Page 44

I jolted awake—then shrieked at the massive male-shaped shadow towering over me.

My hand flew to my pounding heart, and I sucked in a breath.

Rune.

He stood there, wearing only a pair of dark pants.His chest was inked and scarred and muscled.He’d been branded in several places—then I realized I was ogling and quickly lifted my gaze, and it locked on to his.His eyes were otherworldly, the color somewhere between yellow and green.

“Sutton, my apologies,” he said, his voice resonating all around us.“I didn’t mean to startle you.”

I had no idea how he remembered my name, but he knew everyone’s names, at least those of us who were demon, or in my case, part demon, like some kind of demonic Santa.He could have woken me with kitten licks or butterfly kisses and I still would’ve jumped out of my freaking skin when I saw him.

“Yes…uh, sorry to, um, loiter outside your apartment.”

The elevator dinged, and I turned to see two females, flushed and giggling, getting in.

I turned back to him, taking a steadying breath to withstand how much power flowed from him.Gods, it was heavy and thick and made me hot and cold and trembly inside.I knew showing weakness to this male was dumb, but I honestly didn’t have the energy to be strong right then.Which was stupid.This male was Lucifer’s sidekick; I doubted he had much empathy to spare, if he had any at all.

He held out his hand, those pale, terrifying eyes sliding over me.“You’ve been waiting a long time.I’m sure you’d rather talk somewhere more comfortable?”

Reluctantly, I took his hand and scrambled to my feet.He didn’t release me, no, he curled his fingers around mine and led me into his apartment.I didn’t dare pull away.

His place was the entire top floor of the old asylum and set up as one huge open space, apart from the bedroom and bathroom which were walled off.There were lots of windows, and the night sky twinkled with stars all around us.I’d heard this used to be a rooftop garden that was walled in during the 1950s.It was pretty cool.Definitely not as creepy as the rest of the building.

“It’s nice in here.Warm.”Unlike the rest of the building.

“Thank you.I like it.”

He led me across the room, and I smiled brightly up at him, feeling fully at ease all of a sudden.He lifted my hand and dipped his head, then breathed deep.Scenting me?He made an appreciative sound, all rough and velvety.I liked it.

“Why did you do that?”I asked, and knew somewhere deep inside, I would never have asked that usually, but again, I felt safe right then, relaxed.

Rune grinned, flashing a set of vampy-looking fangs.He wasn’t a vampire, though, he was another kind of blood drinker, soul collector, like Fern.“I wondered if you were taken.It seems you’re not.”

“How do I smell?”I asked and again, somewhere deep inside, I was screaming at myself to shut the hell up, but I wasn’t going to, I couldn’t.

“You smell like spices, and witch, with just a hint of brimstone.It’s delicious.”

I lifted his hand and sniffed the back, over the tattoos there.

He chuckled huskily.

I tilted my head back.“I wondered if my demon powers would kick in and I’d be able to recite a list for you as well.”

“And?”

“Well, you smell like sex, mainly.”

“And what else?”

“Your cologne, it’s yummy.”

He grinned again.“I don’t wear cologne.”

“Oh.”

He motioned to the couch, and I sat.He sat beside me, draping his arm along the back.“So, are you taken, lovely?”

“No, I’m not.My mate rejected me.”My mind yelled at me to shut the hell up.I ignored it.I felt warm and happy and kind of sleepy.