Page 55 of Demon Heart: The Complete Series

ROMAN

X avier’s hand tore from mine, those spider jewels embedded in his wrists twinkling at the corners of my vision before vanishing completely.

The butterflies encircled me just like in my dream, but without pounding my body. They trapped me inside a funnel of wind and aggressive flutters, stealing my breath, hitting me with an overwhelming sugary scent.

“Roman!” Xavier roared outside the vortex. “Get away from him! Roman!”

I tried summoning a spell, moving, doing anything other than blinking and gasping for breath. But every attempt at a step was rebutted with a push of wind.

Stay there, it seemed to say.

“Roman!”

I tried calling out to him, but my voice got stolen each time it bubbled to the surface.

Shit.

The butterfly vortex expanded, creating more space. The butterflies parted directly ahead of me like insectile curtains, showing me a glimpse of the cottage outside, along with the figure from my dreams.

Taller than Xavier’s six-five height, his left arm was inked with butterfly tattoos like mine up to his wrist, the ridges of his abs speckled with a few tinier ones.

My God, the man was muscular.

Sleek purple hair spilled past his hips, his modesty covered by a skimpy loincloth, not a leaf. One false move and that flimsy garment would be on the floor.

His eyes sparkled like white marble in the sun, a butterfly tattoo on his right cheek. He sported a jawline from the gods, and a smile that made me think of sex and death at the same time.

I wanted the butterflies to block him out.

He stepped into the vortex, not one part of him affected by the wind.

“At last, we meet.” When he spoke, my skin hummed with pleasure, as if his voice was designed to get your underwear off.

I kept my boxers firmly on, even if my cock tingled with lusty curiosity.

What was with these demons and their seductive attributes? First Xavier got me all in a fluster with his scent, then this guy brought some seriously golden tones to my ears and groin.

He could shove them up his arse. Xavier was the exception. I wanted him to seduce me. This butterfly fucker could go hug a bug zapper.

With no sign of getting out of this windy prison, I played ball. “Nice to put a face to the blur.”

“My special witch.”

Xavier’s cries faded to nothing, the cottage beyond the butterflies lost to me.

Shit.

The demon lifted a hand, butterflies landing on his palm. “I am Butterfly.”

How original. “Great. What do you want with me?”

Man, his eyelashes were stunningly long and dark. “And your name is?”

“You don’t know already?” I chuckled. “Stalks my dreams and doesn’t bother to get my name first. Typical man.”

Butterfly’s smile could melt the Arctic and turn a heart to stone at the same time. “I apologize for any offense.”

I just wanted to knock him out and get my hands on a flamethrower to take care of these bugs.

“Well? May I have your name?” Butterfly pressed.

“Roman.”

“A lovely name.”

Stop sounding like sex on legs. “What do you want with me?”

“You will see.”

“Seriously? You’re going for cryptic? Yawn. I hate cryptic wankers.”

“Come with me and you shall see.”

“Oh. Cool. So, this is an invitation? Not set in stone?”

Devious shadows swam in his gaze. “No, Roman. You will be coming with me.”

“Then why beat around the bush?”

He cocked an elegant eyebrow. “A term from the future?”

“Bingo is another one.”

“Bingo?”

“Yeah. Bingo. Here’s the demon messing with me.”

He took slow, deliberate steps closer to me.

I summoned my Synth. “Don’t try me, wanker.”

He smiled. “Roman, Roman, Roman. You have no idea how important you are. But first I must take you home.”

Man, I really hated hearing that. I didn’t want to be important. I’d rather be at home, in my time, hidden from this guy, the queen, and everything else.

If only.

The butterflies in the demon’s palm took flight, coming to land on my head.

I stood there like a total prick, frowning up at the insects, hands alight with magic. Doing nothing. Paralyzed by uncertainty, a million thoughts spinning inside my brain.

Attacking him might end with me being crushed in this buggy vortex.

Or worse.

“Relax, Roman.” Butterfly brought his fingers to his lips then blew me a kiss. Glittery dust wafted through the air, swirling to meet my face. It shot up my nose, breaking into my mouth.

Super sugary. Way too sweet.

My Synth dropped.

I waited to pass out, some magical effect knocking me off my feet. But nothing happened. The bugs fluttered, Butterfly watching me in silence.

I broke it. “What are you doing?”

The demon held up a finger. “Wait.”

“For what?” My skin crawled with anxiety.

“Patience, Roman.”

“I’m not in the mood to be patient. Tell me what’s?—”

The butterflies behind him parted, revealing what seemed to be some sort of garden.

Impressive. He’d managed to move us from one point to another without breaking a sweat or making my stomach lurch.

Great. Could I kick his arse now?

Tragically, the answer was no.

For now.