Sticks and Stones

Chapter Ten

What was the point in being a demon's fated mate if he wasn't going to give her special treatment?

It's really quite rude.

In the morning, Sofia stood downstairs by the stairwell where she watched the fire demon from across the room.

Why did everyone seem to think he was so great? Oh, the General this—Oh the General that—

It was sickening.

Then why can't I stop looking at him?

Talk about having something rubbed in your face.

The Chaperone had done plenty of that after Caspian had left last night. During the two minutes she'd stayed behind, she'd practically got the demon's whole life story.

Caspian's fought for this good cause, Caspian's fought for that good cause, Caspian's blah blah blah.

If Emilio thought he was getting anything decent out of the Chaperone, he'd quickly had to think that theory again. Instead, they'd endured Gods know how long of Caspian's amazing being rubbed in their faces.

Sofia hated looking at him. Whether she liked it or not, Caspian was unfairly attractive. He had a roguish charm about him. Now he'd ditched the baseball cap, she could see those horns that suited him far too much. Horns she couldn't stop thinking about playing with, remembering how he'd reacted. How he'd rubbed his face against her thigh and groaned. Today, he wore a loose fitting, white top—ready for the desert. And damn it, how she wanted to run her fingers over those fire glyphs.

But things weren't like that between Caspian and Sofia.

They were enemies.

End of story.

Feeling the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders, she made her way over to the buffet table where Caspian and Luis were casually pigging out.

The male didn't turn as she approached. He didn't even glance her way in passing. But she knew he knew she was near. His body had tensed, the muscles in his back hardening.

Sofia acted like she didn't notice, taking inventory of the food spread out in front of her instead. Was she supposed to recognise any of this?

"Caspian."

He turned too quickly for someone who hadn't known she was there. For the shortest of seconds, green eyes met hers. Though Sofia didn't feel any of that mate connection nonsense, she could admit that Caspian was pleasing to look at.

"Sofia—strange to see you without your guard dog standing nearby."

"He's my brother."

"Uh huh."

She watched him pile some sort of food into his mouth. Food she didn't recognise. Judging by the table, the majority of this was demon food, wrapped up nicely in spiky, strange natural packaging.

"I don't get any of this," She huffed, agitated. "Why isn't there anything simple?"

This was the mortal realm. Couldn't they serve something mortal? At least she'd understand what she was looking at then.

"Most of the clientele here are demons," Caspian explained. "That's who they cater to."

"I don't know how to eat any of this."

Cas shrugged. "Ask Emilio."

So this is how you want to play it?

Her eyes narrowed, lashes fluttering seductively. With Caspian, she had an advantage. He was attracted to her. His urges told him to do what was best for her. To protect her and make her feel good. All she had to do was play on that. Caspian would be putty in her hands.