Page 19

Hours passed as she stared into the flames. Naomi worried about him, asking herself whether Kilean had already gone back to Hell or not, and wondered if there would be a way for her to find him if he hadn’t?—

A knock on the door shook her from her thoughts.

Naomi’s heart skipped a beat when Kilean’s silhouette appeared in the window, surprised he had come back. She opened the door and found him staring down at the floor, looking like a giant, defeated puppy.

She wordlessly gestured for him to come in, and he passed her with his shoulders hunched, trying to make himself smaller. Snow was caught in his fur, as if he had tried to wash himself with it, but some blood stains still remained.

Kilean sat on a couch. Unsure, Naomi sat on the other one, giving him space.

“I… don’t know what to say,” Kilean spoke, sounding distraught. “I’m so sorry for scaring you. I let my anger overtake me. I wish you hadn’t seen me like that.”

“I was just surprised.”

It was the truth, but he wasn’t convinced. He shook his head.

“I frightened you.”

Naomi sighed, defeated. “Yes, you scared me, but it was just the violent nature of the situation, and the fact that you do look kind of scary on a daily basis. It’s just that you’ve been so calm and kind around me that I had momentarily forgotten you’re indeed a demon.”

He eyed her neck, such deep concern in his eyes that it made her heart ache.

“Are you deeply hurt?”

“Just a few cuts and bruises. I’ll be okay.” She waved it away. “What about you?”

“I’m okay. The injuries are healing already.”

She nodded, finally feeling like she could breathe again.

“You should take a shower, clean yourself properly. We can continue this later.”

He stared at her, eyes wide. “You’re still okay with me being in your house?”

“I’m not worried about you hurting me, and I’m not scared of you anymore,” she told him confidently. “Please go take care of yourself. We’ll talk more later.”

She sat comfortably on the couch as he left to clean himself, her head leaning against the backrest. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes, the exhaustion catching up to her. Naomi was glad that he had returned, that he hadn’t disappeared without a word. If she really wouldn’t have seen him again after that, she might have lost it.

She forced herself to stay awake when she heard his footsteps coming in the living room, all clean once more. She patted the space next to her. “Come here.”

He hesitated. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

His steps were tentative as he approached her, and while he did sit next to her, he still kept some distance. Naomi looked at him from head to toe to check if he was okay, but his gaze moved away when her eyes returned to his face.

Her body felt even heavier now when she moved—the emotional chaos and constant surprises completely tiring her. Kilean tensed when she reached her hand out to him. Eyes full of confusion, he frowned and refused to look at her.

“Kilean,” she called quietly, but it did nothing. “Kilean, look at me.”

Again, he didn’t move, so Naomi cupped his cheek with her hand and gently moved his face towards her.

“I’m sorry,” Kilean whispered, defeated. “I brought him to you.”

“I’m the one that took you to my house, so technically that’s my fault,” she replied, a hint of humor in her voice.

He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Listen, I won’t lie and tell you that I’m happy with how things went, but I’m not mad. As scary as you looked in your demon mode, you saved my life. You were violent, yes, but you did it to help me, and I’m grateful for that.”