Page 86 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse
“Would it be so terrible if I weren’t perfect?” The question had the usual wit and bite I was used to getting from him, and if I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought he meant nothing but to be an ass, but I perceived a hint of bitterness in his tone.
My doubts tripled.
He stood and came closer, stalking like a predator. He stopped an inch from me, his fiery gaze boring into mine.
“Would you regret the kisses we’ve shared?” he asked with a smirk and a raised, devilish eyebrow. “Or would you want more?” That glint that normally appeared in his eyes when people confessed their darkest secrets burned in his irises.
I retreated a step, frowning. Was he trying to use that weird skill on me? If he was, I felt no compulsion to tell him anything. He shortened the distance between us once more, looking puzzled as if he were surprised his magic hadn’t worked on me.
“Why are you being like this?” I asked.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know… cruel?” Yes, that was it. There was cruelty in his voice and expression. Was it because he was still angry? Or was there another reason?
“Perhaps it is you who is being cruel.” He laid a hand on my cheek and held my face in place.
My eyes closed as his heat seeped into me.
“Would this feel any different?”
My lips parted as I breathed out. My eyes didn’t open.
“Would this?”
He pressed a tender kiss on my lips. It was barely the touch of a feather, but it made my insides turn to molten lava, and I imagined that, under my skin, the same fire that filled Drevan filled me. He started to pull away, but I pressed my hand to his, keeping it in place. Slowly, I leaned into him until my face rested on his chest, and the heat of his entire body suffused mine.
“Drevan,” I whispered.
He smoothed my hair, his hand sliding down its length, then running down my back until it wrapped around my waist and drew me even closer.
I felt so afraid that I shuddered in his arms. He had told me before that he would never lie to me again. But I was yet to believe him, to trust him. And this moment was just making it harder because it didn’t escape me that he hadn’t answered my question. He hadn’t told me why he didn’t want me to get Truesight.
So if he truly was trying to be one hundred percent honest with me, his evasion could only mean one thing. I pushed away from him, once more imagining a monster. He remained in the same spot with his head lowered, his arm circling an invisible shape. By degrees, he retreated, turning his back on me and facing the kitchen.
“It is for the best,” he said at last. “Ourgameswon’t lead anywhere, after all. We have more important things to do.” Once more he faced me, swiveling mechanically, coldly. “Don’t we?”
Any warmth that had remained in his demeanor disappeared, and I was left staring at a total stranger. Swaggering, he walked toward the door.
“Shall we see if your friends haven’t had a nervous breakdown?”
30
WefoundJenna,Sage,and Benjamin waiting outside the hotel, sitting on a bench. All three looked like I felt: children chastised by a much higher power.
As we approached, Drevan leading the way, Benjamin jumped to his feet, the way I imagined him doing when he was a little boy ready to be reprimanded by his parents. I didn’t think he’d been anything like me, pointing a finger at his siblings, denying fault, and never sayingI’m sorry. I’d gotten away with so much.
Jenna and Sage remained seated, and though she had enough sense to show remorse, it was clear Sage felt none. Instead, he stared at Drevan with defiance as if challenging him to do something to him. I had to give it to him. He was brave. That or very stupid. Also, there was the possibility that he didn’t fear dying and going to Hell, which meant he had a clear conscience or was extremely deluded.
For a moment, it looked as if Drevan would give them an ear-full, but in the end, he just said, “Go home.”
“We don’t have to listen to you,” Sage said, standing up in defiance.
“Sage, please—” I started.
He cut me off. “You’re not afraid of him, are you? Because you shouldn’t be. He can’t hurt us, and he can’t order us around. We have a little something calledfree will.” He spat the last two words in Drevan’s face. “He would be way out of line if he did anything to harm us.”
“Is that so?” Drevan said, his words slow and measured. “Demons hurt humansall the time.”
