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“I never want you to change.”

As Darien reached for her hands, she glanced about the room, heart lurching into a gallop. “This is really awkward,” she hissed. “Everyone is staring.” She hadn’t given much thought to how she would really feel tonight, having a Devil beside her, all eyes on them.

“So what?” He interlocked his fingers with hers.

“Aren’t you worried about everyone knowing that you’re dating a human?” He was one of the scariest people in the city. The last thing she would want was to wreck the reputation he’d built for himself.

Darien’s mouth tightened, the rage in his eyes downright terrifying. “I want them to know that I’m dating a human. What difference does it make? I’m with you, you’re with me, and if the rest of the world thinks it’s wrong, then fuck them.” He pulled her close, winding his arms around her lower back. She was so close to him, she stepped on his shoe. “This is right.” His arms lightly squeezed her. “They’re wrong.” With a tilt of his head, he gestured to the people staring, several of those people shying away from the simple gesture, their cowardly gazes falling to the floor. “Now will you forget about them and dance with me?”

She gulped. “What if I fall?”

“Then I will catch you. I will always catch you.” He didn’t give her another chance to argue.

He tugged her out into the middle of the gymnasium. People moved out of the way. Loren had to admit it was kind of funny to see them bend like this. If only she was given this kind of space in the hallways.

They started slow, moving to their own pace. She stood on Darien’s feet, not because she felt like she needed to, but because a part of her knew that he wanted her to.

After several minutes, she noticed his attention had strayed, the muscles in his arms hardening. “Something tells me you’re giving some students the death glare.” She eyed him with suspicion, tilting her head to try to snag his gaze, but he didn’t give it to her. She wondered who he was staring at. “Are you giving them the death glare?” she persisted.

“I’m not.” Darien still wasn’t looking at her. And that look on his face? That was his petrifying stare-at-her-I-dare-you look.

“Darien,” she reprimanded, fingers tightening on his shoulders, grasping the smooth fabric of his shirt. “Don’t lie.”

“I’m not,” he said again, his attention finally settling on her. “I’m just making sure they know not to fuck with what’s mine.” Oh boy. Someone had definitely gotten his attention.

Loren tsked. “Yeah, that’s called a death glare, handsome.”

She looked over her shoulder to see Ethan, Chad, and Garrett watching out of the corners of their eyes.

When she turned back around to face Darien, he was smiling at her, the very soft tilt of his lips barely detectable. The threat in his eyes—the one aimed at the three boys she could no longer see—still lingered.

“They won’t bother you again,” Darien declared.

No. No, they certainly wouldn’t.

He shifted his feet out from under hers, being careful not to make her trip in her high heels. “Can I spin you?”

The laugh she snorted embarrassed her, but she quickly forgot about it when she saw Darien’s smile grow. “You want to spin me?” she asked.

He did, not waiting for her approval. The movement was smooth as liquid, and she somehow managed not to step on her dress.

She did one complete rotation, and when she stopped, Darien was watching her, that smile still there, a sparkle in his eyes.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” he said.

“Have you never danced like this before?”

“My kind of dancing is usually…dirty.” He grimaced, but it passed quickly. In its place was bliss. Pride. “But I always dreamed I would find a girl worth spinning one day. You’re a girl worth spinning.” He gripped her tighter, pulling her flush against his chest. “My girl.” Her whole body heated up from the statement.

“Forever your girl,” she promised.

“Forever my girl.”

He bent to kiss her—

His phone started buzzing. He took his phone out of his pocket and answered the call, speaking too quietly for her mortal ears to pick up on any of the words. But the look on his face told her enough.

Something was wrong.