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I reach for him. Open my mouth to call his name.
Icy black water swallows me up. It fills my nose and mouth, pouring into my lungs… burning. The harder I fight to make it to the surface, the faster it drags me down, down, down.
***
Air sears my throat as I gasp, struggle to sit up, and fail. A heavy weight settles on my chest, and panic seeps in.
“I said you would be too heavy,” Cherno says, their voice sluggish with sleep.
“Forrrgivvve me.” The mass on top of me shifts. Smooth scales unravel, sliding off.
As soon as they’ve removed enough of their weight, I bolt up and yank open the bed curtain to let in some light. Cassius must have found me sleeping and closed them.
“Demon shit,” I hiss, squinting from the harsh light of the sun streaming through the windows. I have slept almost all morning, though it feels like only minutes have passed.
I glower at the jewel-green snake, who had apparently joined me at some point. Their body coils, giving the appearance of shoulders on either side of their lowered head.
“Were you trying to—” I start, stopping abruptly when something about this situation strikes me as unusual. I grab the snake and bring their face to eye level. “Did you… just speak?”
Ruby eyes blink innocently. They pull their body up and curve it in a shrugging gesture. My experience with demons is more than most, it is still limited.
Can all demons talk to anyone they want but prefer not to? “Why haven’t you spoken before?”
Instead of answering, Asmod looks to Cherno.
I couldn’t always understand Cherno. It wasn’t until Alaric used his powers on me that I partially understood the demon and only fully after the first mark.
Was it my connection to him? If so, then that means…
That means Cassius has been keeping things from me.
I take three slow breaths, trying to keep my irritation from getting the best of me. Then I climb out of bed and storm into the parlor.
I find him sleeping with his hands folded over his stomach and one leg draped over the back of the couch. His peaceful countenance irritates me. I grab his booted heel and fling his leg, sending him toppling to the floor.
He groans, rolling to his back, and props himself up on his elbows, looking mildly confused. “Well, good morning to you as well, my lady,” he drawls.
“I think it’s time we have that talk.” My hands ball into fists at my side, fighting the urge to wring his neck.
Cassius is on his feet in an instant. His mouth curls into a wicked smile right before he wraps an arm around my waist, pressing me against the front of him, hand tangling in my hair. “You see, little bird, when a man and a woman—”
I stomp down on his foot. He grunts and releases me, then drops onto the couch with a pout.
“Don’t,” I warn. “I am going to ask you questions and you are going to give me straight answers.”
His expression shutters. We both know I could do nothing to stop him if he left. Perhaps it’s my anger or knowing I deserve to understand what’s happening. Either way, he stays put.
“How is it possible that we have a connection?” I demand.
Cassius relaxes back against the cushion, arms crossed, and studies me. “How did you find out?”
“I can’t think of another reason why Asmod can speak to me.”
He turns his head and hisses at the snake. “What part of ‘keep your fucking mouth shut’ was difficult to understand?”
I shift to block his view of the demon. “This is between you and me. Leave them out of it.”
Cassius rubs his hands over his face and gives me his full attention. “You already know the answer to that.”
