Sympathy for the Demons (Promised to the Demons #1) - Lidiya Foxglove Page 0,58

me, blushing. “I—I—I—“

"Go on," Jameson said. "Jenny has a lot of work to do."

Gillian looked embarrassed, but I only felt like everything was right with the world. I opened the curtains to watch Bevan stroll by outside. He waved at me, and flashed me a bright, confident smile. I could see he had no regrets either, even after the lust spell had worn off.

I twirled away from the window to grab some knives and a big bowl for the apple peels, while the oatmeal bubbled merrily on the stove. Oh, I couldn't wait for another night with that lovely man! "What's wrong, Gillian? Are you okay?"

She doesn't have a crush on Bevan too, does she? Oh dear. I mean, who wouldn't?

"Nothing at all!" Gillian said. "I just—uh—last night...you and Bevan...huh? And I've never...had anyone."

"Me neither," I said. "Nor had Bevan!"

"You're not angry at the master?"

"Why would I be?" I sliced a few apples into a pan with butter, sprinkled a little brown sugar atop them, and then sat down to the serious business of peeling the whole bushel. "Bevan is...beyond what I could dream of. He's not just handsome, but kind and confident and..." I tried not to gush and make her feel bad about not having her own Bevan. "Well, anyway. I'm sure Lord Variel could see that we just needed a nudge."

"You think he wants you and Bevan to be together?"

"Why else would he put us together?"

"But you were in his vision. To be his bride."

Despite my overflowing feelings for Bevan, I hadn't forgotten that Lord Variel also had a supposed destiny with me, but I could hardly tale that seriously. I giggled. "Gillian, could you honestly see me with Lord Variel?"

"Not at all," Gillian said, with a return giggle.

"So it's all working out just right and I think Variel sees that just as we do!"

We peeled and sliced the apples together all morning as I tried to chat with her, although it really wasn't easy because all she would say of her past was that she was raised by her aunt, learned a little magic, and then summoned Lord Variel as a teenager when her aunt was sent to wizard jail for tax evasion. She had been serving him ever since. There isn't much of a story in tax evasion or cleaning a demon’s castle. Still, she told me of her favorite spots in the old castle like the haunted well and the parapet, and about the time all the servants got into a pillow fight.

"I had to spend about the whole next year putting the pillows back together and was the master ever mad!"

Bevan walked in with a basket of herbs. My face was drawn to his like a magnet and he put the basket down and kissed me spontaneously. I was surprised but nearly desperate for him, more than I ever realized. My lips parted readily to welcome his tongue, my hand brushing his cheek.

"I couldn't resist you last night," he said, "but it seems like the feeling is mutual."

"Very."

"I'm making the morning after tea now, if there's room for me in the kitchen with all this activity going on."

"You can squeeze in if you tell me what you're doing so I can learn," I said. "We're just making apple pies. I think we have enough apples for three whole ones, so everyone can have a half of a pie."

"Sounds like a plan." Bevan cleared off space on the table and got out his mortar and pestle. He told us both how to make a spell to prevent pregnancy, although he consulted a book now and then. If it turned out he didn't know what he was doing, I thought, I still wouldn't mind. Being with him was such a warm, full, cozy feeling that it made me dream of the family we could have.

I spent all day in the kitchen, which was fine by me, following the pies up with some Spanish rice and beans for dinner, an old St. Augustine recipe. I was so busy thinking about the night to come and wondering if Bevan and I could be alone again that I hardly cared if Variel and all the servants were acting weird around us. I was used to awkward silence at dinner from Mrs. Franch anyway, but finally I had to say,

"Lord Variel, did I do something wrong last night? You did want us to spend the night together.”

"Of course I did. I will give you just a little time before