Page 20 of My Demon Assistant

I shook my head, then held my hand out, palm cupped. Ignoring the strain, I magicked up a red rose, and Jerry sucked in a breath. I offered it to him, and he took it reluctantly, his fingers running over the smooth petals.

"I can show you my true form some other time if you need more proof, but I'm too drained. I hope this is enough for now."

"Fuck," he swore, then seemed to come to a realization. "Are you saying Archer and Kat know?"

I nodded, then clamped my hand on his knee when he started to get up. I might have been weakened, but I was still stronger than him.

"They weren't allowed to tell anyone, no matter how much they wanted to. Just like you can't tell anyone now."

Jerry stared at me, and I could see his brain running through everything I'd said. My mate was one of the smartest people I'd ever met, so I didn't doubt he'd understand this, though I suspected it would still take him some time to heal from the hurt feelings.

"What changed? Why can I know now?" he asked, then huffed. "You. It's because of you, isn't it?"

I nodded, then explained. "All sentient beings in this world have a—sometimes more than one—mate. Someone who pairs perfectly with their soul, chosen by fate to be their partner. Fated mates. You are mine, just like Kat is Fressia's, and Archer is Lux's."

A dozen emotions flickered through Jerry's eyes, too fast for me to read, and I held my breath, waiting for his reaction.

"That's why Archer and Kat know? Because their...their mates told them?"

I nodded. "We don't keep secrets from our mates, but the existence of magic isn't something humans are allowed to know, not unless they're mated to a supernatural being and have a vested interest in keeping their secret."

"This is...a lot."

"I understand. This wasn't how I wanted to tell you."

"I can imagine that," he said with a snort, then rubbed his face. "I need to go home. Tom's alone."

I knew what he actually wanted was some space to think, and I didn't want to stop him but...

"Not until Fressia's back and we know it's safe."

Jerry frowned. "Why would I be in any danger?" Before I could answer, he added, "And what the hell happened to you? You never told me that."

"How about Calux brings Tom here so we know he's safe, and then I'll tell you?"

I sensed Lux's magic stir, and knew he'd heard me and left already. Jerry sighed and nodded, and Lux was back.

"There's Tom," I murmured as the small dog came barking out of the hallway, aiming straight for Jerry.

"What the..." He shook his head, and decided against asking the question he'd had. I answered anyway.

"Demons can...teleport. And we have superior hearing. Lux heard me and got him."

Jerry nodded slowly, his fingers sinking into Tom's fur as he pulled him into his lap. "Tell meeverything."

Eight

Jerry

So...demonswerereal.

And not just that, both my best friend's significant others were demons.Demons.

I stared at Eshim, unable to accept what he was telling me, and yet unable to deny it either.

I listened as Eshim explained how demons lived in a demon realm but had moved to the human world when a demon went darkside and escaped with a few 'dark souls.'

"Is he the one who hurt you? The bad demon?"

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