Page 77 of Demon Heart: The Complete Series

ROMAN

“ S nazzy,” I said, checking out one of my three new outfits. All black jeans, jumpers, T-shirts, new boots, and a couple of leather jackets.

Totally my vibe.

It was all dropped off this morning with a cart of breakfast goodies—not long after I woke up around midday. Clothes for Xavier and me, including underwear and some PJs. Talk about spoiled. I was even provided with new holders for Skele and my dagger.

This really was the beginning of a new era of comfy living.

Hmmm. The constant unease remained, a gnawing in my belly telling me to keep on the alert. This all seemed too nice, too easy.

What’s the catch? Come on! Show yourself!

Once I was newly dressed, Darcy climbed onto my shoulder and the three of us explored the house, wandering vast corridors loaded with classical paintings and elegant sculptures.

How the other half live…

I hated that saying.

I popped my head into a library, taking in the smell of old books. Man, I wished I could get a candle with an old book scent.

The entire house was overwhelming, boasting an art gallery, swimming pool, gym, spa, all sorts of things. By the end of our walk, I just wanted a cup of tea.

We sat at the dining table with tea, coffee, and some cheese-and-cucumber sandwiches.

“I want to weep over this cheese,” Darcy said.

I snorted. “Crazy rat.”

“Crazy for this cheddar? Absolutely.”

I stroked his head with my little finger while he nibbled away. “Careful you don’t upset your belly.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I know you will.”

“Worry wart.”

I sipped my tea. “Always for my best buddy.”

He giggle-squeaked. “You’re in a sugary mood. Relaxed, are we?”

“Honestly? Yeah. For the most part. Got one foot out the door, though.” I patted Skele and my dagger for reassurance.

“That’s just smart.”

“Agreed,” Xavier added, eating his crusts.

God, he looked so good in black. It really offset that amazing hair of his.

The skies were gray, the clouds dark, ready to unleash more rain. No stroll around the gardens today, but never mind. I liked being in the warm, taking things easy, even if it only lasted for a day.

Done with food, we returned to our suite to catch up on some news. Footage of the royal summit played across the screen, taking place at a huge concrete building in Kent.

Queen Piper arrived at the same time as King Basile and Queen Lina of Germany, waving for the cameras, greeting each other warmly.

It would take some more hours for everyone to show up, but the summit was expected to be broadcast live this evening.

No set time yet, but of course speculation of when, what, and all that stuff ran wild amongst the news anchors and the various panels of commentators.

“Can I ask you something?” Xavier said.

“Yeah.”

“Do you like steak?”

The very mention of it piqued the interest of my tastebuds. “Love it. Why?”

“How do you like it cooked?”

“Medium rare. Served with mushrooms, potato gratin and corn on the cob dripping in butter.”

Damn. My stomach rumbled like thunder.

“Thank you, Roman.”

“Why? Do you want steak for dinner? Should we ask someone?”

“I just wondered.”

“Do you like steak?”

“I do. Rare.”

“No surprise there.”

He chuckled. “Are you calling me a bloodthirsty demon?”

I poked him on the thigh. “You do you, my demon friend.”

“Friend?”

Oh. “Should I call you something else?”

“What do you want to call me?”

I had no idea. “Xavier?”

“Anything else?”

“Can I think about it?”

“You can do whatever you like, Roman.”

Shit. Why did I feel so awkward?

After about half an hour or so, Xavier got up from his position beside me on the sofa. “I’ll be back.”

“Where are you going?”

He winked then left the room.

Darcy peeled his focus away from the TV. “How secretive.”

I leaned forward, staring after the demon. “I’ll say.”

“Watch TV with me,” my little buddy said.

I wanted to suggest a movie, something other than the news.

But what else was there, really? And so, I sat on the sofa until sunset, rain pounding the windows.

There was no breaking news, the same cycle repeating, Darcy ready to fight several commentators for their snotty attitudes about, well, everything.

“I’d start with him.” He reared, jutting a paw at a man with an incredibly twirly mustache. “He’s a fool.”

Throwing in the towel, arse numb, I stretched my arms above my head and decided to get some fresh air, stepping out onto the balcony.

A concrete awning sheltered the balcony from the rain.

I leaned on the balustrade, looking out over the dark fields.

God, we were so far away from everything, so cut off.

Being a city boy through and through, it felt strange to enjoy the solitude.

But it was so welcome. The call of concrete would drag me back eventually, but for now I took in the fresh countryside air and the silence, appreciating time away from the hustle and bustle.

The unease within me never let up, though. Maybe it was only natural to be like this after a life of violence and drama.

I touched my chest, listening to the faint hum of the device. It felt like a heartbeat. If I hadn’t been enlightened to it, I never would’ve picked up on anything strange in there.

“Don’t play games with me,” I told it. “Let’s just get through the years, yeah?”

Hopefully some good years.

My body still sang from my session with Xavier. Every skin cell, every hair bristled with remembrance of him. I floated in dreamy euphoria, ready for more, caught between reality and wishful thinking.

The balcony door opened, Xavier joining me.

“Hi,” I said, immediately taking him by the biceps and going on tiptoes to kiss him.

He kissed me back, a hand finding the back of my head.

I moaned against his lips, running my tongue across his delicious flesh.

He pulled me closer.

I paused, our lips inches apart. “Nice.”

“Thank you for the kiss.”

“You’re welcome.” I brushed my thumbs under his eyes.

“I have something for you.”

“What’s that?”

“Not my cock.”

“Pity. But I wasn’t thinking that.”’

“No?”

“Maybe a little.”

He took a step back, offering me his hand. “Come with me, witch.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

A rush of giddy excitement locked my fingers with his.

Twinkling fairy lights decorated the conservatory at the back of the house, the glass room gleaming like a jewel in the night.

A white dining table sat atop a gray carpet, a tall lamp in each corner of the room.

The white-and-gray décor was a far cry from the rest of the house. Simpler yet kind of warm.

Red roses sat in a crystal vase in the middle of the table. Two places opposite each other were set with silver place settings, two long-stem candles flickering away.

Talk about a romantic mood, the rain pattering the roof adding to the vibe.

And those red roses…

He’d bought me red roses before as an apology. This time, they hit different. More, well, romantic.

Man, they were a stunning shade of red.

“What is this?” I asked, taking it all in, a little on the nervous side.

The good kind of nervous.

“Our first official date,” he answered.

Reginald arrived with two of those domed silver serving platters, followed by a second guy in a matching tux wheeling in a silver cart with a champagne bucket.

“Xavier?” I beamed at him.

He pulled out a chair. “Please have a seat.”

I sat down as one butler poured the expensive champagne, Reginald placing the domed trays on the table.

Date. I was on a date. Me. Happy little bursts went off inside my chest like joyful fireworks.

A real date with special trimmings with a mega hot guy. His eyes on me, all of him for me.

Should I break into song?

Erm… No.

If the butlers found this a repulsive scene—a witch and a demon dating inside this royal household—they offered zero hints of disgust. In fact, they wished us a pleasant evening, switching on some music as they left.

Classical music.

“Gustav Mahler’s ‘Symphony No. 5 (Adagietto),’” he said. “I first came upon this human composition back in the 1920s. It is a beautiful piece of music.”

“Yeah. It’s nice.”

“Do you like classical music?”

“I don’t mind it.”

“What genres of music do you like?”

“I’m not really sure. I guess I like a bit of everything. Sorry, is that a bland answer?”

“No. You enjoy what makes you feel something.”

“I really like Abba. They’ve made some bangers.”

“That they have, Roman.”

He lifted the silver domes, revealing steaks.

Hell, yeah. I hadn’t enjoyed a steak in so long. And the smell! Wow!

“Now it all makes sense,” I said. “You sneaky demon, you.”

Steak with potato gratin, thick mushrooms and corn on the cob smothered in butter.

Every element of a steak dinner I loved.

“This is amazing,” I said.

He served me the medium rare piece, placing a ramakin of peppercorn sauce beside my plate. “I wasn’t sure if you enjoyed this sauce.”

“I do. Thank you.”

He sat down opposite me with his plate. “The staff here helped me, insisted on cooking. I wanted to make it myself but the chef, Rachel, insisted she do it. Very much told me to back off and allow the master to work. Tuck in.”

I did, the meat blowing my mind the moment it landed on my tongue.

“Good?” he asked.

I chewed, swallowed, nodded. “Amazing. Yours?”

“Perfection.” He curled those tapered fingers around the stem of the champagne flute. “Shall we toast our first date?”

I picked up my glass. “Let’s do it.”

“To us on this special night.”

We clinked glasses and drank the nectar of the gods.

Man, these were some classy grapes and bubbles.

“So, Roman, let’s talk about this apparent crossword obsession of yours.”

“Huh?”

“I noticed there were many crossword books in your flat.”

“Ah. Yeah. Proper obsessed. They help me focus, center me. You know? A nice hobby I’m really missing.”

“Why don’t we go back to the library after dinner and see if we can find you some new ones? I’m sure there will be plenty in there.”

“Nice idea.” I cut into a scrumptious mushroom. “But what did you want to know about the crossword thing?”

He grinned. “I suppose that’s it.”

I laughed. “The more difficult, the better. Bring on any Sunday Times and adjacent toughies and I’ll crack them. No problem. Might sound arrogant, but it’s a gift.” I popped a mushroom into my mouth, then tapped my right temple.

“A nice gift to have,” he responded.

I shrugged, finishing my bite. “I get it from Grandma. She rocked the crosswords. Any word puzzle really.”

“She sounds like a wonderful woman.”

“She was.” I dipped my head. “Wish you could’ve met.”

“Even though I’m a demon?”

“She never judged. I don’t think you being a demon would have bothered her.”

“A rare gem.”

My mind drifted away for a moment, picturing the scene. Her shaking his hand, offering him tea and French fancies. Me a nervous wreck, a real hot pot of emotions. But happy. Happy to have them meet, happy to have Grandma alive and well.

I held back tears, gulping back some champagne.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded, tucking into my food.

All this power in my chest and I couldn’t bring her back.

As much as I knew it would be wrong, and impossible with the device’s rules, it didn’t stop the hurting. The sense of utter failure.

I’m sorry, Grandma.

No. I had to focus on the now and this date. I wanted to enjoy every second of being with Xavier in his pretty room with the gorgeous food.

And I did.

“Did you enjoy that?”

I patted my stomach. “So much.”

“There is dessert.”

Nice one. “What is it?”

“Let it be a surprise for when you’re ready.”

“If dinner is anything to go by, I’m sure it will be a banger.”

“I think it is, Roman.”

“I love the way you purr my name.” Man, those bubbles were loosening me up.

“Purr?”

“Yeah.” I leaned forward, resting my chin on my left hand. Gave him my best smolder sprinkled with cheekiness. “Sounds so good.”

Okay. No sexiness right now. I would not be shagging him after such a heavy meal. There was no rush to move from this spot. We had all night.

“This is so lovely of you,” I said softly. “I can’t believe we’re sitting here doing this.”

“Believe it,” he replied, voice dripping with dark honey.

More courage bubbled up to the surface, about to come out as a label for him and I. A suggestion of us being something more than friends.

A sharp pain in my ribs cut me off.

“Ouch,” I mumbled, rubbing at my chest. “Sorry.”

“Indigestion?”

“No. Pain in the ribs. I don’t…” It moved, a swift bolt striking my stomach. “Fuck!”

“What is it?”

The pain went from zero to a hundred and rising, pushing upward from my stomach back into my chest, finding the base of my throat.

I pushed my chair back, trying to stand. I fell to the side, landing heavily on my knees.

“Roman!”

My heart/device pounded in my ears, the ticking loud in my skull. My left arm itched, my head spinning, the pain unbelievable. Like hot pokers rammed down my throat. Any moment, I’d pass out.

Xavier held me, checking me over. I couldn’t speak, my throat closing up. Windpipe offline, chest on fire. Spots of color in my vision, a fluttering moving upward.

Fluttering…

Fluttering…

Fluttering…