Page 19 of A Cursed Heart
Ryan’s jaw fell open. “Fucking hell!” He stepped back, almost colliding with the building at his back. “You weren’t joking! You’re really a demon! Shit, I’m cooked. Fuck, what about Freya? Jesus, what the hell, man? What—?”
I assumed my touch would not be welcome. Instead, I tried to soothe him once more, this time with a modicum of success because he just stared at me again. “I cannot harm you, Ryan. You are safe with me. I am here to protect you.”
“Protect me?”
“Yes, thanks to that gem you are still holding,” his fingers tightened once more around it, “we are bound together. Your blood on it allowed me to escape from the ruby to serve you.”
“What the fuck?” I feared charming Ryan was going to take a lot more effort than I usually went to. Still, I had been bored for centuries, he would be something different.
“I fear we have lingered too long here. Do I look sufficiently human to blend in?”
“Blend in!” he scoffed. “Shirtless in the middle of March…?” He sighed and reached into his backpack. He tossed an item of clothing at me. “Here. Put my hoodie on.”
The material was soft in my hands and shared the same scent as Ryan. Clumsily, I put the garment on, covering myself.
“Follow me. You can explain what you mean on the way.”
