Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

RAVEN

I do not sleep much, waking after about four hours. As I am not human, I do not need to rest as much as they do, even when I am in this body. Four hours is actually too long.

Everest has his arm tight over my chest, his fingers practically digging into my flesh. I smile in the dark, loving how he seems to need me already. His warm weight against me feels natural. I have waited centuries for Everest, even though he is only twenty five in human years.

When my father came back all those hundreds of years ago to tell me he made a deal for me to have a mate, I was ecstatic. Being a demon in Xendail grants us the ability to mate with humans, but not many of us take that route. None of the demons in my dimension or others struck my fancy, even though my father and siblings tried to introduce me to plenty. It was a long wait between the sixteen hundreds and now, but the time flew by until I got my first look at Everest when he turned eighteen in human years.

He took my breath away. So sweet, so beautiful, so strong.

Though he should not have had to be as strong as he is. He was strong because he was abused and used for years. As soon as I could reach his thoughts, I tried to get him to summon me so I could protect him, but he shied away from me. I was hoping that he would be desperate enough to accidentally summon me and I could convince him that he was mine. I hate that his father beat him so badly that he felt compelled to, but I am glad to be here. No one else will hurt him while I belong to him.

Through telepathy, I contact my father, letting him know of the events of yesterday. His response is laughter, saying that our humans will make us do crazy things.

My father mated with a human after I was born to him through a breeder, just as my siblings were. As a greater demon, he had his pick of partners, but after he was summoned to Earth, he realized they were his destined mates. My father’s mate is a good man, as sweet as my Everest.

After I cut off the telepathic contact with my father, I spend the hours Everest is still asleep trying to figure out what lies ahead for us. Everest needs things, like clothes and other essentials. I could call those things forth easily, but I want him to feel like he is being spoiled, so I plan to take him to a shopping center as soon as he wakes up and tells me where one can be located. There is plenty of room in the house for him to stash his wares. If he wants to remain in this wretched town, that is.

Above all, I am most eager to plan his revenge. Even though he will not say it aloud, I know he wants it. I know the names of those he wants to die, but I want to know how and when. As soon as he gives me the word, they will be dispatched. A smile stretches across my face as I think about Everest using me as his personal executioner. I will make him proud.

Several hours later, Everest stirs and stretches, bowing his body inward with a wide yawn. When he blinks open his eyes, he smiles at me. “I thought it was all a dream. I thought I’d wake up back in my trailer in my shitty bed. You’re much better than a dream.”

My hearts swell and I pull him closer, kissing his forehead softly. Everest sighs at the contact. “I am not a dream. And you are not crazy. I am sorry I scared you for all those years, but I could not tell you who I was. You had to choose to summon me of your own free will.”

Everest sighs. “It’s okay. You helped me get out of there. I’m sorry I felt frustrated with you in my head, even though you were just trying to help.” His eyes take on a dazed quality, like he is thinking of something. Then he refocuses and looks at me. “Did you mean it? About … me being strong enough to kill the people that have done me wrong? You told me that all the time. It sticks out the most, besides you making me feel better when I was hurting.”

Finally, the topic I have wanted to talk about the most. Though I do not gloss over what he said about me making him feel better. I know I initially scared him with my presence, making him feel as if he were going mad, but all I wanted was for him to know he had someone in his corner, even if I was not on Earth.

Smiling at him, I say, “Even better, I can do it for you. If you command it.” I hold a finger to his lips when he tries to protest. “It is not because I do not have a choice. I want to. But you have to command it. I can use violence on his plane, but only by your leave, since it is your revenge.”

“Why?” Everest’s eyebrows scrunch in the most adorable way. “You’re a demon. You can do what you want, right?”

“Yes and no,” I answer. “I can use violence unimpeded, but I would be sent back to Xendail, never to return to Earth or move higher than the fifth dimension. The risk of revealing ourselves to too many humans is too great to just bandy about doing harm. The education on Earth about demons is misconstrued. We do not come to this plane as evil beings or because we want human souls. Those come to us willingly.

“I will explain all the dimensions to you at another time, but the fifth dimensions are for demons that are banished for a terrible misdeed. So you have to command me to use violence on your behalf, so I am not punished. Our existence as we are is a secret, even with humans’ made-up lore about us.”

“Do you want to kill the people who hurt me? Without a command from me, would you want to?”

“More than anything,” I answer with conviction. “I want to avenge you for all the pain you experienced over the years. But since I cannot, I need the command. You will not have to do anything but tell me to.” Turning over and rising up to rest my cheek on my hand, I look down at how beautiful he is spread out beside me and know that I would do anything for him. “Seeing you being abused all these years has angered me beyond anything you can fathom. It will not be a hardship to get rid of all the scum that hurt you.”

Everest looks deep in thought, chewing on his bottom lip. “I don’t know. Death is so … fnal. Do they deserve death or just to have their asses beat every day for the rest of their lives?”

“I can arrange that.” I know some demons from the command squad in the fifth dimension that owe me a favor or two. They love to torture humans, demons, and souls trapped in hell, and if Everest gives them the go ahead, that would be their purpose for the next few decades. Since they are tasked for beatings, torture, and misery, they do not need commands to commit violence.

A wide smile breaks across Everest’s face. “What else can you do?”

“More than you know, my little human.” I sit up, resting my back against the headboard as I grin down at him.

Almost as if he is afraid I will push him away, Everest slowly sits up and climbs onto my lap, resting his hands on my shoulders. “I know you said I had to summon you and that I was promised to you, but what does that mean? Are we together? Like, dating?” He bit his lip, then asks, “Do demons date?”

Placing my hands on his hips, I look into his eyes, trying to figure out how much I should say. Should I tell him our bond will be eternal when we mate? Should I tell him that he will be with me for eternity, until he wants to end his existence? Should I tell him about my knot? As far as I know, human anatomy does not contain a knot.

“This is fast,” Everest continues before I can formulate a reply. “I just met you last night and I’m already asking if we’re dating. But you said you were mine, so that’s what that means, isn’t it? Unless you just meant as a bodyguard or something.”

His eyes grow wide and he tries to scramble off my lap, but I do not let him get far. Putting some strength into my hold, I keep him right where he is. “I will always be honest with you, so I will tell you everything. Do not become afraid of me or your future. I will never let anything happen to you or hurt you.” Everest nervously starts biting his bottom lip but nods. “We were promised to each other in perpetuity.” Everest’s eyes grow wider, and my hearts sink. “As we have not mated yet, you can still send me away. But if you will have me, yes, we will be dating, as you humans call it. I will be your bodyguard, as well as your partner. You will never be alone.”

Tears well in his eyes and a few spill over. “I’ve been alone for so long. Not just in regard to having a boyfriend, but I haven’t had friends either. Not until Danae, but she has her own life and we also just met. I don’t know if I’ll do things right. If I get too needy, let me know and I’ll back off.”

Taking a chance, I flip him over and nestle between his legs, and he instinctively wraps them around my waist. His pupils dilate and his lips part as he takes soft, panting breaths. He is a fucking vision. “You can never be too needy for me. I would want you all the time, however you come. I am yours, Everest.”

“And I’m yours.” He giggles, high and sweet. “Wow, I never thought I’d say that to anyone. But if I’m promised to you, I may as well do it all the way, right? I’m all in. Should I be freaking out?”

I shrug, lying between his spread thighs, but not putting my full weight on him. This body is so much bigger than his, my real form even more so. I need to learn to hold myself back while I am a human before I even think to show him what I look like in demon form. “It is best that you do not. Usually, the humans that are promised to demons come around, but it is physically painful for us when we are not with our mate after they summon us and we are fully mated.”

“I don’t want to send you away. You’re stuck with me,” Everest says with a small smile.

“Good.” Bending slowly so he can change his mind if he wants, I capture his lips in a soft, sweet kiss. Everest gasps, as if in surprise. I keep the kiss soft, a simple press of our lips until he’s ready for more. Slowly, he opens more so I can delve my tongue into his mouth. His legs tighten around my waist, and I slide my hands under him to grip his ass. He moans, his hard cock brushing against mine. Fuck, I want him.

Everest pulls his mouth from mine, turning his head to the side as he pants. “Raven. Umm … I’m …” He pushes against my chest and slides from under me, sitting up and hugging his knees to his chest. “I’m sure you know, since you’ve been in my head, but I’m a virgin. I have no experience. I’ve never done … anything before. Is that … okay?” His face is the picture of regret and apprehension, but he could not be sweeter if he tried.

I take his hand and pull him back to me, folding him into my arms. “Everest, I have waited for you for four hundred years. I do not care how much experience you have or do not have. I am not going anywhere. I told you, I am yours.”

His smile is hesitant, but genuine. “That was my first kiss.”

I smile at him, loving his innocence. “I figured as much. So I’ll be?—”

He nods. “My first for everything.”

Without thought, I pull him closer to me, drawing his scent into my lungs. “I will always take care of you, Everest. Always.”

“I’ll always take care of you too, Raven. You’re mine like I’m yours. We’ll take care of each other.”