The Demon's Song - By Kendra Leigh Castle Page 0,56

around. He thought he might want to keep her, period. That first night he’d known she was different, and he’d been right. She made him interested in things again. She made him feel. And the song he’d begun to play for her tonight…that was the music she seemed to be giving back to him, against every odd and after a thousand years of nothing. That was her.

But she was everything light, and he was a part of the dark. How was he supposed to figure this out when he couldn’t even keep a pot of flowers alive down here?

Phenex paused before opening the door, tried to figure out how to play things, and decided he would just act like nothing had happened. It might work, if she was tired enough to just let it go. And she probably was…she’d been up all day.

He turned the knob and walked in, and was immediately greeted by the sight of Ember curled in a chair and reading a book. She looked up, smiled, and pressed a finger to her lips. On the couch was Sofia, covered in one of his softest blankets, sound asleep. Her dark hair was spread beneath her head like a pillow, and he could only see her closed eyes above the edge of the blanket, which rose and fell slowly with each breath. The sound of a single, light snore made him smile. He completely forgot Ember was there until she appeared at his side and gave him a poke.

“She’s a sweetheart,” Ember said softly. “Be careful with her, or I will personally end you.” Then she gave his arm a reassuring squeeze, smiled, and let herself out the door.

Phenex barely noticed. He approached Sofia slowly, not wanting to disturb her. Though he’d been in her apartment the past couple of nights, he hadn’t watched her sleep. Some things were too creepy even for a demon. Now, though, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He considered her for a moment, then came to a decision. Phenex slid his arms beneath her, scooping Sofia into his arms. Immediately, she cuddled against his chest with a soft sigh. He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her, the trust that was apparent every time he touched her. He had done nothing to earn it, but she’d put her faith in him from that very first night.

There had to be a way to keep her. He had been taking things he shouldn’t for centuries upon centuries. He would find a way to do this, because he’d be damned all over again if he let anyone else have her.

The anger and jealousy were familiar, and comforting in their way. They blocked out the beginnings of what felt like despair.

Phenex carried Sofia upstairs, bypassing the little guest room and moving on to the larger chamber that was his. With one hand, he turned down the covers of the massive bed that dominated the room, then lay her gently in it, pulling the blanket off in the process. What was beneath was a very pleasant surprise—it looked as though Ember had lent Sofia a pair of pajamas. The simple cami and shorts were a little short and a little tight, and he was overwhelmingly grateful for both issues. It took all the willpower he had to pull the covers back over her. She shivered a little as the cold, unused sheets replaced the warmth of her blanket. That was something he intended to fix as quickly as possible. Phenex peeled off his jacket and shirt, tossing them to the floor, and then slid out of his jeans, leaving him in nothing but a thin pair of boxer briefs. He walked around the other side of the bed and slid in quickly, then fit himself along Sofia’s back, spooning her. The warmth was immediate, and in it he found something he didn’t expect, something above and beyond arousal. It was comfort.

Mine, he thought, the whisper of the word inside his head not at all gentle, but ferocious.

“I’m keeping you,” he breathed into her hair. Then Phenex curled his wing over them like an extra blanket, closed his eyes, and fell deeply asleep.

Chapter Sixteen

Something was different.

Sofia awakened to the most delicious warmth imaginable, flowing through her from head to toe. She breathed in deeply, a sleepy smile curving her lips, and immediately smelled the exotic scent that was Phenex, all sea salt and spice. That was when she understood—the hand splayed on her hip, the knees tucked