Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Xavier plants her with a sly grin. “Fine,” he says. “A question for a question.”
“What could you possibly want to know from us?” I ask.
“Not you,” he says without even looking my way. “Her.”
I glance to Daphne. We need the information, but I’m not about to force her to play the demon king’s game in order to get it.
“You don’t need to agree to this,” Annika expresses my sentiment aloud. “We’re grateful you got us here at all.”
Daphne smiles at her friend, shrugging. “I’m not afraid of him or his questions. Ask away.”
Xavier narrows his gaze, like she’s given him the ultimate challenge.
“Go ahead, Saint,” Daphne urges him. Xavier’s eye definitely twitches when she says his name.
“I had a vision,” he leads.
“Good for you,” Xavier says. “You managed to do something I can in my sleep.”
A muscle in Saint’s jaw ticks, and I shift my weight. If any of the hunters would be bold enough to start a fight with the demon king, it’s him. “Of my brother in your territory. Have you sensed him here?”
Xavier spares Saint a glance before focusing on Daphne. “How were finals?”
“Good,” she answers. “All A’s.”
The demon king smiles at that. “And did you celebrate that academic achievement? A party, perhaps?” He dips his head a little lower, eyes on her. “Did you get a little naughty?”
Daphne’s cheek burn crimson. “That’s more than one question!”
He rolls his eyes, returning focus to Saint. “I felt a disturbance in the force.”
“Fucking Star Wars fans,” I snap.
Xavier chuckles, turning to Daphne.
“Did you?” he asks again. “Get a little wild?”
To her credit, she doesn’t shy away. Instead, she tips her chin in defiance. The move makes Annika shift closer to her, as if she’s ready to jump between the demon king and her friend. That action makes me move closer to her, until we’re all a tense group of nerves.
“Don’t you already know?” Daphne asks.
“I keep my eyes out of your bedroom,” Xavier answers. “You know that.”
Shit, does she? How familiar is Daphne with the demon king? Because it sure as hell seems like it’s a lot more than what Valor or even Alek explained to us.
“Where did you feel this disturbance?” Saint presses through clenched teeth.
“In my territory,” Xavier answers without looking away from Daphne. “What’s your favorite sin?”
“Um…” Daphne’s brow furrows as she parts her lips—
“Ah, ah,” Xavier says, stepping closer to her. “I’ll know if you lie.”
Daphne huffs.
“This was a bad idea,” Annika whispers to me. “You were right.”
I smirk. “I’m going to ask you to repeat that when we’re not in such a tight spot.”
A ripple of amusement flickers down the bond I can’t ignore.
“I’ll give the desperate hunter the exact location if you answer honestly.” Xavier sweetens the deal. “Tell me, Daphne. What’s your favorite sin?”
Damn, he’s laying on it on thick, his voice going low between them. It definitely feels like we shouldn’t be watching the exchange. But we can’t leave her alone with him. She’s an adult human, sure, but he’s…him. I promised Annika we wouldn’t let anything happen to her, so we stay rooted to the spot.
Daphne looks up at him with almost a murderous rage. Have to give the human credit, she’s tough as nails for how innocent she looks.
Xavier doesn’t seem fazed by the look, standing there content like he has an eternity to wait for her answer.
“Promise me,” she demands. “Promise me you’ll tell him the specific location you felt his brother. No games. No vague descriptions.”
Xavier visibly swallows. I’m certain the demon king isn’t used to be given demands like she is. “I promise.”
Fuck. I wonder if he’s ever said those two words before? Saint and I share a look, all of us on a knife’s edge as we wait.
Daphne’s glare softens at his assurance.
“You,” she admits on a breath. “You’re my favorite sin.” Her anger is back. “Is that good enough? Is your ego fully fed now?”
Oh fuck.
Xavier’s smile is deadly, his lips turning up at the corners in a way that would send most creatures running. Instinct has me gathering all the air in the room on the tips of my fingers, ready to wield it in a heartbeat if necessary.
Not Daphne though. She stares right back at him, a challenge in her eyes. No fear. The young human has zero fear.
“I sensed your twin in one of my chemical districts,” Xavier says, continuing with the address.
“Thank you,” Daphne says on a released breath.
Xavier turns to me, the shift in focus snapping me to attention. “In my experience,” he says, eyes flickering to Annika and back to me. “Fighting what you want most makes you more of a monster.”
The unacknowledged bond between Annika and me practically burns at his prodding.
Xavier turns back to Daphne. “The next time you come to me for a favor, it better be for something you personally want. Something you’re ready for too, because the next bargain we strike will have you leaving here a different person.”