A Demon’s Kiss

sp

down the stairs, h

stumbling into something I shouldn't see. So I head straight down to w

morn

, whirli

after I did. He must have just woken, ivory hai

ng my gaze pinned to his, instead of lett

"Come sit down, en

"I'm no

ng you may be interested in." He continues wal

y only way out of here,

rs, already laid out with a variety of breakfast foods. There's n

handing it to me. It feels strange, having a Noble wait on me like this, d

a job?" He ev

ift.

y n

t...Me working. Oliver hasn't had to tell me that would never happen. He makes plenty o

ak from your own mind, Aspe

ave to answer right away. How deep doe

the opportunity.

o offer you a j

t be playing some cruel trick on me. He can see that I'm vulnerable

wn, trying not to cough. "Doing wh

ngers drumming against the surface of his mug

d...Why not

" he explains. I blink, still confused. I understand that he doesn't despi

at

from side to side.

istory I've ever learnt about them," I say carefully. He doesn't need to kn

suspect you will know more than you

to start. I'm not a seeker by nature, but the sound of

t," he sa

price to pay. He merely suggests that there is no way for

If a Noble asked me to do something for him

I'm not ashamed as my mouth falls upon in surprise. Live here? In such a magnificent home? Ol

ber from my initial shock

pportunity to be your own person, to

f his burning irises appearing to strip me of all my outward defe

sentially telling me he predicts my divorce, which would otherwise be socially depl

about it?"

nevitably explosive reaction. If he doesn't like Kastriv now, I hate to

really work for a Noble? And finding D

es tightly.

pacing at home, wondering about what horrors occurred to me last ni

. "My urge is to keep you here and ask you why you said w

ing to say," I

on't incrimina

o tell me, you will," he concedes. I could collapse in relief. The further he di

te my covering. My hand feels relieved today,

you, Ka

g the untouched breakfast

erson," he offers. I nod, knowing Oliver will never let

wil

cker, hopping into the awaiting trans

ment I return. He doesn't appear angry, although I've quickly learned th

at, hoping to give away little. I owe Kastriv nothing, but sustainin

," I

rks, for the bruises Kastriv promised

convincingly. "O

in my way, his silent fury becoming

t out, just to sate him, and his overwhelming ego. It doesn't feel wrong to lie

e what kind of lo

uestions. His nose scrunches up slightly a

nose. "I lost count

he one who supposedly inflicted this upon me. "I

" I can't bear to stand here

He steps in fro

ha

ou shall remain," he tells me, as if I should be grateful. I've never felt inc

bow my head.

there is no point bringing up my conversation wi

k gently. There's little point telling him Kastriv has off

"No one wou

t. I'm ju

eed you to. Got it?" He demands, the curtness of his tone suggesting

inful need to cry echoi

, you will be punished." With that he

ng to pace. Just like that, the smallest gli

slow, the letter I have t

st

for the opportunity,

fore anything else. Were I to get a job, I fear his need

you an

s