Page 53 of I Summoned A Demon For A Date?!
It wasn't a question. Aldaine nodded once, not bothering to deny it.
Jan turned to me then, her expression softening in a way I'd never seen before. "Rosie, do you know what you're getting into with him? With a demon contract?"
I felt Aldaine tense beside me, but I squeezed his hand reassuringly. "I know enough."
"These contracts," Jan continued, her voice taking on an urgency that surprised me. "They drain you, Rosie. Your energy, your essence. Your soul. I've lived with one for decades. It's like a slow bleed you don't even notice until you're nearly empty."
"My contract with Rosie is not like that," Aldaine interjected, steady and sure.
"They all say that," Jan countered, but without hostility. "They promise you everything you want, but the cost is always higher than you expect."
Dad stepped forward then, putting his arm around Jan's shoulders. The gesture was protective, supportive. A united front I'd never seen from them before.
"I had no idea about any of this," he looked between Blackwood and Aldaine with wide eyes. "No idea what was happening in my own home."
"That was by design," Blackwood rumbled. "Jan's contract specifically included keeping you in the dark."
"Which I now regret," Jan sighed. "Among many things."
Stephany made a sound of disgust. "Mom, what are you doing? Why are you treating her like she deserves an explanation? She's the intruder here, not us!"
"Enough, Stephany," Jan's voice was sharper than I'd ever heard it. "Your sister deserves more than explanations. She deserves an apology from all of us, me most of all."
The word "sister" sent a jolt through me. Not "your stepsister" or "Denis's daughter" but simply "sister." It felt like a gift, unexpected and precious.
I stood straighter, emboldened by Jan's words. I looked directly at Aldaine, at the demon who had become so much more than a contract to me. His eyes held mine,warm and steady despite the tension surrounding us. I reached for his hand, twining my fingers through his.
"I know exactly what I'm getting into," I addressed Jan but kept my gaze on Aldaine. "I've made my choice with open eyes."
Jan studied us for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "I believe you." She turned to Blackwood, her expression hardening. "As for you."
Blackwood's burning eyes narrowed. "Careful, Jan. Remember who holds your contract."
"No," Jan shook her head. "You don't. Not anymore."
For the first time, Blackwood looked uncertain. "What are you talking about? Our agreement.."
"I know you transferred our contract to Stephany on her last birthday," Jan cut him off. "I felt it happen. The weight lifting from me, settling onto her."
Stephany paled visibly. "Mom? You shouldn't have known."
Jan ignored her, keeping her focus on Blackwood. "I wanted to thank you, actually. For everything you've done for my family over the generations. And to tell you that I want to release you from your contract with the Thompsons."
"Release me?" Blackwood's voice was suddenly very quiet.
"Yes. I know it's what you've wanted for decades now. To be free of us. Of this arrangement that's bound you for too long."
Something flashed across Blackwood's face then, an emotion so complex and unexpected that it took me a moment to recognize it. Vulnerability. Perhaps even gratitude.
He turned to look at Stephany, who was watching the exchange with dawning horror. The smirk that had played on her lips throughout our confrontation began to fade as Blackwood's burning gaze settled on her.
"It's too late for that, Jan," his rumbling voice oddly gentle. "Stephany broke the contract a while ago."
"What?" Stephany's voice rose an octave. "That's not possible! I did everything you asked!"
Blackwood shook his massive head. "Not everything, child. The terms were clear. The firstborn female of each generation must honor the binding. Must feed me with their stronger emotions and, most importantly, must remain true to the bloodline."
"I am true to the bloodline!" Stephany protested. "I'm Jan's daughter!"
