Page 42 of I Accidentally Summoned A Demon
Nex almost whimpered at how upset she was. He moved closer and stroked her hair while rubbing her back. The only way he’d find out what happened was if she calmed down. “Tell me what happened, kitten. Let me be here for you.”
“You’re going to think I’m an idiot.” She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting him to see her like that. “You’re going to say you told me, and I can’t, Nex. Ican’t. I know you told me. I know I was stupid.“ She choked on the words, her body shaking. “I don’t need it hammered in any more than it has been. Trust me. No one hates me as much as I do right now.”
Nex dropped his head, leaning it against hers. “I won’t do that to you, Katherine. I promise. You can tell me.”
She cried so hard he backed off and waited. A couple of times, she stopped enough to gulp whiskey, and that concerned him as well. Even at the party, she didn’t drink that much. His imagination ran wild with the possibilities of what could’ve happened, but he forced them out so he could focus on her.
Finally, she was able to tell him. The terrible sex, the laughing, the game he and Ashley played. All a trick. A guise to humiliate her and break her heart. While Nex did his best to maintain a calm exterior, he raged inside. He moved behind her and curled around her, holding her until she wasn’t crying as hard.
She had so much to drink her speech slurred. “I’m so stupid,” Kat whispered, tears silently falling. “I hate myself so much.”
Nex held her tighter. “Don’t hate yourself, Katherine. You’re everything good in the world. You’re not stupid.He’sstupid.She’sstupid.”
“You were right.” Kat sniffled. “I should’ve listened,” she whispered. “I wish I would’ve listened.”
“You couldn’t have known.” Nex ran his hand over her hair. “It wasn’t your fault. It was a fucked-up thing they did. Incredibly fucked up.”
“Do you think they’ll say things about me to everyone in the play?”
“Don’t worry about it, Katherine. I’ll handle it.”
Her lip quivered. “You can’t do anything.”
Wanna bet?
“I’m never doing that again,” she mumbled, her eyes sliding shut. Almost the entire bottle of whiskey was gone. “I’m never letting anyone that close to me again.”
Nex felt a painful tug at her statement, but he stayed silent. Guilt engulfed him. Tonight was as much his fault. He knew something wasn’t right about Jason, but when she asked, he couldn’t form the words. Now it was too late. She was heartbroken, and he wished he would’ve resolved his hesitation so none of it would’ve happened.
On the brink of passing out, she looked back at him, and he wanted nothing more than to be something other than what he was. Something that could comfort her. He didn’t have abilities like that, like angels did. He’d never wanted them until now.
Tears welled in her eyes. “You hate me, don’t you?”
“Of course I don’t. Why the hell would I hate you?”
“Because I . . .” She turned away.
Nex wasn’t sure what she meant, but he’d do anything to make her feel better. “I don’t hate you. I don’t hate what’s perfect.”
“I’m not perfect,” she whispered. “Especially now.”
“Your perfection and your worth are not based in something so trivial.” Nex kissed her temple. “This single incident doesn’t define you. Don’t for a second think it does. You are much more than what happened tonight, and anyone who thinks differently can burn in the deepest pits of hell.”
The alcohol and emotional exhaustion caught up with her, and her eyes closed. Nex stayed until her heart rate and breathing slowed. He got off the bed and crouched in front of her. Pushing her hair out of her face, he wiped away the rest of the tears. Katherine being asleep made it much easier to say what he truly felt.
“I would still have you,” he murmured. “This means nothing. I’d have you as eagerly as before.” He kissed her forehead. “To me, you’re still perfect.”
He stayed there, lips against her forehead, fingers in her hair. He was ready to rip apart the entire city to find Jason, and yet, another part of him ached at the thought of leaving her alone. “Forgive me, Katherine.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “Forgive me for this, but it has to be done. I will never use my powers on you like this again. I promise.”
Hands on both sides of her face, he pulled in the negative emotions from tonight. All the horrible things she felt from what happened. He pulled them in until he knew the depth of her anguish. Until it was almost unbearable.
It only made his anger grow.
“Don’t worry, kitten.” His lips grazed the crease in her forehead. “No onehurts you and gets away with it.”
Standing, he straightened his jacket. The effects of the alcohol he drank had mostly worn off. He made sure the blankets were snug around Kat before walking outside to the dumpster, where she said she put the clothes from tonight. The silky dress smelled likehim. When she got home, Kat scrubbed herself so much there was none of his scent on her, but the dress still had it.
Nex closed his eyes and inhaled. Drawing out one claw, he cut his arm, allowing the blood and scent to mingle, finding the link that would lead to Jason. The hunter in him took over, and his eyes snapped open, no longer amber but a deep bloodred. He tossed the dress back in the dumpster and followed the link to Jason’s house.
