“See through…?” Selma paused to stare at the male by her side. “You mean I will see your demon form? When? Why?”

Another sigh. “It usually happens within a few weeks of impregnation. Our son’s magic will protect you against the brand blinding you to our true nature. It is… upsetting to many Breeders, and I want you to be prepared. I will need to mate you regardless, to ensure your survival. Even if you find it… disagreeable.”

It took her a moment to process his words. If she refused him, he would force her in order to keep her alive.

Memories of the demons she’d seen before she’d been branded made her shudder. While some had been like her Procurer—mainly human with horns or odd eyes—others had been terrifying. Submitting to him if he looked like that…

“What does your demon form look like?” This time her whisper was more hoarse than breathy.

He grimaced. “Different. Bigger. Less human.”

Well, that wasn’t overly helpful. She glanced at him again. Maybe it was better if she didn’t think too much about it until she absolutely had to.

“You demons sure seem to forget to mention a lot of the small print beforehand.”

Kain’s mouth twisted into a small grin. “It’s sort of in the job description.”

One of his large hands left the steering wheel to rest on her knee, and calm spread through her body at his warm touch. “We still have a little time before it happens,” he continued. “Hopefully, it will be manageable by then.”

She somehow doubted it, but right then, it didn’t matter. He was there, looking like his human self, and they were going to work everything out. Together.

Her heart fluttered pleasantly.

Perhaps the goddess was right—perhaps what she felt was love.

Kain made a soft noise next to her, squeezing her knee gently as if her scent somehow conveyed her emotions. He didn’t look away from the road again, but the soothing hum she was starting to recognize as their personal thing soon emanated from him.

Content, Selma leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.

Demon or not, he was hers. She had recognized it when he claimed her for the world to see, and in her heart she knew it now.

He was her savior.

The screeching of tires and jolt of brakes being slammed ripped her from sleep.

Selma gasped against the seat belt’s strangulating hold, her eyes popping open wide just as the car came to an abrupt halt.

“Kain, what the fuck?” she gasped as she reached up to rub at her throat. Apparently she’d been sitting in a less than ideal position for emergency braking.