Page 21 of Promised to the Demon King (The Demon Brides #1)

The snacks filled the glass coffee table. Every snack that she could want was sitting there for her. Allister was pulling all the stops to earn forgiveness, and she was enjoying it. She’d never had anyone work so hard to apologize to her before.

They couldn’t have a movie night that same day. When Allister arrived at her home and pleaded for forgiveness, she invited him inside, and Nova and Allister talked things out.

Although Allister overreacted, Nova forgave him. He explained that since they'd met, he had instinctively fallen into the role of hero for her and seeing Luke take her phone and touch her triggered his protective instincts again, and he overreacted. Once Allister explained his side of things, she could see where his headspace was at the time. And although she didn't like how he behaved, she saw the merit in his explanation and apology. It was nice to know that someone cared. If she was being honest, although she wasn't physically attracted to him, she was more interested romantically in Allister than she'd ever be in Luke. Not that she would admit that to him, of course. He was her step-uncle, after all.

She then decided what his penance would be: A Movie Night in.

Upon his readily agreeing, she gave him an official tour of her home. She laughed and cried as she shared her life story with her dad in that house. Contrary to his reputation and cold exterior, Allister held her when she cried and laughed when she told funny stories. It felt calm and natural to tell him everything about her. In turn, he shared things about himself. Not as much, but little stories that added more depth to the ice man she was growing attached to.

As they stepped outside the house, they found Thomas and Roz leaning against the car, waiting for them.

'I am sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that.' Nova felt ashamed of her behaviour towards Roz. They were best friends, and there was no excuse for her dismissive attitude towards her lifelong friend. Not even grief.

'Oh, stop!' Roz scoffs and chuckles. 'I've seen worse in my own realm. You're as fierce as a cuddly kitten, my little Queen. We're good.' Roz rolled her eyes and smiled.

Allister was called into the company for an emergency, and they decided that once the sofa set that Thomas and Nova liked was delivered, they would break it in with a movie marathon.

Earlier that day, Nova went clothing shopping with the two guys. She never met anyone who needed sweaters and thick sweatpants during a summertime heat wave.

She was in shorts and a crop top, her wild crimson hair in a messy bun to help keep her cool down. Allister and Thomas stood in matching grey sweatpants and thick hoodies. Allister wore a matching grey hoodie to the sweatpants, while Thomas wore a white one. They both wore rubber-bottomed house slippers while she was barefoot.

“Just looking at the two of you, I’m melting. How can you not be overheating yet?”

Nova shook her head in disbelief.

“We just come from a scorching climate, and this heatwave is not enough to warm us.”

“Again, Tommy, I will ask. Are you originally from a volcano? It is plus 32°C outside.”

Nova teased as she reached out and claimed the Twizzlers package to be hers.

“Canada is cold. What can I say?”

Thomas shrugged.

“Don’t get too excited, woman! You will be sharing those long Twizzlers with me.”

Allister growled, his heated eyes watching as he watched her bite into one, challenging him. “Challenge accepted!”

Allister said as he bent down into Nova’s personal space. His eyes looked onto hers as he gently took the Twizzlers from between her lips and put it between his own. He gave her a suggestive wink, laughed at her gaped mouth, and walked away to get the sodas from the fridge.

“Hey! T-that was mine!”

Nova stuttered, still confused by what had just transpired.

“Was. Yup!”

Allister smirked as he popped the ‘p.’ “And, since Thomas has a fun nickname, I want one too. Call me Asmo.”

“Asmo? Wouldn’t Ali or something like that make more sense?”

Nova asked, slightly taken aback.

“Nope. Please call me Asmo and nothing else. Never call me Allister again. I hate it.”

His words were stern, and his tone left no room for discussion. He was pushy at times, but Nova liked that about his personality. He was never negative in his pursuits, so she would let him lead.

“Deal. Tommy and Asmo, it is.”

Nova could hear Thomas sigh, but he didn’t say anything about it.

When Allister returned to the living room, he handed Thomas a Coke and made the extra effort of opening Nova’s for her. They exchanged smiles, and while Thomas chose to sit in the chair, Allister sat closely to Nova on the sofa. She didn’t raise any issues or try to move away.

She wasn't attracted to him physically, but she liked his close proximity to her. She felt safe. Even when he was a jerk, she still sought him out. She loved and hated it.

“So,”

Allister asked as he reached out and snagged the Oreo’s package. “What movie have you selected for us?”

Nova’s face lit up with excitement; Allister couldn’t hold his own back. She was like fresh air, and he was addicted.

“Since you two have never seen this series, we are having a Harry Potter Marathon.”

Nova’s voice was proud. It was her favourite collection for a marathon.

“All of them?”

Thomas asked, his eyebrows kissing his hairline in surprise.

“No, not all tonight. You two have work tomorrow, but two tonight and the rest later. The first one, in my opinion, is top tier.”

Nova reached out for the remote and started the streaming movie. She squealed with excitement as the opening scene began. She pulled the tiny fleece blanket closer to herself as she got comfortable. With the bowl of Nacho Doritos and a package of red Twizzlers placed between them, Nova found herself leaning into Allister’s lean body the longer the movie ran.

This was what she needed—a quiet night in, her favourite movie marathon, her favourite snacks and her preferred company. Nothing else could soothe a broken heart but this.

Beside her, Allister scoffed and shook his head.

"What is your issue?" Nova whispered in annoyance. She hates movie talkers, especially when it's one of her favourites.

"They opened with a pointy hat old dude performing basic parlour tricks; come on."

"Hey!" Nova shouted, raising her hand with a stretched-out cherry Twizzlers, pointing threateningly at Allister. "Never insult Albus Dumbledore in front of me."

Allister raised his hands in surrender, but there was a smile on his face. "My apologies." Upon hearing his words, Nova lowered her weapon and returned her attention to the movie. She could sense when Allister slowly turned his head to stare at her; it was when Hagrid said the exact same line she had just warned him with. She didn't bother looking to confirm; she merely grinned, pleased with herself.

"I don't know, I think the Twizzlers was a lot more intimidating than the Umbrella." Tommy mumbled with a chuckle, while Nova grinned victoriously.

The rest of the movie went back just as she had hoped. Allister made a few more comments, and there were several eye rolls and scoffs, but by the end of the second movie, Allister was fully invested. Even though they were sharing her fleece blanket, Allister was hunched forward with his elbows on his knees. He was submerged in the storyline.

"I think I liked the Chamber of Secrets more than that Stone one." Allister finally stated. Thomas nodded in agreement as they stood and started cleaning up the mess on the table.

They both smiled down at Nova's sound-asleep figure.

"I suspect you'll be redecorating your chamber once we return, my King. Movie marathons may be in your future routine." Thomas chuckled, but his eyes stayed on his sleeping daughter. When she was like this, she had an innocence about her that charged the Demons within to stand guard. Allister didn't speak; he merely nodded as he crouched down and collected the tiny frame of his future bride.

As soon as she was lifted, she sighed in her sleep and curled deeper into his chest. Her hand slipped around and cupped the back of his neck.

He would give anything for this to be her reaction when he is in his truest form embracing her.

"Only one way to find out, my friend." Thomas spoke, patting Allister on his shoulder as he returned to cleaning the mess. Asmodeus and Thalon had been together long enough that it didn't surprise him that Thalon would be aware of his concerns.

He may own her soul, but that didn't mean she would like it. He would never force her into anything; his concern was her lack of interest in anyone. What if she refused to be his Queen?