Invision - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 0,14

It was the first time in his life anyone had given him such a touch. For a full minute, he couldn’t breathe as unknown feelings went through him. More than that, her skin smelled of rosewater and honey. A delectable scent that awoke a fierce hunger in his soul.

Yet it wasn’t for her blood or bones.

He wasn’t sure what he wanted from her.

“You’re burning with fever.”

He couldn’t believe that she didn’t recoil from his unnatural bloodred skin. Or long orange hair. Rather, she cupped his cheek and stared into his yellow demon eyes without flinching as she wiped away the black demon’s blood on his cheek and lips.

“Can you stand?”

He nodded.

To his even greater shock, she helped him to his feet. And when her gentle hand brushed against his black wings to help support him, he was lost to her kindness. “There’s a cave where I played as a girl, just over that hill.” She jerked her chin to show him the direction. “No one ever goes there. They believe it’s haunted. You should be safe to rest within its shelter, and I can tend your wound and bring you food.”

“I still don’t understand why you would help me.”

“Because you need it.”

He shook his head. “Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“Petrified.”

And she should be. He towered over her frail, fragile human body. It would take nothing to break her into pieces and use her blood and bone marrow to restore his strength and heal his injuries. He’d torn apart men twice the size of her, and those were trained warriors who’d been armed war heroes.

Yet here she stood … unarmed. Defenseless. Her only armor a thin, light yellow flaxen dress that was so thin, he could see the outline of her body whenever the sun passed through it. She didn’t even have on a single piece of jewelry she could stab him with.

Nothing.

Even her nails were trimmed to the quick so that she couldn’t scratch him. She was as harmless as a little mouse.

A part of him wanted to taste her blood to see if it was as sweet as she smelled. That same part of his soul hated her for daring to stand before him like this—for that innocent trust that said she knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

It was as if she dared him to prove he was ruthless and uncaring. Things he’d vowed to himself he would always be. That he would feel nothing for anyone, ever again.

Numb to the world and all its pain.

She was his enemy. The very thing his father sought to protect. Malphas had sworn his sword and army to the utter destruction of every member of her pathetic race. To see them put down like the infectious disease they were.

Humanity …

The very word was bitter on his tongue.

Yet as he looked down at her and felt the heat of her hand on his skin …

This wasn’t hatred inside him. He wanted to comfort her and chase away the frightened light in her eyes. Even more peculiar, he wanted to know what a smile would look like on that innocent face.

“I won’t hurt you, little one.” He wasn’t sure who was more stunned when those words came out of his mouth.

She or he.

For the first time, the terror faded from her eyes and her gaze softened to warmth. Placing her arm about his waist, she gently helped him toward her cave. “Are all demons as gigantic as you?”

He snorted at her question. “Depends on the species.” He sucked his breath in sharply as he stumbled on a hidden bramble, and pain hit him anew. She didn’t flinch as he put more weight on her than he’d meant to.

Amazed by her, he gentled his grip on her shoulder, not wanting to hurt her in any way. “Are all women as brave as you?”

Finally, a smile curved her lips, and it was as breathtaking a sight as he’d thought. “Depends on the species.”

He’d arched a brow at her flippant, teasing tone. “Well, aren’t you a cheeky one?”

“So says my father. It’s ever a fault of mine that I don’t know my place. But who better to know my place than I, says I? And who so better to determine it? For I will not be hemmed in by anyone else’s expectations. This is my life, such as it is. And it will be lived under my rules so long as I have it.” She led him into the dark cave where his sight quickly adjusted.

To him, this