Page 22 of Myths and Manuscripts
“If we’d what?” Willow asked. “Got married?”
Being a demon’s consort went far beyond marriage. It was a sacred bond that formed when two souls and bodies melded into one so profoundly that their magic intertwined. Whispers about my consort made my face burn even hotter. I disappeared into the shadows between two houses so none of them saw, especially Willow. She had no idea what she’d just implied.
I would never have a consort. Not now. Not ever. I was the villain of this story.
Willow stepped into the space between the houses, turning this way and that as if looking for me. “Uh, did you run away or something? I thought it was a good plot twist. You know, a reason for me to be in your castle.”
My shadows licked her skin, testing her, as if the very mention of a consort had them curious. I clamped down on them hard. “This isn’t a game. You can’t just joke about being my consort.”
“Sorry, I was only trying to help.” Her eyes widened when I pulled out of the shadows just enough for her to know I was there. “Is being your consort really that terrible?”
I rubbed a hand over my face, laughing despite myself. “You know nothing about demons.”
“So teach me. If I’m going to write your story, then I need to know everything.”
I peered at her over my fingers. Her bright green eyes met mine, full of curiosity as she lightly touched my arm in reassurance. That simple touch lit a fire in me, sending my shadows spiraling around us both. She had no idea what this conversation was doing to me. Once she understood, she’d never call herself that again and this would be over.
“Being a demon’s consort isn’t like a human marriage.” I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her against my chest. “It’s a bond so deep that you can feel the other even when they’re not there.” I traced the curve of her cheek, carefully avoiding the bandage. “When one is hurt, the other feels it. Like a tether you’ll never escape. You’d be bound to me, body and soul.”
That had to be enough to scare her away, but instead of laughing it off, she moved closer, leaning into my touch and making my skin tingle.
All thought of explaining the bond disappeared as she bit her lip, staring at me with something that looked like longing in her beautiful green eyes. My breath caught in my chest, and even though I knew better, I didn’t pull away. I’d been trying to shock her into taking back her joke, but instead I’d gotten swept up in her charms.
“Mating bond,” I blurted out.
She blinked, thankfully pulling away like I’d hoped. “What?”
“Uh, sorry, it’s a romance novel thing.” I scratched the base of my horns and stepped back so I wouldn’t get caught up in the moment again. “Calling yourself my consort is like saying we’re fated mates.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Demons have fated mates? And I just told the whole town that I was yours??”
“Basically, yes.”
There, that’s the reaction I was hoping for. Her skin was asred as her hair as she stumbled back. My shadows reached for her as the pleasure of hearing her call herself mine, even in jest, pulsed through me. I should be happy she understood enough to never use that phrase again, but something about her reaction irritated me too. Being my mate wasn’t that awful of an idea, was it?
No. Thinking like that was dangerous. If I got my hopes up for any kind of partner, let alone a true mate, the end of my story with the hero would be the least painful part of this adventure.
I was the villain, and villains never got a happy ending.
“You need to tell everyone the truth,” I said. “Before this gets out of hand.”
She shook her head. “No way. The demons already don’t trust me, so if I go out there and tell them I was just kidding, they’ll write me off entirely. I’ll never get any answers out of them then.”
“And who’s fault is that?” I asked with a groan. “They’ll think I’m weak if I take a human as my consort. So just tell them it was a cultural misunderstanding or something.”
“That’s a terrible idea.” She glared at me, eyes bright with defiance. “If you want me to write your book quickly, then I need to be in a position of power here. Being your consort gives me that. It also explains why I’ll be in your castle when nobody else has ever been there.”
I opened my mouth to shoot back a witty retort, but nothing came. Her logic was sound. The deadline for the competition was looming and she needed to be as immersed in my story as possible. Even if it meant pretending to be myconsort.
“Fine, what else do you need?” I took a deep breath, ready to do whatever it took to help her on this mission.
Her eyes widened. “Well that was easier than I thought. I mainly need to talk to the hero. It’s his story, so that should be our main objective.”
That blasted hero again. Everything always came back around to him. I ground my teeth, dragging Willow back out by the townsfolk. My gaze landed on the soldier who’d wounded her. He was still on his knees where he belonged, awaiting punishment, which suited me perfectly.
“You there, stand up,” I commanded him. “You dared to point a weapon at my consort. You even drew blood. That cannot be easily forgiven.”
He gulped. “Yes, sir. I understand.”
