Darkyn's Mate

"Why did you have to do that?" She flushed, humiliated. "I take it the distraction won't work on you in our private deals."

He flicked a fingernail against his thumb in response, commanding her complete attention. Deidre groaned as the hunger returned.

"Does it work on you?" Agitated, she bit her thumb.

"I can control the hunger." He smiled and waited.

Deidre paced for a moment before caving. She needed contact with him as much as the blood. Leaning into him, she sighed when he placed his thumb at her lips. The calm spread through her again. He licked her finger free of blood.

"You are already a distraction for me," he said gruffly.

Triumph fluttered through her at the admission. Maybe Rhyn was right; maybe she had more power than she knew.

"You should've thought of that before you blood bound me and turned me into a sex-demon," she retorted softly. "I guess that's my insurance, isn't it?"

"I find it entertaining that you were willing to do whatever it took for humans you never knew, but those who knew you weren't willing to do the same," he said.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I offered Wynn and Past-Death deals for your safety. Neither was willing to bargain with me for your life." He sounded pleased once more.

Disturbed, Deidre withdrew from his embrace. She scoured his features.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked, her upbeat mood fading.

"Why do you think?"

"I don't know. I don't expect them or anyone else to make deals with you for me," she said, hurt as much by his words as the thought that there was no one outside of Hell who wished her well. She stared into the hearth.

"You are true to your nature. I can assess that you would make deals for them."

"Why did you have to ruin this, Darkyn? I did something good. Why couldn't you let me have my victory?" she whispered.

"I'm closing the doors around you, until there's only one that's open."

Deidre looked up at him.

"When you accept that, you can celebrate what victories you have. Your victory today hasn't gone anywhere," he added. "I always keep my terms."

He took her arm. She pushed him away, upset. The demon lord gripped her more tightly and wrapped her in his arms. Deidre strained then sighed, letting her head drop back against his shoulder. His cool magic calmed her thoughts. He nudged her head aside, and she yielded, albeit unhappily.

"Fight me, love. You want to. I feel it," he said.

"You people have the lowest standards when it comes to quality of life."