The Demon's Song - By Kendra Leigh Castle Page 0,20

positive he wasn’t invited. Yet.

“Somehow I doubt a restraining order would work on you,” Sofia said. “And that doesn’t tell me what you’ll do when Amy shows up.”

“She won’t even look at me,” Phenex said. “She’s being intercepted on her way home from work. Amy’s about to get a burning desire to take a trip to her parents’ house for a few days. By the time you wake up, she’ll be gone. Her schedule at the hospital’s already been adjusted.”

Sofia turned her head to stare pensively out the window. “I hate that you can do that. It’s wrong, messing with people’s heads.”

“We can agree to disagree there, but you’ve got the wrong you. Only vamps use the thrall. I fly and stab things. Totally different skill set.”

She looked sharply back at him. “That’s an interesting way of putting it.”

Phenex chuckled, unable to help himself. “It’s the truth. Look, Sofia, it’s late. I’ll still be here when you wake up. Why don’t you try to get some rest? You look like you’re ready to drop.”

Her look was withering.

“Thanks. Maybe I look tired because I work for a living.”

“So do I.”

“I think we might have different definitions of work.” Sofia shook her head. “No, forget it. I’m going to make some more coffee. We need to get a few things hammered out before I’m comfortable with you just being here. I mean—”

Phenex watched her, tuning out her voice in favor of the graceful dance of her hands as she gestured at him, the weary but determined look in her eyes. The woman needed sleep and was too stubborn to allow herself to rest. Lucky for her he had no compunction about helping her along.

Underhanded tactics, in most circumstances, were his favorite kind.

In a blur of movement he retrieved his guitar from where he’d leaned it against the wall in the corner. Sofia stopped in mid-sentence, staring at him.

“What are you doing?”

Phenex situated the guitar across his lap, feeling it as though it were an extension of himself, and let his fingers fall across the strings to play a G.

“Sorry. Q & A time is over for tonight. Looks like you’re going to make me sing you a lullaby.”

Her eyebrows shot upward. “I hope you’re joking.”

“I’m offended. I have people beg for private shows.”

Sofia snorted. “I don’t think you’re capable of being offended. And I don’t want a lullaby. I’m not five.”

He didn’t even try to hide it when he drank her in from head to toe. Her cheeks were flushed when his perusal worked back up to her face.

“No,” he agreed. “You’re not.”

She opened her mouth to protest just as he began to sing a sweet, only faintly mocking version of a traditional lullaby. Phenex poured all of his will into the melody, winding the simple song around Sofia like a warm blanket. Sleep, the music whispered. Sleep.

By the second verse, she was slumped sideways on the couch, curled into herself like a child. Phenex put the guitar aside, stood, and lifted Sofia into his arms the way he’d wanted to the first time he’d seen her, even spiriting her away to a bed the way he’d imagined. He just wasn’t invited to join her.

So he consoled himself with her warmth, and the feel of her against his chest as he carried her into her bedroom. After a short debate with himself, he left her in her scrubs, only slipping off her shoes before he pulled the comforter over her, smiling a little when he caught the sound of a soft snore.

His eyes swept the room only once, seeing trinkets from places she’d been, pictures of people he would never know. All the trappings of a human life, full of sentiment, a temple of warmth to remind him he had none. He couldn’t have the things he sang of, only inspire them—it was something he’d come to terms with a long time ago, right about the time he’d cut out and let his wings go black.

But something within him—maybe the empty place where a heart should have been—ached anyway as he stepped away from her.

“Good night, Sofia,” Phenex whispered.

Then he headed back to the couch, ready to resume the watch.

Chapter Eight

She awoke with a smile on her face.

Sofia lay in her bed with her eyes closed, her lips gently curved as the notes of a lullaby drifted through her mind. She hadn’t felt so content in…well, years, probably. Her body was relaxed, her mind was at peace. And it only took a