Page 75 of Demon Demands

Stone rolled off me, wincing when his back hit the sheets.

“Let me see,” I croaked with a grin on my face. He had asked for it, had he not?

“I’m fine,” he declared, waving my concern away. “It will heal in a minute.”

“Oh, I know, but I want to see my masterpiece.” I flashed him a wide smile, probably looking deranged with blood drying all over my body. He rolled his lapis eyes and leaned up, giving me a wonderful view.

And what a masterpiece it was. The cuts were deep, marring the tattoo that covered his back until it was unrecognizable.

I couldn’t help but sit up and run my tongue along the worst of the gashes to help heal them faster.

He tasted smokey and rich, like dark chocolate. A flavor I would never get enough of. I wondered briefly if his tattoo would survive the hell I'd just put it through.

“Stop fussing, it’s already healing.” He sounded like he was smiling, though. I loved the sound of his voice with a smile on his face.

Wow, I needed to get a better handle on my thoughts. Did I use the L word? Nope, I was going to gloss right over that and pretend I didn’t think it.

Stupid, Sloane. You couldn’t love him. Yet.

But I did just mark him, didn’t I? Shit. I felt the connection between us bloom under my thoughts, and the bond between us popped into place like a tight rubber band.

Stone snapped his head toward me so fast that he split his shoulder open again. I ran my tongue across it, sitting back on my heels to watch as his skin knitted itself back together again.

I completely ignored the fact that he might have just heard my most recent thoughts. Glossing over it… remember?

“Mmm, you would taste so good with red wine.” I smacked my lips, wiping the corner of my mouth. I knew we were both covered in blood, but I hated being a messy eater.

I was not the type of vampire that let blood dribble down my chin like I was playing with my food. Even if I’d just finished playing with my food.

Stone chuckled softly as he stood, extending his hand to me. “Let’s get cleaned up and get some food. I want to see what the guys have found out.”

19

Stone

Friday Morning

Sloane and I showered and dressed before heading to the kitchen.

The monstrosity of a palace was divided into wings, and each one was more confusing than the last, but Sloane’s was the worst.

Every room had multiple exits, every hallway led to another, and the whole place went in circles that made no sense.

The guys and I had successfully figured out how to get from the bedrooms to the kitchen. Only Novak and Vaughn had ventured further, though the fae probably didn’t recall much of the maze.

Jack and Hyde both sat at the table, head in their hands as they nursed hangovers. Vaughn was beside them, the side of his face flat against the tabletop as he slept peacefully through the noise.

Briggs was in his usual spot in front of the stove cooking massive amounts of food. Somehow he’d coaxed Palmer into acting as his sous chef.

York and Novak were leaning on the opposite side of the island, Grim and Dolyn standing in front of them as they all sipped out of gray coffee mugs.

Sloane took Novak’s mug from his hand, and the vampire rolled his golden eyes as his lips tugged up.

I wasn’t positive why, but I had assumed he would have been the most reluctant to accept a mate. I frequently caught myself observing him. He was beyond smitten; the vampire oozed contentment and adoration every time his gaze fell upon our mate.

“Were you guys able to follow Satan anywhere?” I inquired as the room grew silent. Groans answered me. “Could you find anything out?”

Dolyn exhaled heavily, turning to refill his cup. “We lost him. As soon as he walked out of the club, he vanished into thin air.”