequent as he adjusted to life without Hell's contract.
Oscar had changed in subtle but significant ways since that night. His energy signature had stabilized into something neither fully demonic nor human, but uniquely his own. The power he commanded remained impressive, but it flowed differently now—balanced rather than chaotic.
"'Former demon with reconfigured essence' lacks academic precision," he admitted, setting aside his translation.
I moved to stand behind him, resting my hands on his shoulders. He leaned back into my touch with an ease that still surprised me sometimes—this powerful being who had existed for centuries, finding comfort in simple contact.
"The department might need to update your faculty profile," I suggested. "'Dr. Oscar Katz, expertise in interdimensional boundaries and demonic reformation.'"
"I believe that would violate several supernatural confidentiality protocols," he replied dryly, though his energy hummed pleasantly against mine.
I slid my hands from his shoulders down his chest. After a month together, our connection had only grown stronger, more intuitive. "Speaking of violations," I murmured against his ear, "we've been researching for hours. I think we deserve a break."
He caught my hands, bringing them to his lips. "Your definition of 'break' has proven remarkably consistent over the past month," he observed, though the heat in his eyes belied his tone.
"Are you complaining, Professor?" I asked innocently, moving to perch on the edge of his desk.
"Merely making an observation." His hands settled on my waist, drawing me closer. "Your academic dedication extends to all areas of study."
I laughed, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Some subjects are more engaging than others."
The kiss started slow but quickly deepened into something more urgent.
Oscar lifted me effortlessly, setting me fully on his desk and stepping between my legs. Ancient texts and research notes scattered to the floor, forgotten as his mouth traced the sensitive path from my jawline to my collarbone.
"What about your precious organization?" I teased breathlessly, my fingers threading through his perfect hair.
"Some chaos," he murmured against my skin, "is worth embracing."
My laugh turned to a gasp as clothing fell away beneath practiced hands, each of us having learned exactly how to unravel the other's control.
"Beautiful," I whisper. "I'll never get tired of seeing you like this."
His eyes darkened to endless depth. "Nor I you," he replied.
When he entered me, there on his desk amid scattered research, our energies erupted into perfect resonance.
Oscar moved with deliberate control that drove me to the edge of madness, each thrust precisely calculated for maximum pleasure. I wrapped my legs around his waist, urging him deeper.
"Charlotte," he groaned, his voice resonating with power that vibrated through my very bones. "You undo me completely."