Lilith couldn’t believe what they’d done. She stared at Giles, expecting him to shove her off of him or to tell her that it’d all been a mistake, but instead he brought her tight into his arms and hugged her until the flames pouring from his body died down.
“See, I didn’t die,” she whispered against his beating heart.
“I thought my fire would hurt you. I am so glad it didn’t.” He traced her jaw with the pad of his thumb and she kissed it when he crossed her lip with it.
Her heart felt so full to bursting. No, they’d not mated in truth, but it had been glorious, and if that was all they could do for the rest of their lives, then she’d do it. They’d figure out a way to keep their relationship going once this journey came to an end.
“Lilith, there is something you should know,” he began tentatively.
“Hm?” She nuzzled her nose against his chest like a contented kitten.
He seemed to be steeling his nerves to speak and that caused her to sit up as a nervous knot grew inside of her.
“What, Giles?”
He sighed. “You can’t die with me. A demone is the only species in Kingdom that you can mate with.”
That didn’t make any sense. “We didn’t mate, Giles. The bond has not been formed.”
What exactly was he implying by saying she could mate with a demone? Just what did he know that she didn’t?
“Why did you do that?” she asked softly. “Just now? Why didn’t you let me leave?”
Giles gave her a look that was difficult for her to decipher. It seemed more closed off than earlier, which was strange considering what they’d just done. A bad feeling nestled in the pit of her stomach and as much as she didn’t want to, she slowly moved off his lap, refusing to look down and see the tangible evidence of what they’d done together staining his pants.
“Knight, I need to understand what you meant by my being immune to a demone. And as much as I like what we just did, I sense you do not feel as I do.” It was humbling to say those words; it wasn’t in her nature to be so open and honest with anyone outside of her pack.
Grabbing his forehead, he shook his head. “I was visited by Danika—”
“My godmother?” She frowned. “But why?”
He seemed reluctant to meet her gaze.
Her stomach dove to her knees because there could only be one reason for her godmother to come and speak with Giles. She was trying to make a love match. But surely her fairy understood that she was not at liberty to give her soul to anyone outside of her species.
What was going on here? Lilith felt more confused than ever.
“Who told you about my deal? Was it Rumpel or Danika?”
“Danika.”
The queasy pit grew. “Why would she do that?”
This time when he attempted to grab her hand, she yanked it back from him. For once not wishing his touch. Every time he did it she forgot herself.
Curling his empty hand on his lap, he sighed. “Because she wished for me to save you.”
“What?” She jumped to her feet as shame crept a humiliating path up her neck. “And how did she think to manage that?” she snapped, pacing in front of him.
“By mating with you.”
“So that’s what this was?” She damned the heat gathering behind her eyelids, telling herself she would not cry, no matter what. “A pity lay?”
He glowered and jumped to his feet as well. “You think me capable of such? After everything we’ve been through?”
Scoffing, she crossed her arms. “We hardly know one another. Up until this very second you’ve rebuffed me constantly. Now suddenly my godmother tells you to come save me and this is what you do.” Sneering, she shook her head. “I am no one’s charity case.” She turned, ready to shift and find sleeping arrangements somewhere else for the night.
“Lilith, bloody hell,” he snapped and spun her back around almost violently.
His body was glowing beneath the skin again, looking like banked embers threaded through with veins of molten lava. Gods, he was bizarre and beautiful, and her traitorous heart yearned to reach out to him even as she wished to slap him for causing her to misread his intentions earlier.
“You make me crazed.” Growling, he shoved his fingers through his hair, causing the ebony ends to stand up in different directions.
Arching a brow, she tapped her fingers on her arms, ignoring her need to pat his hair back down. “Oh, I make you crazed. That’s rich.”
Burning red eyes glared at her. “I want to save you.”
“I never asked you to,” she snapped back.
“Why is it so hard for you to let others in?”
That was so not funny that all she could do was laugh. Because if he couldn’t see her letting him in, then she didn’t have a clue how else to show it. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m totally serious. I want to help you. It’s what I’ve wanted to do all along. I want to make things right for you, Lilith, but I’m confused.”