That explained so much. It explained the magic I could sense from her and why I connected with her differently than I should.
“… he probably won’t, don’t you think?” Skylar cleared her throat.
“I’m sorry, go back to that first part,” I said.
“That he wants the stone?”
“No, that you’re part demon,” I said.
“It’s ridiculous,” she said. “I’m half wolf, half human.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “Parents lie all the time. Often when they think it’ll protect their child. Demons aren’t exactly legal here.”
She laughed. “So the illegal demon who works for the enforcers wants to lecture me?”
“I’m not lecturing you,” I said. “And yes, I’m a demon. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was looking out for myself and for you. I didn’t want you guilty of associating with a demon.”
“That’s a thing?” She sounded skeptical.
“It’s actually illegal to knowingly help a demon,” I said. “But as long as I kept my identity secret, you were protected.”
“Well, there goes that,” she said.
“Skylar, I’m trying to be serious here,” I said. “Why did David say you were part demon?”
She sighed, then her eyes widened and she closed in on me, jabbing her pointer finger in my chest. “This is your fault.”
I grabbed her wrist and lowered her arm, keeping hold of her. Touching her was comforting. Even if she was glaring at me like I was the one who attacked her. I couldn’t help it. I wanted the closeness even if it was while she was angry. What the fuck was wrong with me? Usually, I avoided angry females.
Especially angry demons.
And while she was denying her heritage, I was more sure with each passing moment. “What happened, Skylar?”
“There was fire. Someone must have cast it while I was fighting one of those brutes. It threw him off me and David saw it and said it was hellfire. Which means, it was you.” She was holding her breath and I got the sense she was hoping I’d tell her I did it despite the fact that we both knew better.
“Skylar…”
“Don’t say it,” she said, pulling her arm away from my grasp.
I held her tight, keeping her right in front of me. “Skylar, just because demons are vilified doesn’t mean they’re all bad. Being part demon doesn’t change who you are. It’s always been there.”
“If that fire came from me, it changes things,” she said.
“No, it just makes you stronger. It gives you more power; more ability to protect yourself. Which, now that you’re on David’s radar, you’re going to need.”
“This is still your fault.” She said the words, giving me blame again, but there wasn’t any malice behind them.
I smiled. “It is my fault. And I’m going to get us out of it.”
“Together. I don’t need saving.” She stared at me, her silver blue eyes locked on mine. She was stunning. The most beautiful creature I’d ever seen in my life. The pull to her was overwhelming, I needed to protect her. I needed her to be safe, always. I just needed her.
Without thinking, I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. She tensed for a moment, then relaxed as she joined in the kiss, moving her mouth in time with mine. It felt like an explosion. My skin tingled and my whole body urged me to claim her. To make her mine.
I slid my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me. Our bodies pressed together and I deepened the kiss, savoring every moment. Her lips were soft and her kiss was firm, determined, hungry.
My hand tangled into her hair as I held her closer to me. I wanted more. I wanted all of her.
“Skylar,” Sherry’s voice broke the moment.