His head nearly brushed against the roof of the tent as he strode around to the chair at the end of the table and pulled it out. “Sit,” he said and gestured to the chair.
“I’d prefer to stand.”
A hint of a smile quirked his full mouth before he walked over and settled into a different chair. “So, River, do you plan to sullenly refuse to do anything for your entire stay here?”
I scowled at him as I folded my arms over my chest. Sullen wasn’t the way I’d gone about my life up to this point, but I had every reason to be more than a little bad-tempered right now. “You mean for the rest of my life? That will be myentirestay here, from what I’ve been led to understand.”
Those entirely black eyes glistened in the light of the lanterns behind him. “You are correct.”
Inwardly, I flinched at his abrupt confirmation of my fate, but I kept my face impassive. I didn’t care what he said, I would figure out a way to see my brothers again.
“I didn’t sign up for this. I’m not going to fall into place because I’m told to,” I said.
“No, your mother signed you up for this.”
I barely managed to stop myself from recoiling as if I’d been slapped. Apparently, Mac had told him what had happened yesterday. Fine, whatever, I was used to how fast word traveled in a small town. I didn’t care who knew my own mother had thrown me to the wolves… or more accurately, demons.
I hated the twinge to my heart caused by the reminder, but I couldn’t deny it. My mother, the woman who had given birth to me, avoided, berated, and abused me throughout my life, had hated me enough to send me somewhere she’d never have to see me again. Had hated me enough to send me somewhere that she had no idea what would become of me.
Bet you didn’t expect this, Mother.
I threw back my shoulders as I held his gaze. “Mac told you.”
“He did.”
I didn’t say anymore as he clasped his hands before him and rested them on the table. My gaze moved to his long, elegant fingers. His fingernails were entirely black, not dirty or painted, but naturally as black as his eyes. It was another difference between us that probably should have disturbed me, but didn’t. Had I somehow lost all sense of self-preservation and reason when they had pulled Bailey from my arms, or was it the man himself —demon, you idiot—making all my fear vanish?
“Why are you not afraid of me?” he inquired.
I tore my gaze away from his hands and met his eyes once more. “Am I supposed to be?”
“Most humans are.”
“I can see why. You’re different; they’re not used to you.”
“You’re not used to me either.”
“I’m not afraid of different,” I replied.
“Becauseyouare different.”
“I’m no different than anyone else.”
“Your mother told Mac you see things.”
He could probably hear my teeth grinding at the reminder of how badly she’d betrayed me.
“She also believed I had the Devil’s eyes, something I’m sure Mac told you too. My mother wasn’t entirely stable.”
“He did, and as I told Mac, I know the Devil personally and your eyes are not the same color as Lucifer’s.”
It took everything I had to keep my mouth shut over that casual comment. He knew the Devil,personally? Holy hell in a handbasket, for the first time I truly realized what I was dealing with. They could parade a bunch of horned, fanged, tailed demons in front of us, but to think of them bumping elbows with the Devil himself made my knees go weak.
“Really?” I asked, unable to stop myself.
“Yes. Perhaps you should sit.” He gestured to the seat I’d refused to take earlier.
This time, I wasn’t stubborn enough to refuse it again. Walking toward him, I settled into the chair across from him, across from ademon.
