He lowered his head, tucking his chin and narrowing his silver eyes at me. I knew that expression. That expression was 100% pure, male stubbornness, and it told me he wasn’t backing down.

“You will sleep or I will make you.”

“I’m sorry, I must have misheard you. I know you didn’t just threaten to send me to sleep like a child.”

“Not like a child. Like an exasperating woman who risks her life as if it means nothing.”

I took a deep breath. He was a demon. He had no concept of bodily autonomy for anyone but himself. Until I got this stupid bond removed, it was my job to teach him. The world would be better for it.

“Listen. I’m an adult woman who can choose when she takes a nap.”

“I don’t think so.”

I ground my teeth and my power roared, slamming against my shields. Samael gave me an amused look.

“Does your power itch to hurt me, witchling?” He took a step closer. I yawned. My eyelids were so heavy. The mark on my arm seemed to radiate relaxation and comfort.

I forced my eyes open. When had I closed them? Panic made my heart race.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re mine, bounty hunter.” His expression was cut in grim resolve. “That makes it my job to take care of you when you choose not to look after yourself.”

I stepped back and almost stumbled. Samael was there, lifting me into his arms.

“Let me go.”

“No.”

“I’ll kill you for this.”

A chuckle that made my hands fist.

“Sleep, little witch. You may attempt to kill me once you have rested.”

He always did this. He’d do something that made my heart stutter, like putting guards on Gary’s door, and then he’d immediately follow it up with something that made me long to rip his heart out, like this shit right here.

“You’re only making me hate you more.” My eyes had closed again. I forced them open, only to find him staring down at me, something like regret in his eyes. It disappeared in an instant.

“If you want to hate me for taking care of you, so be it.”

I opened my mouth to tell him to stop twisting things. He wasn’t taking care of me. He was taking away my control.

But my eyes had already slid closed.

7

Danica

I woke up angry. This wasn’t uncommon for me– I typically harnessed a healthy amount of rage just to get through my day. But the fury that swept through me warned me that I wasn’t going to be happy when I opened my eyes.

The heady scent of cedar and citrus was my second clue. I opened my eyes and sat up. Once again, my knives were on the table next to Samael’s bed.