Beyond His Evil

SIXTEEN.

😚
~~~

Devon brought me to his room, which was smaller than what Kate and I shared, but it felt cozy and immaculate as if he rarely stayed there. That struck me as odd.

"The General thought it best to keep me away from the others," he explained.

"I assumed so," I replied absentmindedly, running my finger along the spine of a book on his shelf.
"You seem to enjoy reading," I observed, noting the numerous books neatly stacked on his shelf and bedside table.

"That's all I can do when I'm not needed," he replied.

I turned to face him as he sat on his bed and gestured for me to join him. I complied, sitting down beside him, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

"Tell me everything that happened," he urged.

I started to ask why he left when I was still speaking earlier, but he interrupted me.

"I'm sorry, I had to. Tell me everything, Kira," he said, adjusting his position to face me directly. His eyes searched mine with an intensity that made my heart race. He motioned for me to do the same.

I recalled the dream and nervously played with my fingers. "What did you go off to do?"

He shook his head. "I didn't want the hunters that came with the General to find me in your room. They despise me, and it wouldn't take them three seconds to accuse me of doing something to you."

My heart ached for him, but something in his tone felt too rehearsed, too perfect. Not wanting to make him feel worse, I pushed the thought aside.

"I had a dream," I began, watching his face carefully. He listened intently, too intently. "When I woke up, I saw a shadow."

His expression darkened. "What happened in the dream?"

I touched the side of my neck where I’d felt the attack. Devon's eyes followed my hand, his gaze sharpening, and for a fleeting second, his expression twisted into something unreadable—something that made my skin crawl.

"It felt like someone was... uh... touching me there. I'm not exactly sure, but it was painful."

If I was scared before, his expression now terrified me. His face went pale, his lips tightening as if he was holding something back.

"Devon, are you...?" I started to ask.

"Continue," he interrupted, his voice lower, almost strained.

I swallowed hard and continued, "It's probably just stress, but when I returned from the bathroom, I saw the shadow looming over Kate."

Devon moved closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "Can I see your neck?"

My heart thudded. "Do you know something I don't, Devon?" I asked cautiously.

"I know a lot of things, Kira. I need to check your neck," he replied, brushing off my question with a dismissiveness that only deepened my unease.

I furrowed my brow slightly but looked away, allowing him a clear view of my neck. His fingers were warm as they traced my skin, but his touch sent a shiver down my spine—not from the contact itself, but from the way he lingered like he was searching for something only he could see.

My toes curled involuntarily, and I hated how my body responded to him, even now.

He moved his fingers around my neck for what felt like too long before stopping. I was about to ask if he'd found anything when he suddenly spoke.

"You're the only one I've ever brought here," he said softly, his fingers drifting from my neck to trace my collarbone. The sudden shift in his words, the way his touch became more intimate—it was completely off the matter at hand. I shivered, and not just from his touch. He retracted his fingers but stayed close, his breath warm against my skin.

I stared at him, heart pounding.

"I don't want anyone invading my space, but... I didn't hesitate to bring you here."

I swallowed hard, his words quickening my heartbeat.
Why do I feel safe when I know I shouldn't?

"Don't stress about that shadow. I believe you, and I promise to figure out what happened," he assured me.

I smiled weakly, though my mind was racing. How would he figure something like this out?
He probably just wanted to make me feel better... right?

"Thank you."

He nodded, and a heavy silence settled between us. It felt loaded like words were hovering just beneath the surface, unspoken but loud. I broke it.

"Why do you freeze up when I hug you?" I asked, already suspecting the answer but needing to hear it from him.

He stared at me for a while, as if deciding how much to reveal, before responding, "I've never been hugged before. It feels strange being that close to you, knowing that you initiated it, but... it also feels nice. I like it a lot, but I don't know how to react when you do."

I appreciated his honesty. Moving closer, I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head on his shoulder. As expected, he stiffened.

I chuckled softly and whispered in his ear, "Relax, Devon."

Funny how the tables had turned, and he actually did as I asked.

"Now, wrap your arms around me," I instructed.

He hesitated but complied, his arms tentative at first, then tightening. I pulled him closer, running my hand through his soft hair, surprised by its silky texture. I gently massaged his head, and he let out a quiet groan of pleasure.

We stayed like that for a while—hugging, me massaging his head, him holding me like he didn't want to let go. I couldn’t deny that being in Devon's arms felt… right. I felt secure, which was ironic considering he was a demon. If someone had told me I would be here, wrapped up in this demon’s embrace, I would’ve laughed in their face. But here I was.

"You're making a big mistake, Kira," Kate's voice echoed in my mind.

I brushed it off and smiled.

Suddenly, his grip tightened, pulling me closer until there was barely space to breathe. My heart stuttered as he buried his face in the curve of my neck, his breath warm and uneven against my skin.

"You smell amazing," he murmured, voice low and rough like he was balancing on the edge of control. "And you feel... incredible in my arms."

His words sank into me, igniting a heat that spread from my chest to my toes, making my skin buzz under his touch.

"You're so soft," he whispered, his voice darker now, tinged with something raw and hungry. He inhaled deeply as if memorizing my scent. "I’m getting addicted to you..."

A shiver ran down my spine, but I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the sudden intensity in his tone.

I pulled back slightly, searching his face. For a fleeting moment, I saw it—the flicker of a battle raging behind his eyes, like he was wrestling with something he couldn’t quite contain. But then, just as quickly, it vanished, replaced by the careful mask he always wore.

"See?" I forced a laugh, trying to ease the knot tightening in my chest. "Not so bad, right?"

He didn’t answer. His gaze, darker than before, pinned me in place, making it impossible to breathe.

"Devon?" I whispered. "What’s wrong?"

But he didn’t speak. Instead, his hand slid to the back of my neck, and before I could process what was happening, his lips were on mine—urgent, claiming, like he’d been waiting for this moment far too long.

~~~
A/N

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