Page 64 of Caught in the Devil’s Hand

She looked up at him. “The spell I’m studying to cure you, would it also work on Rosuke? Could I do the ritual for both of you at the same time?”

“Could you perform it correctly tonight?” he asked, gently reminding her of their time limit.

She made a sigh of frustration. “No, not tonight. I tried to make the circle earlier on paper and made too many mistakes on top of taking too long.”

Again, he held his tongue, thinking that sex was the only option—and soon.

“Gods,” she said with a tremor in her voice. “I keep thinking ‘I don’t know him’ and how I’d be s-spreading my legs for a stranger, but…” She winced and turned her face away. “Then I’m ashamed to remember how I acted when I met you.”

He decided to ignore the facts of their less-than-ideal first encounter, as lifesaving as it had been for him. After all, he had used every trick he possessed, short of mind-altering magic, to seduce her.

“You do know him,” he said. “How many times have I told you stories about Rosuke? His sense of humor, his penchant for taking risks, the younger brother he lost to the same curse he and I both suffer. You know him.”

“But I don’t love him,” she whispered with teary eyes.

“I do.”

Shumei looked at her lover, at the defeat slouching his shoulders and the despair furrowing his brow. He didn’t want to share her, either, she was sure. But he also didn’t want to watch his friend waste away. He likely felt as trapped as she did.

“Would you…be here with me?” she asked.

Hope lifted his head. “I’d prefer it. We’re still bound, and I can help you relax. Rosuke is kind. He’ll be gentle with you, I promise,” he swore, stepping close to set his hands on her shoulders.

“What would my mother think?” she said, dropping her gaze to the floor.

“You’ll be saving the life of someone cursed,” he reassured her. “Believe me when I say Rosuke knows the sacrifice you’d be making.”

A part of her had known the second Vallen had silently beseeched her that she’d be the one to feed Rosuke. She had searched for any other way but had known there was none. And now that she had come to grips with it… She raised her head and squared her shoulders.

“All right. I’ll do it,” she said, heart racing. Oh, what she had just gotten herself into? Or rather, who she had just gotten into herself? By the dueling gods, her crude thoughts made her wince.

Vallen breathed deep with relief and smiled ruefully. He pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her, a flurry of thanks falling from his lips.

“To have one person I love save another person I love is a gift I can never repay.”

“You can spend the rest of your life trying.” Her petulant comment earned her a surprised laugh.

She made to follow him when he pulled away and turned to the door, but he stopped her with his hands on her arms. “Wait here. I’ll bring him,” he said, guiding her to the bed.

“O-Oka,” she said, blushing.

“I’ll take care of it,” he said before briskly leaving the room.

She was definitely going to Oblivion for this, Shumei thought.

Vallen stopped by the sitting room, poked his head in, and met Oka’s nervous gaze.

“What’s going on? Who’s that man?” Oka said, standing.

“I hadn’t had a chance to tell you about Rosuke. He was also cursed the night I was turned into a demon, and I’ve known him for a long time. He’s injured, though, and I need Shumei’s help fixing him. But there might be…screaming, so—”

“Screaming?” Oka said with wide eyes.

“Your sister would rather you not hear it, so I’d like you to play in the orchard for a while and practice that move you had trouble with.” He picked up Oka’s wooden sword from where it sat on the table and put it in his hand. Squinting as though sensing the lie, Oka nodded but said nothing.

Vallen saw him off, shut the door to the outside, and then made his way to Oka’s room where Rosuke rested. Rosuke had sat up, and he gazed at a painting of a maple sapling growing in a small patch of sunlight. He raised his head when Vallen called his name.

“She said no, didn’t she?” he surmised, his question more of a statement.