Page 63 of Legion
“Really.I have plenty of my own.”He flicked a look at the ceiling.“I don’t need to know what’s behind that locked door upstairs, or if—like many in your lair—you have an illegal mode of income.I just want to know you better.That’s all.”
Naomi nibbled on her lower lip, still the picture of uncertainty.She pulled in a long preparatory breath and then exhaled heavily.The unease bled out of her expression little by little, and her shoulders lost their stiffness.“Okay.”A low whisper.
Satisfied, Luka felt the corner of his mouth hitch up.
The temperature abruptly lowered as her eyes turned pure black.“You will keep to your word and not push her,” the demon told him.Toldhim.With all the authority of a queen.
Luka’s brows lifted in surprise.“I will respect it when there’s something she doesn’t want to share,” he promised, but the demon’s hard expression didn’t soften.
“If you discover what she fears you might, you will keep it to yourself.”Malice churned in its eyes.“If you reveal her secrets and cause her harm, there will be a reckoning.I will bathe in your blood once I am done with you.”
His entities had mixed reactions to that proclamation.Abraxas huffed, affronted that it didn’t have the demon’s utter devotion.Belial smirked, liking its vengeful streak.Dagon was offended that the entity would eventhinkLuka was lying ...even though lying was all Dagon really did.Luka, well, he wondered why Naomi’s demon would feel so confident that it could take him down.
“It won’t come to that,” he assured it.“I’m not in the habit of revealing people’s personal business.”
The entity’s only response was a steady glare of warning.Then it retreated, and Naomi’s eyes were back to their usual gray-green.
“So,” Luka said, “your demon doesn’t trust me.”
“No.But don’t take it personally,” she advised.“It’s mistrustful by nature.”
“Then we have that in common.”
His mind flicked back to the entity’s comment.If you discover what she fears you might...
It was the word “fears” that stuck out most, because what could Naomi possibly fear him discovering?What could be so monumental that it would drive her demon to threaten him that way?Not many entities would dare.In fact, he couldn’t recall any having done so in the past.
“Your demon wasn’t bluffing just now.”Letting his hand slip away from her throat, he threaded his fingers through her hair.“It meant what it said.It would truly seek to make me pay if I brought you harm.”
“It’s very protective of me.”
“Good.So am I.In which case your demon doesn’t need to worry that I’d ever commit an act that would negatively impact you.I don’t expect it to take my word for that.I have the feeling that it won’t anyway.But I’m making the statement nonetheless.”
She studied him closely, and her lips twitched.“It bothers you that my demon isn’t being friendly toward you,” she correctly sensed.“It doesn’t dislike you, Luka.The opposite, actually.But for my entity, ‘like’ and ‘trust’ aren’t mutually compatible.”
“Hmm, I can relate.”
“But it still bothers you.”
“A little,” he conceded.“My demons aren’t too pleased about it either.But I’m sure your entity will relax around us eventually.We can be patient.”
“Can you?”
“No.”
Her smile went up a notch.“You’re spoiled.”
He gave a small, unapologetic shrug.“I’m used to having my own way.Comes with having been a Prime for so long, I suppose.”
“Well, since there’s nothing I can say that will improve your mood regarding this particular subject, maybe we could switch topics.Or ...”
“Or?”
“Or go upstairs, get naked, and fuck each other stupid.Personally, I’m leaning more toward the latter.You?”
Like that, his mindset shifted and his body began to stir.“I think we’ve done enough talking for one night.”
“I couldn’t agree more.Glad you see things my way.”
