Page 18 of Into the Abyss
As I grew older, I’d watch the things theydid to each other and absorbed the enjoyment they took in it. I’dyearned to come of age and join them for something to break themonotony of my existence, but also because their sensual criesstimulated me in much the same way Magnus’s gaze did.
If I’d never been caged behind the seal, Iwould have been free to experiment with demons closer to my age,but behind the seal,allthe jinn were thousands of yearsolder than me. While I was still aging, they’d seen me as too youngto join them, but it was clear Magnus didn’t see me as too youngand would teach me things I’d only witnessed before.
The image of gripping Magnus’s horns whilepulling his mouth between my legs burst through my mind. I’dwatched men and women enjoy the act with each other behind the sealand was impatient to experience it. But I didn’t desire it withthem, not anymore. I wanted it withthisman.
It stunned me to realize that no matter howcurious I’d been about having the jinn do to me what they did toeach other, I’d never craved any of them as badly as I didMagnus.
Lust emanated from Magnus as his eyes slidfrom my breasts to my stomach before settling on the juncturebetween my thighs. He may not trust me, but he desired me. If weweren’t in this awful place, I had no doubt I’d lift my dress andlet him have me.
As it was, it took all I had not to leanagainst the rocks and beckon him closer, but I didn’t think a quicktaking by this man would be enough to satisfy me. And once it wasdone between us, I’d want to do it all over again.
What an odd thought to have.
I’d seen enough of demons to know theyfreely rotated through partners, it’s whatI’dplanned to doonce I got the chance, but I didn’t think I’d easily move on fromMagnus. Confusion rolled through me as I tried to process the oddthought while fighting my hunger for this man.
Then I realized I probably only thought itbecause Magnus was the first demon I’d encountered, outside thejinn, who didn’t scare me.
Since being free of the seals, I had littlecontact with other demons. Those I did encounter were all craetons,and the maliciousness I’d sensed in them frightened me. They werealso nowhere near as attractive as the man standing before me. Aman who refused to see past what I was towhoI was.
I should have gone with the Faulted;I thought, not for the first time since entering this place.
At least amongst them I was accepted, andthey would shelter me from those who would have my empath abilitygoing haywire. And once I stopped aging, they would stop treatingme like a child and start treating me like a woman.
And they wouldn’t desire me while completelydistrusting me as Magnus did. That reminder strengthened my resolveagainst him.
“We should go,” I said and strode away fromhim.
• • •
Magnus
When Amalia found a side tunnel etched into therocks surrounding us, I followed her into it.
“I need a break,” she murmured.
Her shoulders were hunched up, and whereasthe dress flowed about her before, it now hung limply against herslender frame as she walked. She couldn’t fake this dejected air,could she?
“I hate this place.”
I didn’t think she’d meant for me to hearthose words, but I did. Or maybe shehadmeant for me tohear them and they were part of the game she played. This wantingto trust her but unable to aspect of Amalia frustrated me.
“How do you know you can take a break here?”I asked.
“I don’t. But I think it will be safer torelax off the main path than on it, don’t you?”
When she glanced at me over her shoulder,her eyes were that sad, ochre color. Her colorful hair was a beaconof warmth in the gloom of this place that my fingers itched to runthrough.
“I don’t know,” I said.
“Well, I think it—”
Her voice broke off, and she halted abruptlyas, before her, the path opened to reveal a lake of water the samebleak color as the rocks surrounding it. Then, she was movingforward with a nimble grace not entirely unlike the jinn, but thatsomehow struck me as different. When she fell beside the lake, itmust have been painful for her knees to hit the rocks, but shedidn’t acknowledge it.
Leaning over, she gazed at her reflectionbefore stretching her fingers toward the water. She snatched herhand back before she touched the lake and lifted her head to stareat me.
“What is it?” I asked her.
“I’m not sure, but there’s power here.”
