Page 64 of The Devil's Canvas

"I guess I never really thought about a demon’s mode of transportation," I admit, crossing my arms. "Not like I ever expected to meet one."

His smirk deepens. "A tragic oversight."

I huff. "I’m assuming you don’t drive?"

"Not when I have faster options." His gaze gleams with something wicked, something undeniably entertained.

"Right, so what do you do?" I ask dryly. "Just snap your fingers and appear places?"

Julian steps forward, deliberate, his presence pressing into mine just enough to steal the air between us. "Something like that," he murmurs.

I tilt my head. "So what? You’re going to teleport us?"

His eyes glint. "No, darling. I’m going to fly us."

I freeze. My lips part, words failing me for a solid five full seconds before I manage to spit out—

"I beg your fucking pardon?"

Julian laughs, low and amused, as if this is the best part of his night. "Oh, come on. Where’s your sense of adventure?"

I throw my hands in the air. "I left it back at the theater, right around the time you started calling me darling."

"Lia, Lia, Lia," he tsks, shaking his head, all smooth arrogance. "You wound me."

I arch a brow. "You’ll live."

"I will," he muses, stepping closer, his fingers brushing against my wrist, light but intentional. "After I take you for a little ride."

I glare at him, watching the way his eyes gleam—too entertained, too sure of himself.

"Unless you’re scared?" he adds, the words a taunt wrapped in honey.

I inhale slowly, steadying myself before narrowing my gaze. "I hate that you know exactly how to push my buttons."

Julian chuckles, tipping his head, looking far too pleased. "A gift."

"A curse," I mutter.

"Semantics," he says with a lazy shrug. His expression shifts, sharpening like a blade, all challenge, all temptation. "So? Do you trust me?"

I hold his gaze, searching his face for any trace of deceit, any flicker of something insincere. But there’s nothing.

Just him.

And the truth I already know.

I exhale, shaking my head. "Don’t drop me, demon."

Julian smirks, stepping in closer. He lifts my hand again, bringing it to his lips, his breath warm against my skin as he murmurs, "I’d never let you fall, sweetheart."

And suddenly—

The world disappears.

Not in pieces. Not in stages. All at once.

A rush of air steals my breath as reality bends, stretching into something vast, untethered, impossible. It’s not falling. Not flying. It’s both—weightless and electric, like being yanked through space by something too big to fight.

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