Darkyn's Mate

Rhyn was quiet, his gaze intense.

"There's more, but …" She shook her head, hands trembling. "Darkyn never loses."

"I wouldn't say he won. He had to sacrifice his freedom to keep you," Rhyn said. "It'll give you an advantage in deals with him."

She almost groaned. She'd signed away that advantage already. Another thought occurred to her as she thought about Katie, the half-demon's mate she met when last at the fortress.

"Rhyn, is any of what you feel when you become a mate real?" she asked. "The bond I shared with Gabriel. I mean, as soon as Darkyn's name was on my back, it shifted, like none of the emotions I felt for Gabriel were real … and now with the blood bond…"

"Gods. I'm the last person to ask this touchy-feely stuff," Rhyn said and rubbed his jaw again. "The bond brings you together. You still have to … make a relationship. One is physical, the other mental. They're both real."

"Gabriel and I didn't get that far. He kept pushing me away," she said. "Darkyn's been relentless in pursuing me."

"There's another reason for that," Rhyn said slowly. "Deidre, you can't be around normal mortals or Immortals for long or even really demons outside of Hell."

"Why?" she asked, fear spiraling through her. "Does something happen to me?"

"How do I say this…" he sighed. "My mother was a sex-demon. It's a sub-class of demons. You are, too."

"Meaning …"

"Meaning you might be one of them. Every man you cross will do what it takes to try to fuck you."

She gasped. "What? Why?"

"Why?" he echoed. "Because you're a sex-demon."

She stared at him. Rhyn rose and motioned her up. He crossed to a mirror and pulled her in front of him. She saw the same woman here as she did in Hell: sultry and sweet, beautiful of face with a body enhanced by the dark dress.

"You don't see it?" he asked.

"No."

"I'm dealing with enough shit," he muttered. "Trust me. You've got that vibe. Darkyn is relentless because of the fucked up double bond and whatever subclass of demon he decided to turn you into, which I'm guessing was a sex-demon. It's good for you. Might give you an advantage with him if you're willing to play the seduction game."

Deidre shook her head, not seeing this either. There were no advantages with Darkyn and she was the last person on the planet who would try to seduce anyone, especially a demon. Darkyn had to know this. Was this some sort of twisted sense of humor on his part?

They returned to the seating area. Rhyn grabbed an iPad off the desk. He considered her.