Page 16 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

“He’s cheating on his wife with that woman, and it was too easy.” Her throat worked, but her chin remained stubbornly raised.

I still waited. Her blunt white teeth were gnawing at her bottom lip with an intensity that made me either want to scold her, first for doing it and second for not letting me. Fuck, I was messed up over this woman already. I’d only been around her a few minutes. No wonder Arafel was such an idiot for Lucia. I needed to make this deal and get the fuck back to the Underworld as soon as possible.

“I didn’t make enough for rent. And it’s due soon. I can't move again. I’m not ready. I just got here.” She sniffled, tossing her head a little as a hand quickly brushed a drop of moisture away from her face as she did. “Is that enough? Any other part of my soul you want me to bare?”

“You have no idea.”

“What?”

I hummed. “That’s plenty. You stole his money because he’s an idiot who cheated on his chosen mate and you needed it for your home.”

Her nose wrinkled. “It sounds weird when you say it that way.”

This time it was me who glared down at her. After a moment, her face relaxed and hot pink spots appeared on her cheeks. “Sorry, that was rude.” Her delicate throat swallowed. “What happens now?”

What did happen now, I wondered to myself. I could remove his memories of the woman behind me easily enough. That wasn’t the confusing part. But what I needed was both my dog back and my soul returned to me.

Fear tugged at my gut, and this time it was all mine. I could take her soul, just not absorb it until I was somewhere safe. That was what my father had wanted. And while I didn’t trust him at all, I knew that there had to be some alternative. I could not be allowed to absorb the missing half of my soul. It was too dangerous. I could take it somewhere that I could trust my brothers to keep the monster inside of me at bay. That would be the safest way to go. Even if it meant me going back into the dark.

But then I looked over at her. She was the one my mother had chosen for me, after Anna. She was the one who was uniquely equipped to be mine. And suddenly I understood why Arafel was so obsessed with Lucia. Why he had moved worlds to be with her.

As I watched, her brows wrinkled again and she rubbed at the center of her chest, which immediately made my decision for me. Because as she did that, the bond at the center of my chest, the place where my soul was torn from, hummed to life. Aware of both the soul’s close proximity and my mate’s.

Fucking complications.

“Are you alright?” I forced out.

She gave me a small smile. “Yes, I just got a weird feeling. Probably just shock or something.”

I breathed in, the scent of her washing over my senses and making every part of my body come to life. My power swirled to life in response, already growing from being near her for this small amount of time. It was intoxicating.

I needed a little more. Jealousy consumed me, reminded me of what my family had stolen from me.

“Here’s the deal I will offer. I will offer my protection, and you will give me anything I want.”

That look she gave me, I fucking loved it. “Is this some kind of awkward way to get me to have sex with you?”

I bared my teeth at her. “Do I look like I need help finding partners?”

“Not unless you talk to them first,” she threw back at me, cheeks glowing pink even in the gloom of the day.

I sighed. “I will protect you, and in return I ask for you to give me something.”

“Do I need that something to survive?”

Clever little thief.

“No, not at all. In fact, you don’t even know it exists. But if you refrain from doing it, then our deal is void and I own your soul.”

Her eyes went wide.

Slowly, I extended my hand. “Do we have a deal?”

“Nothing I need to survive, something I don’t even know exists.” She looked at me, then back to the screaming man, and then back to me. “Yes, demon, you do.”

Delicately, she put her hand in mine, my skin burning at the first touch of our bare skin. With a soft growl, I yanked her forward against me. She gasped, her hands splayed over my chest as my magic whirled free, white flames flicking over her. If she hadn't believed me before, she did now, and I watched the stunned expression wash over her face, melting into something that was akin to awe.

I gave in, letting my fingers trail across her cheek for just a moment, passing it off as if I was brushing one of the flames off of her face. Under my touch, her skin heated, as if in welcome, and the bond in my chest screamed to be set free.