Demons (Darkness #4)(43)

I eyed Stefan. He was staring back at me. “Not sexual,” I clarified, raising my hands in surrender. “I don’t like whipping people. Probably.”

“We prefer the opposite sex, when we are given the choice,” Toa explained patiently. “We don’t have the set rules and criteria humans do in this age. Humans didn’t used to be so rigid, of course. Back in the—”

“Forget I asked!” I said quickly. “Never mind. You dig sex. I get it.”

Toa blinked twice and allowed himself to be distracted as he said, “But I do find the animal costumes strange. Stefan, I hope your people don’t practice—”

“Don’t even go there,” I cut him off again. “I asked that question once. No animals.”

When I had asked, Charles looked at me like I’d grown a third eye and also lost the use of my brain. Which was good, obviously, but still—it’s not like it was a far-out question.

‘I think it’s time for bed,” I said. “I get a day off tomorrow, and I’m going to take it.”

Dominicous nodded and stood. He wrapped me in a big hug, his smell strangely familiar. Like a blankie, long forgotten. It was then I felt it. A warmth resonating deep, deep within me. Past all the cobwebs and under a bunch of rubble, I could feel a pulsing warmth of enchantment coming from him.

The enchantment of a parent with an offspring. His feelings for me, much stronger than before.

He backed off, surprised. His gaze flicked up to Stefan before he stepped back entirely. “I enjoyed spending this dawning with you, Sasha, and the night before it. I am sorry I didn’t take you with me that night, so long ago. I should have. I knew your family had died. I thought humans could take better care of their own. It seems I was wrong.”

My eyes started to sting. Stefan’s arm came around me. I said, “You saved my life. And I became me. And then ended up in the same spot. So I think it worked out all right.”

Dominicous smiled.

As Stefan and I made our way to our wing, Stefan said, “What shocked you? What happened?”

“I could kinda feel his emotions. More than before.”

“He’s your father, that might come in handy some time.” After a pause he said, “I enjoyed myself tonight. He and I … we have a lot in common. A lot of common ground. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t be able to speak so openly about it.”

“A night for many surprises.”

I got a squeeze. “Let’s just hope the surprises end with personalities behind closed doors.”

That would be nice. Somehow I doubted it, though.

Chapter 13

Charles’ cell phone let off a shrill cry. Bleary eyed and sore-balled, Charles patted the nightstand. Squinting into the glare of its face, he tapped the answer button.

“What?”

“Charles? This is Rickie.”

“Yeah. I can read. What do you want? It’s the middle of the day.”

“Who’s supposed to be guarding Sasha today?”

“The Boss. You know, that crazy f**king male she’s nearly mated to? The one she sleeps with. The one that has his own phone line!”

“Right. Except, she’s got some visitors.”

Wanting to cry like a little bitch—Charles hated being woken up in the middle of a sleep cycle—he rubbed his face and sat up. His balls protested immediately. He should’ve stopped Jasmine from her kung fu grip. And if her mouth wasn’t working wonders on his cock, he would’ve.

“Charles?”

“Great gods, what? Give a male a chance to get his thoughts in line, would ya? Who is it? Because if it’s a demon, I’m not the person to activate the phone tree.”

“A bunch of human women,” Rickie answered with a shaking voice. “One of them is pretty pushy. Has the mage’s card and everything. Demanding to see her. And … they can see me. And this whole house…”

After a silent beat, in which Charles sat with his face in his palm, Rickie squeaked, “Did I mention that they’re human?”

Charles groaned and fell back into the bed. “Night! She told them to come around at night!”

“Excuse me, sir?”

“Call Jonas. It’s his turn.”

“Yes, si—”

Charles hung up and stuffed the pillow over his face, shutting his eyes tight and letting his mind drift into the first stages of sleep.

His snooze was interrupted by a loud crash.

Charles rocketed out of bed before he knew what was happening. The door slammed against the wall, rebounding back into Jonas’ outstretched hand. Jonas stood in the doorway naked, scratches and lacerations all down his front, some oozing red streaks. The doorframe lay splintered and devastated.

“What the hell, Jonas?” Charles yelled.

“My body is on fire,” Jonas growled. “Get your dumb ass up and go let those old crones in. They have magic. Sasha’s form of magic. We need them.”

“You go get them,” Charles snarled back. “My balls feel like someone is yanking on 'em. I just got to sleep.”

“The day you can take a beating from a paddle with spikes in it, is the day I’ll give a shit. You’re first watch. I need to shower blood off, and then I’ll join you. Go!”