Page 17 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

I gritted my teeth, forcing my hand to lower once again. “Your name, thief?”

“Justine Anders,” she whispered, her chest rising and falling rapidly against my own.

Carefully, I changed the grip on her hand, moving it so that it rose between us, forcing her a step back.

“Justine Anders, do you accept my deal?”

7

Nephesh

“I do.”

With my eyes on hers, I held the underside of her wrist close to my mouth. Her breathing was ragged as she stared at me. Deep in her chest, her heartbeat raced. Unable to resist, I let just a little of my demon loose, my fangs slipping free of the human glamor. Justine gasped, pulling back a little, but not before I pressed my lips to the thrumming pulse in her wrist.

Deals were simple magic, a binding contract, each unique and individual as a flake of snow. And while the signed deals that had sealed Arafel and Lucia together were a much higher power, this one was something any of the demons could do. It was how we gained power. The only sign of the magic would still be branded upon the human who initiated it. A living reminder until the deal was done.

When I pulled away, her pupils were large, dark, and held something that looked dangerously like heat. The answering pull in my own body made my cock ache and the bond in my chest hum happily.

Justine blinked rapidly, yanking her wrist back, and she looked down, brows furrowed. “A lily?”

Shock filtered through me, and it took every bit of willpower not to snatch her wrist back and look for myself. After a long moment, Justine tentatively held her wrist out, the intricate design only a few shades darker than her pale skin, the lines of the lily and petals so detailed that I nearly reached out to stroke her wrist once again.

It was identical to the ones I’d been drawing. My brows lowered to match her confused expression. Had I asked the magic to do that? I didn’t think so. Justine brought my attention back to the present as she leaned over, prodding the shoulder of our still-frozen enforcer.

“Ah yes, our cheater.” I moved towards him. “Let’s take care of him, then.”

With a wave of my hand, the magic released its hold on him, causing the man to stumble forward a step before he frantically looked around, first at Justine then at me.

“What the—”

My flames, invisible as they were, heated the air as I relaxed my hold on them. “You are having a great day. You’ve decided to donate to this young woman after behaving horribly to her and are now getting into your car, forgetting everything about the date inside and heading home to your wife, who you will inform of your improprieties and will bear whatever punishment she deems worthy of you.”

I looked over my shoulder at where Justine watched with wide eyes, one hand over her mouth. “Enough?”

She nodded, a small giggle coming out as I turned back. I didn't stop the small smile that curled my lips as I faced the man once more. “You’re dismissed.” As my hands lowered, the magic retracted back into me, leaving behind the newly installed memories. The detective blinked then gave a strained smile to us both.

“Excuse me. I have somewhere to be,” he said casually then turned on his heel, getting into his car and pulling out, all while Justine and I watched side by side.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, “Oh my God, this is real. You really are a demon.”

I shrugged. “I did tell you.”

Then she was laughing, bent over, her hands on her knees as the bright twinkling tone of her joy washed over me.

I groaned, pretending to be irritated as the bond in my chest practically crawled out of my skin to get closer to her. “What now?”

“I can’t believe that worked. I can’t believe…” Her gaze caught on the tattoo of our deal on her wrist. “I can’t believe any of this.”

“But yet, you do.”

Justine tilted her head. “I’ve always wanted to believe there was something else out there. I always said I was cursed, but maybe luck is finally on my side.”

“Not luck, little thief… Just a demon in need of a deal.” The lie felt like a hot poker behind my eyes.

Hands on hips, she grinned up at me. “Honestly, I think I’m okay with that.” Her smile slipped a breath later, and I felt the loss of it like a stab to my heart.

“And now we just…what? Go back to normal? Until you ask for your thing?”