The Lure of the Devil (The Demons' Muse #4) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,18

little worried that he's pushing too hard, and yet it's ok with you. It's kinda like you're the yin to his yang, you know?"

"We're really more of a matched set," he admitted. "The only difference is that Nick handles his inner turmoil by controlling everything around him, and I do it by fucking it all up."

"Order and chaos," I agreed. "Which only proves my point."

He leaned in to kiss my brow. "But, thank you for checking." His eyes flicked from one of mine to the other. "Curl up with Bel tonight? He won't say it, but he's trying so hard to be the kind of man you want. The problem is that he's never been the kind of guy anyone wants. He's the man they accept. The one they end up with. He's not the one they seek out." He paused to lick his lips. "The last time he walked the worlds, he was considered a monster or a barbarian. He's too big, too brutal, and too blunt for most people, but he turns into a puppy when he's with you because he's trying."

"He's sweet," I assured Luke. "And he's really good in bed."

Luke just chuckled. "He can get a little rough."

"So can I."

That made him glance away. "Good to know." Then he sighed. "Sorry. Habits."

"Luke," I said, squeezing his fingers to make him look at me. "We're ok. I promise I understand. I won't try to twist your words or screw up your promise again, because I get it. All of you were so patient with me, and now it's my turn. Figure things out with you, Nick, and Ron. We have time, right?"

"Ron said Nick tried to flirt."

He dropped that on me, but I wasn’t actually surprised. "I think Nick idolizes Ron, so it makes sense. Just don't let him move too fast? I know he's doing this for Sam and me, but he needs to do it for himself."

"So do I," he said softly. "But, I think your fourth boyfriend's waiting."

"Just boyfriend," I told Luke. "I'm not ranking them. Oh, and I need a better word. Something a little more..."

"Permanent," Luke finished for me. "I'm pretty sure I know a guy who could do a Satanic wedding. You know, like Satan."

"Asshole," I shot back. "Maybe I want Lucifer to do it?"

"Maybe just being in their legion means even more," he said. "Because, Sia, it does. Call them your family. Call them your lovers. You can even call them your husbands if you want, but that title means less to them than it does to you."

"Yeah, and there's just no good word for what we have." I took a step back, closer to where Ron was sitting. "Which is why I need a word. Some way to introduce them to others. Something that will not be too shocking, but that makes it clear this is permanent. Something that lets men in a bar know that making a move is stupid."

"I'll think about it," he promised. "And don't use too much aether for this? You're supposed to be resting your abilities."

I grumbled under my breath and turned, making my way back to Ron. "One day, they'll realize that I can decide my own limits."

"Heard that!" Luke called after me.

Ron just ducked his head, but it didn't hide the fact that he was laughing. "Not you too," I groaned.

"No," he assured me. "I just think it's adorable that Luke can't help himself. From what I've heard, this is the most comfortable he's ever been with his legion-mates. You push him just enough to make him turn to them, and that is exactly what he needs." He smiled at me. "You're good for him."

"I never thought I'd hear the day that I was good for Lucifer."

Ron just flicked his brows up. "Kinda makes you wonder what that says about you, huh? Our sweet little Muse might just be a bad girl, after all?"

I could only nod. "I'm kinda leaning that way. So. This rune?"

"I designed it for your lower back, because then you won't have to look at it all the time." And he turned his journal toward me so I could see the mark he'd sketched out. "Most women are sterilized by tubal ligation, so I used that to make this easier. This design will separate the connection between your ovaries and uterus. This part, here, will halt the progression of growth in your uterus, but not the shedding. And this part will slow the production and aging of your