Page 22 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

Which was good. It really was. I didn’t have time for anyone else in my life. Let alone a cocky blond who clearly hated me. Or humans. Probably both.

After a long shower—or as long as I had hot water, which was only a few minutes-I did my usual nighttime routine. But today I took extra time brushing my hair, teeth, and giving myself a pep talk in the mirror. I left the bathroom in my overlarge tee and a pair of loose sleep shorts.

Judge had gotten comfortable, his long legs stretched across my mattress, one of my books in his hands. The size of his hands made it look like a child’s toy instead of a full-length mystery.

Ignoring him, I flipped the lights off and threw my dirty clothes in the corner I had deemed my makeshift clothes hamper. I crawled into bed, my feet jerking to my chest as they encountered the demon still lying across the end of the mattress.

“I don’t bite, I promise.” His voice was a dark rumble that settled somewhere under my belly, making my breath hitch as I made a show of rolling over away from him.

Why was I a little disappointed? Covering my face with my sheets, I prayed for sleep.

9

Nephesh

She was a pest. A tiny, frail, pitifully dressed human pest. She woke me up every hour on the hour last night, and it seemed that she always waited until I was completely content and finally comfortable before she’d once again wake me up. I believed it was nightmares that made Justine cry out in her sleep, and for the first time in my life, I wished for Arafel’s powers, to see what tortured her from the safety of her dreams. That way I could annihilate them.

Since I was nothing like my brother, all I could do was run a hand down her back, my power practically begging to be let free as I let it heat my skin up enough so that she could feel it through the thin nightclothes she wore.

I wanted to believe it had helped. Each time I had stroked her back, her breathing had slowed, her eyelids becoming less frantic. Simply touching her had left a gaping wound in my chest alongside the reality that this might very well be the only time I was allowed to touch her. But at least I could offer this comfort.

At least that was what I’d told myself as I had lain down beside her, my body turning to frame her as I did. It was easier that way, to keep my palms close to her, to feel the soft working of my magic as it had heated and warmed her sleeping body. She’d smelled like shampoo, and I hadn’t stopped myself from breathing her in. I didn’t sleep that night, but rather lay awake, thinking over not just the woman by my side, but our deal as a whole.

Clearly my magic believed I was supposed to be protecting her from something else. But other than myself, I couldn’t think of anyone else who might be hunting her. But then I remembered that Lucia had once been stalked by the Corrupted. Justine’s life appeared to be rather ordinary, but I couldn’t deny that the bond keeping me here was rather strange.

I was a servant to the magic we had put into play. So until I had upheld my end of the bargain, there was no leaving. With or without my soul.

The early morning light was streaming in from the single dirty window, illuminating more of Justine’s features. While I admitted that she wasn’t exactly the most sturdy human model, her features were inexplicably beautiful. All that fiery red hair lay lush across smooth creamy cheeks and neck. Every bit of her seemed to be so soft, and from the moment I laid my lips against her wrist, I’d been fascinated by the feel of her.

I wanted to believe that it was the mate bond attempting to connect. Or maybe the protection deal that we’d struck. But I couldn’t help thinking it was more than that. It had never been like this with Anna.

Not that we’d had time like this.

Justine’s pulse had been racing when our deal was sealed. Even as she spat out orders and cursed my direction. A smile tugged at my lips. She was fire and ice with a tongue to match.

“Good morning,” I said as she shifted, her eyes flickering open. I was vaguely humored by the way her eyes roved over me. My coat was folded in a corner on top of my shirt, my makeshift footrest at one point last night, leaving me dressed simply in a pair of denim pants and nothing else. Even my feet were bare. But that wasn’t where her eyes rested as I smugly let the muscles in my chest flex and ripple as I stretched.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. I just…” Her words trailed off. “I’ve not woken up with anyone for a long time.”

“Consider me flattered.”

She huffed out one of those little angry breaths, but it carried no venom. Justine pushed herself to her feet and began rearranging her clothes, but not before I saw the tease of one hip bone pressing against her sleep shorts.

I frowned. Her build was delicate. The bones I’d felt against me were long, fine, and utterly crushable. But she was too skinny. And something deep and primal inside of me stirred, a monster that demanded she be cared for. That I be the one to care for her, starting with making sure she had a safer place to rest.

I stomped down on the urges, focusing on the way that she hurried away from me. First to the bathroom, returning smelling of mint, when she took one look at my half-dressed form again then went stomping from the apartment and, from what I could hear from my position against the window, down the hallway. When she returned a minute or two later, her cheeks were noticeably pink. Even so, she looked over my body again, making my muscles ripple and flex in response. I couldn’t find it in myself to hurry my shirt back onto my body. Not when she clearly admired my form.

Justine held a pile of clothes in her arms, her body stiff as she continued to stare me up and down.

“Is there something I can help you with?” I kept my voice prim, even as humor threatened to fill my belly at her open appraisal.

She pressed the clothes into my hands. “My neighbor, he said you can borrow these. He’s a big guy, but I’m not sure they’re exactly your size. I know for a fact they aren't your style.”

I took the clothes, noticing the way she carefully avoided my touch when we exchanged them. She was wary of me. Interesting. The pain in my chest throbbed a little at the thought, but then, she was right to be wary.

I could easily be a monster. Or so much worse.

Clark whined at my feet, and we both looked down at him.