Page 31 of I Summoned A Demon For A Date?!
"Did you see that? He looked ready to pummel Roger."
"His eyes, what was wrong with his eyes?"
"It was just the light, right?"
Full awareness crashed back, and with it, horror. What had I done? In my rage, I'd nearly exposed everything, what I was, worse, it could have exposed Rosie for summoning a demon. I'd risked not just my position but potentially triggered a conflict that would reverberate through both worlds.
All because I couldn't control my reaction to a mating bond I hadn't even acknowledged.
But worse than exposing myself, I'd frightened her. I saw it in the split second before she masked it, that momentary flash of shock when she'd witnessed something not human emerging from beneath my carefully crafted exterior.
I had scared Rosie.
I dropped her hand as if burned, taking a deliberate step back from her. The cold logic I'd honed over centuries reasserted itself, dropping like a wall between us. I could feel her confusion, her hurt at my sudden withdrawal, but I blocked it out. This was necessary. This was safer, safer for both of us.
"I told you before," my voice now perfectly controlled, perfectly human, perfectly empty. "I'm not good."
I turned and walked away, not looking back at her hurt expression, not acknowledging the stares and whispers that followed me through the crowd. The fairy lights swayed gently overhead in the evening breeze, casting ever-shifting shadows across the manicured lawn. Behind me, I heard the sound of a champagne glass toppling, liquid splashing onto the grass.
I kept walking.
Chapter Fourteen
CHAPTER 14: ROSIE
"Rosie?" My father approached cautiously, concern etched deep across his features. "Are you alright, sweetheart? What was that about?"
"I," I started, then stopped, unsure how to explain. How could I tell my father that my date had almost transformed into his true demonic form in the middle of Stephany's engagement party? That Roger had been seconds away from experiencing whatever supernatural punishment Aldaine had been about to unleash?
I settled for a half-truth. "Roger was being inappropriate. Aldaine stepped in." I rubbed my arm where Roger's fingers had dug in, sure there would be bruises tomorrow because it was bright red.
Dad's expression hardened. "Inappropriate how?"
Before I could answer, Stephany pushed her way forward, her face flushed with anger and something else, excitement, almost. As if she'd just discovered a particularly juicy piece of gossip.
"What the hell was that?" she demanded, eyes darting between me and the direction Aldaine had disappeared. "Your boyfriend just threatened my fiancé! And did you see, did anyone else see?"
"See what?" I challenged, lifting my chin defiantly.
Stephany faltered, clearly struggling to articulate what she thought she'd witnessed without sounding insane. "There was something wrong with his eyes. And how did he get over here so fast? He was clear across the lawn with Mr. Blackwood!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," coolly, looking at her though my heart hammered in my chest. "Maybe you've had too much champagne."
"Don't gaslight me, Rosie," Stephany hissed. "Something isn't right about him."
Jan appeared at her daughter's side, placing a restraining hand on her arm. "Stephany, that's enough. Where's Roger?"
"He went back to the house," someone in the crowd offered. "He looked pretty shaken up and drunk as hell.
Jan's eyes narrowed as she studied me. "What happened here?"
I took a deep breath. "Your future son-in-law cornered me, grabbed me hard enough to leave bruises, and said some pretty disgusting things. Aldaine intervened. That's all."
Dad's face darkened with anger. "He put his hands on you?"
"Dad, please," I pleaded, suddenly exhausted. The last thing I wanted was for this to escalate further. "I just, please, I need to find Aldaine."
The crowd was still watching, still murmuring, some guests not even bothering to hide their fascination with the unfolding drama. Phones were still out, probably capturing my humiliation for posterity. This was exactly what I'd hoped to avoid by coming with Aldaine in thefirst place, becoming the center of unwanted attention, the family disappointment, and causing scenes.
