Page 120 of The Prince of Demons

His gaze softened. “I expected you to reach out by now.” He released a long sigh. “I have shown up at every rogue demon sighting, sometimes even letting them linger long enough to draw human attention, but you are remarkably stubborn.”

He reached out to cup my face, and I swatted him away. I felt a primitive, forceful rumble of shadows against my soul. A warning. Though I took it like a flame to a candle—an invitation to alight. “Is that what bothered you? That I’m not at your beck and call? That I’m not a slave for you to control?”

“What bothered me,” Reaper continued, taking in deep, shuddering breaths, “is that you were absent, and I had no idea where you were or even whether you were alright.”

His shadows pushed into my back, begging me to get closer to him. To embrace him. To collapse into him and never let go. Possessive, desperate, and wanting, they much resembled their master right now.

“Even Gaksi disappeared to do god knows what.” He threw his arms back, grabbed his shadows, and hounded them forward. He braced his arms against me, locking me in, powerful wings throbbing into place behind him. Like an angel of death, deranged enough to hold me captive.

“Why are you so desperate to see the worst in me?” he asked. “I cannot function when I am not with you.”

My shadow magic misted at that confession, falling like droplets of spilled blood on the bed.

“Tell me what to do to atone.”

With each word, his powerful wings beat, sending gusts of wind into my room and spraying my belongings everywhere.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“I am not blind, seraphim. I know how difficult it is for me to be with you. Those with little magic have it easy. They say some cheap phrases, buy even cheaper gifts, and win over their loves without trying. They will never know the duties of serving a great nation. Of having responsibilities beyond your own desires. Of having your honor and dignity at stake every time you pursue the one you keep breathing for. Tell me how to atone for being who I am so that I may pursue you.”

My breathing stopped.

Was it possible… that the oracle was talking about someone else?

She never lied, but she never said Aubrey’s kiss was with Reaper.

His confession brought me to my feet. He stayed where he was, brooding. Maybe it was the glistening in my eyes or the hollowed-out look in his, but I reached around to hold him.

How could he think I wanted him to change when he had never tried to change me?

I wanted the Reaper who built cities for deeply damaged and wandering souls. The Reaper who lived to fulfill impossible demands. I wanted the demon trapped in the most beautiful, angelic body. The demon who left me presents and taught me to embrace my shadows, not hide from them.

Yet I was just a lonely student, falling in love with an even lonelier demon.

His wings caressed my back as they folded over. I hugged him as hard as I could, knowing our time together was forbidden, and I would always be too afraid to tell him how I really felt because of it.

“This is for the one who keeps breathing for me,” I whispered.

His strong arms coiled back in a vice-like grip. His hold was so secure I wondered how I could ever want to be in another. “This is for the one who makes the undead feel alive.”

And at that moment, I think I did.

ChapterThirty-Two

THE ORACLE MUSINGS

Did you know that Aether has one of the highest suicide rates of any university in the country? Unlike the usual depression and anxiety, we have good-old-fashioned hazing. Hell week has begun—and desperate freshmen will do anything to knock out the competition. Sometimes permanently.

Sam followedme home from the library today, as usual. But unlike usual, she perched on my shoulder.

Her proprietary grasp felt foreboding. Her three talons dug in, even when I hurried.

Students snickered and whispered as I went past.

Yeah, I got it. Tender-hearted animal lover. That was me. The only show of weakness I’d make. My only concession of gentleness: to hopeless little creatures. Like the one spying on me right now.

Phones covered faces as I got closer to home. That was… odd. Why was everyone recording today?

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