"Obligation," he replied. "She is mine. You are mine. Hell is mine."
"But you went to great lengths to help her. Isn't there some part of you that can care?" she asked, troubled again.
"Not the way humans do."
His quiet statement was difficult to swallow.
"Demons show affection. We are not capable of more," he added.
She shifted to see his face, surprised by his confession. Days before, he'd claimed nothing existed beyond physical pleasure for a demon.
"I can live with that," she said. "You show me affection in your own way, don't you?"
He nuzzled her neck in response.
"Did you … can I ask if you sent Wynn home?"
"I keep my terms," Darkyn replied. "He went home."
"I don't know how to feel about that," she said, chewing on her lip. She was almost angry enough with Wynn to wish he'd stayed here just a little longer.
"A man like that will find his way back here," Darkyn said.
"Probably. Speaking of difficult Immortals … what was Past-Death looking for?" she asked, puzzled. "I know there was more to why she sought me out but I don't understand what."
"Weakness. Willingness to negotiate. She knows she's lost and is desperate. It's common among those who deal. Another reason you won't deal without me. Your heart is too soft."
"I wasn't too soft on Wynn!" she exclaimed.
"You offered him a deal when none was needed, love. You could've waited a day for him to fail then cured Selyn."
"The thought occurred to me."
"Yet you offered him a deal. Lesson five: when you have the advantage already, don't deal. You will never deal outside of those we make in private. Your nature is too … pure."
"Like I couldn't …" she placed a hand over his heart "…even the first day, when I thought I had a chance to leave. You knew that though, didn't you?"
He tipped her chin up. His dark gaze gleamed.
"Without a doubt," he said with a cold smile. "I know what you are."
"It's not fair. It's way too easy for you to read me," she complained. "Don't you like a challenge?"
"You fight me where it counts. I look forward to great battles with you over the fate of the humans and fucking you into submission afterwards."
She blushed. Her breath caught at the idea of what he did to her, her blood quickening. He kissed her before pressing his bloody thumb to her mouth. Her body calmed instantly.
"You take no satisfaction out of seeing your enemies defeated?" he asked.
"Wynn and Deidre are not my enemies," Deidre replied. "But no, I take no satisfaction out of seeing someone hurting."