A Demon Made Me Do It(54)

“This seat taken?” a voice whispers in my ear, causing my heart to jump a beat. I hadn’t even noticed him come up on me.

“No.” I wave my hand absently, trying to appear calm. Bones’ ambivalent departure had made my stomach clench. But after what I told him, what did I really expect him to say?

It’s better this way. It has to be.

Kieron sits down and orders us more drinks. We sit in silence, neither of us looking at the other until we are both finished. After I take my last sip, he stands up and places his hands on the back of my seat.

“Shall we?” he asks, pulling out my chair as I rise.

“What is this, 1850?” I mutter.

Once we get outside, I shoot Kieron a quick glance. “Try and keep up.” The instant the words leave my mouth, I streak into the depths of Dryndara’s forest as fast as I can.

Although all demions and demons have extraordinary speed as well as strength, I’m one of the fastest. Because of my Brand, there are few who can keep up with me when I really let myself loose.

So I’m quite surprised to see Kieron keeping pace with me almost stride for stride. Without thinking, I head to my secret, safe place. I’ve never brought anyone here before, not even Bones. I don’t know why I’m letting Kieron follow me here now.

Before long, I reach the top of the cliff. The Sirens are singing tonight, filling the air with their hypnotizing melodies. I glance down at the lightning-peaked volcanoes and the rivers of fire below, before turning to give Kieron a furious glare.

“Okay. You need to tell me exactly who you are and what the hell is going on.”





Chapter 12. Lucky


Kieron wanders to the edge of the cliff and sits down on a patch of grass. He looks up at me with what I’m sure he thinks is an irresistibly charming smile.

“You seem upset,” he says.

“Well, no shit, Sherlock. You win a cupcake for being so damn observant.”

“Why are you mad?” The corners of his mouth hint at a smile.

“Are you serious? I don’t exactly appreciate waking up with a gun pointed at me, let alone at her. At least I can defend myself, but she can’t. And for some reason you were right there letting it happen. I want to know what you were doing with her and how she wound up in that situation. And why you seem to be the one responsible for it.”

Kieron leans his body back so casually he may as well be sunning himself at the damned beach. I don’t know if he’s intentionally trying to be sexy, or if it just comes naturally to him. Either way, it’s pissing me off.

“I was trying to figure it out…I needed to see how it works,” he says.

“How what works?”

“You two, you and Liora. I…I’ve never seen anything like it before. I thought the stories couldn’t really be true, but you really are two separate identities, aren’t you?”

I move closer to him, my hands on my hips. “Yeah…so?”

“So it’s…fascinating. I mean, you’re like me…a demion, but for some reason you have completely split up your traits—human on one side, demon on the other. A human by day, a demon, or I guess I should say, demion, by night.”

“And another cupcake for the brilliant Captain Obvious.”

“But why…I mean, how did it happen? Were you Created this way?”

“I’d rather not discuss that right now. It’s wonderful that you find us so interesting, but that doesn’t explain why you were with Liora today and why you almost got us killed.”

“Is...is she here now? Liora? Does she know what’s going on? Can she hear us?”

I’m quiet for a moment. “No. She’s sleeping.”

“Does she know anything? About you and your life? Or is she completely in the dark?”

My eyes flash with anger. I’m the one asking questions around here, not him. Especially if his questions are going to be about her. “I don’t know what she does or doesn’t know, and I don’t really care. If you’re so interested, talk to her.”

He drops his head slightly. “I guess I just thought it would be easier to talk with you about…this.”

“Well, I can’t really answer any questions about her. Sometimes I see what she’s doing, but most of the time it’s so mundane there’s no point in even paying attention. She’s woken up a few times, but since she hates all things demon, she keeps her distance as much as possible. I sleep when she is awake and vice-versa.”

Kieron bites his lip and taps his fingers absently on a rock.

“So today…you had no idea what was happening…at all?” His voice is quiet.