Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark #10)(106)

She rolled her head, massaging her nape. “Gods, that’s nice to get rid of.”

Eyes fixed on her bared neck, Malkom skimmed the backs of his fingers down that pale length. Their gazes met.

“Crow, is that you?” Ruby sleepily asked from the bed.

Carrow bit her bottom lip. With a sigh, she crossed to her. “It’s me, honey.” She sat beside the girl.

“Did you get Malkom back?”

He drew closer, easing down beside Carrow. “I am here, deela.”

Instantly, Ruby’s face lit up into a smile. “Crow, you swore you’d bring him home!” She launched herself at Malkom, hugging him with all her might.

Over the girl’s shoulder, Malkom met eyes with Carrow. She’d promised her new daughter to bring him back, had been ready to fight her own allies to reach him.

Earlier, with her every word, his jaw had slackened. He’d wanted to have proof of her affection, to be certain of it. Now her feelings—and his place in her world—were abundantly clear.

His chest had grown tight, even as the knot in his gut had disappeared.

“Actually, he brought himself home,” Carrow said. “He can trace now.”

Ruby pulled back with narrowed eyes. “But is he staying?”

Carrow gazed at him as well.

He answered, “From now on, I stay with you two, my wife and our young one. ’Twill always be so.”

Ruby laughed, bestowing another hug, while Carrow’s eyes flickered amidst tears. “We wouldn’t have it any other way, demon.”

He’d just committed his life to theirs, had told his wife and adopted daughter in so many words that he would be with them, protecting them till the day he died.

Still he felt no apprehension about their futures, only anticipation. To dream without dreading . . .

Carrow slipped her hand in his, then said to Ruby, “Hey, your gang is downstairs. They’ve missed you. I was thinking a slumber party and pizza, if you aren’t too tired—”

“They’re here?” Ruby scrambled to the floor. “I have to show them Malkom!”

Show me to them? She is . . . proud.

“Well, we can’t keep them waiting,” Carrow said. “Go get Mari to pop off your torque. Unless you want to keep it on until you’re eighteen, ’cause I’m okay with that.”

“Crow!”

“All right, all right. Hey, before I forget to tell you, while you’re in spell school tomorrow, Malkom and I are going on a mercenary gig. But we’ll be back by dinner.”

“Okay. Can we have chicken dinosaurs?”

“I’m sure Malkom would love to try them.” She grinned up at him. “He does so enjoy his phicken.”



“I like this bed,” Malkom told Carrow, his voice rumbling with contentment.

Carrow glanced over at him from one of her closets. While she’d been readying her clothing and supplies for their new job, he’d lain back in her bed with his arms crossed under his head and a light sheet covering his body. His feet stretched out over the end of her California king.

How could he look so absolutely right among all her things? Especially when males didn’t usually go tromping around inside Andoain, much less a giant demon at home in a witch’s bed.

In the hours since the other immortals had left, he’d examined most of her belongings, the plumbing, the air-conditioning, the TV, myriad appliances.

And he’d been “shown” to Ruby’s friends. Carrow would never forget his reaction when Ruby had proudly introduced him as her stepdemon. He’d been briefly surprised, then moved. The same as when she’d declared him her husband.

He’d later admitted, “I have rarely been introduced as ‘my’ anything. ’Tis welcome now.”

Ruby’s friends had gazed up at him with owl eyes, but eventually they’d gotten used to him. When they’d learned he’d never had pizza before, they’d all waited with bated breath to see if he’d like it. Carrow thought he’d exaggerated his reaction just a jot for their enjoyment and loved him all the more for it.

Now the slumber party in the attic was in full swing, music blaring from the karaoke machine, kids laughing.

Malkom grinned, seeming to love the noise. So long was he alone . . .

“What else do you like?” she asked, determined to make him happy in her world.

“Showers.”

She quirked a brow. “You liked what we did to each other in the shower.” That had only been the appetizer to the main course she planned. Beneath her unassuming robe, she wore her raciest lingerie.

“ ’Tis true,” he said with a shameless grin. She loved it when he smiled. Tonight, he had often, awkwardly at first, but he was getting the hang of it.

“Is this where you want to live?” he asked.

“Actually, I’ve got my eye on a house right down the street.” She hurriedly piled up her folded clothes for tomorrow. She was gearing up tonight because once she got into that bed with him, she didn’t intend to leave it until they departed bright and early. “It’s got a pool.”

“I think I traced there earlier. I must have seen it in your memories.” Then his demeanor grew stern. “I will want to purchase it for my family.”

“Baby, if you get Lanthe back for Sabine”—she slapped her hands, rubbing them together—“then it’s ours, all ours.”