A Demon Made Me Do It(81)

He opens Bones’ wide mouth, carefully avoiding the razor-sharp teeth, as I angle the vial and slowly dribble some of the liquid inside.

Bones’ eyes flutter open, and he inhales deeply.

“Bones, it’s me, Liora. Remember me? You need to change shape now so you can drink the rest of this and get better,” I say softly, stroking his wet body.

A low growl rattles in his throat, followed by another. Then a small bark, as he raises his head and stares at me. His colorless eyes slowly brighten, as if a light switch has been flipped on inside. He growls again.

“Come on, you can do it…” I urge.

I feel the shaking in my lap and watch as the enormous black mass seems to disappear before my eyes. Almost instantly, where before it felt like a boulder was crushing me, there is lightness.

He’s a man.

He shivers and shakes, his tawny skin welted and covered with blood. I unhook the clasp holding my cloak and throw it over his nude and trembling body.

Kieron kneels beside us as I pour the rest of the liquid down Bones’ throat. Some of it spills on his chin, but most of it he eagerly gulps down until it’s gone.

“There, that’s better…” I coo as if I’m speaking to a baby, instead of a demon monster.

He angles his face to mine. I’d forgotten just how beautiful he was. And he hasn’t aged a day. “Liora?” he whispers.

“Hi, Bones. Long time no see.” I give him a small smile, but my heart is pounding, still a little fearful.

He sits up and gives me a devastating smile, then draws me in his arms hugging me tight. Despite myself, I hug him back, unable to resist the soft strength of his embrace. He kisses my cheek and I feel tingles where his lips press down. “It is so good to see you. I’ve missed you.”

“I-I missed you too,” I say, even though until this moment I’d hardly given him a thought. But being here with him now is bringing back a rush of memories long since buried. Memories of my previous life, before I despised what I was.

“Are you okay? I know it’s scary for you to be here…”

I have to laugh. Although his wounds are not yet healed, he’s more concerned with me than with himself.

“I’m okay. How are you feeling?”

He pulls himself to his feet and wraps the cloak around his waist, fashioning a loincloth. He glances from me to Kieron. “I need to thank you…both of you. I know what you did for me…”

Kieron shuffles his feet. “It was nothing.”

I’m aware of Kieron standing beside me, but I can’t bring myself to face him. He lied to me. He tricked me. He deceived me. This whole time he acted like he was someone else, when all along he knew the truth about what I really am.

Bones appraises me. I’m shivering from the cold, now that I’m without the cloak Lucky was wearing. I glance down at what I have on and feel the heat rush to my cheeks. I may as well be naked in this skintight cat suit. Why couldn’t she have worn one of her dresses tonight?

“We need to get you home,” Bones says. “Do you want to take Diablo?”

“I-I don’t know how to ride,” I say through chattering teeth.

“I can give you a lift on my motorcycle,” Kieron says, “I did it with Lucky once before.”

And just like that my heart officially shatters. I feel sick.

“I’d rather jump into that frozen river than go anywhere with you,” I snap, my voice hard and cold.

“Well, we need to get you home,” Bones says. “Um…I don’t know if you’re up for it, but I can take you if you like…I’ll change back and you can hold on like you did when you were younger…” He looks me up and down, and where his gaze falls, my body warms instantly, as if heat lasers were coming from his eyes.

I hesitate, but know I have no choice. I nod. “Okay then, here you go,” he says, handing me the cloak. I avert my eyes. “I’ll go slow, and grab onto as much fur as you need to stay on. Don’t worry about hurting me; you can’t.”

He transforms, then lowers his massive body. I mount eagerly. I lean forward and wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face in his silky fur.

“I’ll be following right behind you,” Kieron says.

I lift my face and turn to him. “Don’t bother. In fact, don’t ever come anywhere near me again. I want nothing to do with you. Understand? Stay away!”

Bones takes off at a slow trot, leaving a crestfallen Kieron behind.

******





We’ve travelled for a few hours at a mild pace when Bones suddenly stops and crouches down. Confused, I dismount and step away as his body twists and shakes. When I see he’s becoming a man again, I lower my gaze…tempted, though, to sneak a peek.