AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You shouldn’t have to.”
His words give me pause, and curiosity stops me from storming off to my room. “What does that mean?”
“It means what it means. You shouldn’t only have yourself to rely on. That makes for a lonely existence, not to mention one filled with unnecessary hardship. I am a friend, Callie; you should never have to take care of yourself when you have friends who are willing to take care of you.”
His words are surprisingly sweet, given that we barely know each other. Sure, there was that whole Hell on Earth thing a few years back, and I’ve been living here a decent amount of time, but … friends?
“You really consider me a friend?”
Az blinks at me like I just asked the most absurd question He’s ever heard. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I? We get along well, and we seem to understand each other. You wish to be seen as more than the little girl you used to be, and I likewise wish to be seen as more than just a lustful Hell Prince. I wouldn’tmindyou seeing me as a being worthy of your lust, but I understand your hesitation. Nevertheless, I enjoy being your tutor and mentor, and I enjoy your company. From what I understand, in human terms we make quite good friends.”
He’s got a point there. Aside from Lena’s friend Molli, everyone I know topside treats me like a kid—and Molli’s probably just being nice because she’s the youngest in their group besides me. If I had to quantify my relationship with Molli, it would be friendly acquaintances, but not friends. Not really. She never goes out of her way to spend time with me, never invites me out to do stuff with her and her fae boyfriends. Does she even know I’m living in Hell now? Doesanyone, besides Lena?
I rack my brain for another friend that I have besides Az. Lena pretty much homeschooled me after Mom and Dad died, so I didn’t meet many people my age. I don’t really know many people in Nowhere, and pretty much no one outside of the small town. There’s Cherry, Lena’s wolf shifter friend, but again, she’s Lena’s friend—not mine. Cherry has four hot wolfy boyfriends, but I know they all see me as a kid still. There was the one chick Lena met at the magic shop a while back who started a halfway house for monsters out in the woods near Nowhere, but I don’t even remember her name. Just saw her once or twice in the magic shop for one reason or another.
I realize don’t haveanyfriends. No one to count on, no one to fall back on if I’m in trouble. For what it’s worth, Az is my only friend.
The thought sobers me, and I plop back down in my chair, rebellion temporarily forgotten.
Az’s expression softens, and He reaches across the table to take my hand in His. “I don’t wish to control you, Callie, merely to help guide and protect you. It is my pleasure to ensure your safety, so when I ask you to stay away from My envious Brother, know that it is out of concern for my friend.”
“Thank you.” My voice comes out small and meek, and I curse myself for that. I should be stronger than this. I shouldn’t be weak and complacent at the thought of having a friend.
I’m such a loser.
“I have upset you.”
Az makes it more statement than question, and I wish I had a decent rebuttal for it. “It’s not that You upset me, Az, more that I upset myself. I got to thinking about my life on Earth, and I realized I don’t have any friends. Except You.”
He cocks His head to the side. “It upsets you that I am your friend?”
“No!” Why can’t demons understand the nuances of human conversation? “No. It upsets me that no one else is.”
Az frowns. “Surely you have more friends.”
This is getting more and more depressing. “Nope. Just secondhand friends, if I could even call them that, from Lena. You’re pretty much the only person—demon, whatever—who’s friends with me just for me. Not because I’m Lena’s little sister.”
He pauses in contemplation for a moment. I wonder what’s going through that gorgeous head of His.
“I could command My Children to befriend you. Then you would have legions of friends.”
I can’t help but facepalm at that. “That’s not how friendship works, Az. It’s not really friendship if they're ordered to do it.”
“Oh.” He seems disappointed that His idea is a bust.
“Look, Az. I appreciate Your friendship, okay? It’s not that I don’t. I just wish I had more friends to rely on. To hang out with.” I pick up my fork and go back to the roast demon. “Let’s drop the subject. We’re friends. That’s cool. Now let’s finish dinner so we can get on to my next lesson.”
The next lesson, it turns out, is fireballs. Motherfucking fireballs.
I’ve cast fireballs before. Loads of ‘em. Even Lena knows that one, though Az breaks it down to the basics. Conjuring the flames, pulling energy from Hell to amplify the power, then releasing it all in a massive incendiary ball.
Cue the screams of the damned in a whole new tone when I accidentally send one flying into a writhing pit of despair.
Oops.
“Remember, aim and intent. You need both.” Az gestures and conjures His own fireball. “Look at what I’m doing, but alsofeel. The magic knows where I want to send it, as it knows where you do. You have to focus.”
He looks upward at a mirrored pride demon that’s been flying overhead for a few days now. With a flick of His wrist, He releases the fireball and nails the thing. Its dying squeals echo over the ever-present sounds of torture, and its charred body falls into a pile of writhing damned.
