Page 63 of Not Today, Satan
Laying my sword on the nightstand, I slide under the blanket, gritting my teeth as my ankle stings, reminding me that Nate’s not a miracle healer—he’s just good at distraction.
The pillow sinks beneath my head, and I murmur happily. “So is this. Maybe it’s months of sleeping on the ground, but this is the comfiest bed I’ve ever been in.”
“Good,” he says. “Get some sleep. I’ll keep watch, just in case.”
I prop my head on my hand and frown. “You need sleep, too.”
“I’m fine. I’ll take a quick nap after you wake up or something.”
I sigh before rolling over so my back is to him and pull the blanket up to my chin. “If that’s what you want.” The bottles on the vanity wink in the light, and my chest squeezes. “Nate?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re a dude, right?”
He lets out a low chuckle. “Last I checked.”
“Why would someone build a place like this for someone they love knowing they may never live in it? Father thought their love was strong enough to keep her here. I don’t understand how he got it so wrong.”
There’s a long pause, and I’m sure he’s fallen asleep. Then he coughs. “I don’t know. I haven’t had first-hand experience, but movies have taught me love is complicated. It’s not always as easy as caring for someone and getting a happy ever after.”
“I guess.” I pull at a piece of fuzz on the blanket. “What if she’s horrible? Worse than him somehow? Like what if she’s pissed I tracked her down because she never wanted me in the first place?”
“Then at least you’ll know,” he says. “But I don’t think that’s going to happen. I truly believe she’s a good person. And whatever happened when you were born, I can’t see how she could meet you and not want you in her life.”
I roll over and face him, my already warm body flushing at his praise. “What makes you so sure?”
Nate shifts, and the chair groans beneath his weight. “The way I see it, you’ve spent all this time trying to prove to yourself you’re nothing like your father. There’s a lot of good in you, Dev. Good that can’t have come from him. I figure you get that from your mom.”
I blink at him, pulling the blanket higher on my face to cover my growing blush. “Really?”
“That’s my theory. I could be wrong, but I don’t think I am. Guess we’ll find out.” He drops his eyes. “Or you’ll find out without me. Either way, I think she’s going to surprise you in the best way—even if she is human. We’re pretty okay, right?”
He gives me a tired smile, and I return it. He has this stunning power to make me believe everything will work out—even as I’m hiding in my father’s secret castle while running to a mother who’s not expecting me.
“Maybe some of you,” I say. “Thanks, Nate.”
“Any time. Now get some sleep. It will all be okay, Dev. I promise.”
His words sink me deeper into the mattress, and the tension eases from my neck and shoulders.
Nate’s dark figure blurs as I close my eyes, and I fall asleep almost instantly, his voice wrapping me tighter than the blanket Father created for the only person he’s ever loved.
XXIX.
Rhythmic snores vibrating off the wall stir me from sleep, and I stretch my arms over my head and yawn.
Nate’s sprawled across the chair, his head lolling to one side, his mouth open. He mutters something incoherent under his breath before shifting in his seat and closing his mouth, stifling his snores. The blazing fire’s diminished to a modest flame, and I lay my blanket over him so he won’t freeze again.
Tiptoeing across the room, I test the pressure on my ankle, bracing for pain that never comes.
At least I won’t be reliant on Nate carrying me again.
Though it wasn’t the worst in his arms.
I pause in front of the closet, my throat tightening at the dresses dangling from metal hangers. Father bought these for my mother, yet they don’t resemble the subtle beiges and ivories of her clothing in the photos.
Maybe she ditched him because he never bothered to learn a thing about her.
