Page 26 of Demon Daddy’s Nanny (Demon Daddies #3)

26

RIDWAN

I knew the second that Eva left the estate. I didn’t know if she’d come back, didn’t know if she was making good on her promise.

It took me a few minutes to rush out after her. Because as difficult as all of this has been - trying to right my wrongs with Annalise, trying to overcome the memories of Sera, trying to convince myself that I both can and can’t be with Eva - none of it has been as bad as the split second I thought I lost her.

But now that I’ve found her…

Blood pounds in my ears as I close the distance between us in three long strides, my wings unfurling to their full span. Golden feathers catch the light streaming through tall windows, casting shadows across the floor.

"Back away." Ice drips from each syllable.

The lesser xaphan's wings - dull gray and unremarkable - twitch as he stumbles backward. His face drains of color when he recognizes me. Good. Fear will make this lesson stick.

"My lord, I-I didn't?—"

"She is mine." The words tear from my throat, primal and possessive. My scar burns as I clench my jaw, fighting to maintain control of the rage coursing through my veins. The urge to wrap my hands around his throat pulses with each heartbeat.

Eva presses herself against the wall, her breath coming in short gasps. The sight of her fear feeds the darkness churning inside me. I step closer to the other xaphan, using every inch of my height to tower over him. Power crackles in the air between us - raw energy that makes the beneath our feet vibrate.

"If you ever raise a hand to her again—" Lightning dances along my fingertips, golden sparks that mirror the fury in my eyes. "They won't find enough pieces to identify your corpse."

The xaphan's wings collapse against his back as he drops into a deep bow. "Forgive me, Lord Ridwan. I didn't know she was under your protection."

The lesser xaphan scurries backward, but I'm not finished. My wings snap out, blocking his escape. The gathered crowd in the hall parts, pressing themselves against gilded walls.

"No." Power floods my voice, making the crystals in the chandeliers above tremble. "You don't get to slink away. Everyone here needs to understand exactly what happens when they threaten what's mine."

Wind whips through the hall, my magic responding to the possessive fury burning through my veins. The xaphan's feet leave the ground as I lift him with a thought. His wings flap uselessly against the invisible grip around his throat.

"Lord Ridwan—" He chokes on the words.

"Eva is under my protection." My gaze sweeps the crowd, meeting each pair of eyes. Lesser xaphan, servants, nobles - they all need to witness this. "She is not to be touched. Not to be threatened. Not even to be looked at wrong."

Lightning arcs between my spread fingers, golden threads of power that illuminate the terror on the xaphan's face. His wings droop as the pressure increases.

"If anyone dares to harm her—" The scar on my cheek burns as I bare my teeth. "This will seem merciful in comparison."

With a flick of my wrist, I slam him into the floor. The crack of bone echoes through the silent hall. He curls into himself, cradling his broken wing.

"Get him out of my sight." Two guards rush forward to drag him away. "And make it known that no one touches her. "

The possessiveness in my chest coils tighter at the declaration. This fierce need to protect her, to claim her, burns hotter than any battle rage I've ever known. My wings sweep back as I turn to Eva, still pressed against the wall. The crowd disperses, whispering among themselves, but I barely notice them.

All I see is her.

Eva trembles against the wall, her pulse visible in the delicate curve of her throat. The sight of her fear claws at my chest. But beneath that fear, I sense something else. Wonder. Confusion. The emotions flicker across her face like candlelight.

My wings fold back, trying to appear less threatening as I close the distance between us. "Are you hurt?"

She shakes her head, those striking eyes fixed on my face. "You came for me."

The words hit like a physical blow. Did she think I wouldn't? The thought tears at something deep inside me, makes the possessive fury rise again.

"Of course I came for you." My voice drops low, rough with emotion I can't contain. "I couldn’t just let you go.”

Eva pushes away from the wall, but her legs buckle. I catch her before she falls, pulling her against my chest. The contact sends a thrill through my veins - different from my magic, but just as powerful.

"I thought—" She swallows hard. "I didn't think you would..."

"I was wrong." The admission scrapes my throat raw. "I kept my distance, tried to pretend this connection between us didn't exist. But seeing you leave and not knowing if you were coming back—" My wings curl forward, creating a golden cocoon around us. "I’ve been so wrong."

She tries to step back, but my arms tighten. "Ridwan?—"

"No." Power rumbles beneath the word. "You don't walk away. Not now. You wanted me to make a choice, so I am . I’m choosing you, Eva.”

Her breath catches as I brush my thumb across her cheek, wiping away tears I hadn't noticed before. The touch burns, makes my magic surge beneath my skin in response.

"Come home with me." The words come out rougher than intended, more command than request. I force myself to soften my tone. "Please."

Eva nods against my chest, her fingers curling into my shirt. The simple gesture ignites something primal inside me - this fragile human trusting me, needing me. My wings shift, maintaining the barrier between us and the world as I guide her through New Solas's gilded halls.

Every xaphan we pass averts their eyes, pressing themselves against walls to avoid even accidentally brushing against my wings. Good. Let them remember their fear. Let them spread word of what happens to those who dare touch what's mine.

The thought brings my anger surging back. I should have broken more than his wing. Should have made an example that would echo through generations. My magic crackles beneath my skin, responding to the violent urges coursing through my blood.

Eva stumbles, and I pull her closer, slowing my pace. The tremors running through her small frame remind me she's still shaken. Still processing what happened. I need to control this rage, this possessive fury that threatens to consume everything in its path.

The golden spires of New Solas tower above us as we step outside. My personal carriage waits, its black lacquer reflecting the eternal daylight. The driver keeps his eyes down as he opens the door, wings tucked tight against his back in deference.

I lift Eva inside, my hands lingering longer than necessary. The contact grounds me, reminds me she's safe now. Here. With me. Where she belongs.

But the fury still simmers beneath my skin. The memory of her fear, her pain, echoes through our connection. My wings spread wide, casting shadows across the carriage as I climb in after her. No one will ever hurt her again. No one will take her from me.

I've denied this bond between us for too long, tried to bury it beneath duty and distance. But feeling her terror tear through my chest stripped away all pretense. She is mine to protect. Mine to keep.

Mine.