I was done being careful. “The dark fae king is a jackass, but you’re just as bad. When those demons were being killed, you had me investigating the high demons. You didn’t even tell me about the murders of the lesser demons until multiple days had passed. They were an afterthought to you.”

Samael laughed coldly. “And I suppose you’re the champion of lesser demons are you? Tell me, how many of my people did you drag into the Mage Council? How many did you interrogate with my dagger?”

“It’s mine now,” I snapped. “You gave it to me. And that’s beside the point. The demons I brought in were all guilty of crimes. Most of them had escaped their summoners and slaughtered innocent humans.”

“If you believe that, then you really were the Mage Council’s tool.”

I stared at him and he shook his head. “Enough.”

“You’re damn right it’s enough.” I turned to leave and he caught my arm.

“Don’t think to walk away from me.”

I swung at him. I was off-balance, so it was sloppy. He caught my arm and gave me a hard stare. “I thought you wanted to know what you were?”

I laughed bitterly. “Process of elimination, Samael. If I’m not fae, I’m demon.”

He studied my face and his brow lowered. “And this displeases you.”

I didn’t say anything. Damn right it displeased me.

“Your friend will be okay,” he murmured, changing the subject.

I felt tears prick my eyes and attempted to turn away. Samael wasn’t tolerating that. He pulled me back toward him and an embarrassing hiccup left my throat.

“Gary’s a person, Samael. His life matters.”

He drew me into his arms, and despite myself, I nestled into his chest, drawing his cedar and citrus scent into my lungs.

“It does matter. Paranormal rulers are centuries old, little witch. Some of us have been alive for a millennia. It makes us… forget what it means to care for others.”

I got it. When you were at the top of the food chain, you got used to everyone bowing and scraping. You probably started to believe that you were inherently more worthy than the people doing the bowing and scraping.

I sniffed and he heaved a sigh. “It doesn’t mean we don’t care. It simply means that sometimes we need to be reminded to care. You’ve done that for me, Danica.”

We were in awkward territory now, and I attempted to push my way out of his arms.

“Uh-uh.”

I scowled, but I was trapped against his chest. The demon would release me when he damn well pleased and not a moment sooner.

“Why does everything have to be a power struggle between us, Samael?”