The Demon's Lover

Callum

I stood at the top of those stairs, on the other side of the basement door, just lost in thought. For a brief moment, I let my head rest on the door, the wood cool against my forehead. She was perfect, she was everything. And I still didn't know what I was going to do in order to keep her as mine. Faintly, I heard Alphonse approaching, and I lifted my head to look back at him. "Should I send Ariel in there with her?" I sighed. My oldest friend had a point. I didn't want to leave Ashlynn alone, not like this.

"Send her in. I just hope Ashlynn isn't allergic to dogs."

"Hellhounds aren't quite the same as dogs, my Lord. Besides, they don't really have fur to aggravate an allergy." I couldn't help but chuckle as Alphonse went towards the kennels to get the young Hellhound pup. That left me plenty of time to go back to my room and get out of that suit. While I enjoyed looking like the put-together demon that I was, I preferred comfort above all else.

Well, it also gave me an excuse to take an ice cold shower and try to get my mind off of Ashlynn. She'd felt so tiny in my arms, but still stronger than anyone gave her credit for. I turned the cold water on, stripped, and stepped into the shower with my hands braced against the wall. That was when I heard the voice on the other side of the closed door.

"So, when are you going to tell her the truth, Callum?" Lilith knew she was the only one who could get away with talking to me like that. She was a fellow Prince, one of the highest ranked demons in Hell, right under Lucifer.

"Lilith, not right now." I lifted my head, icy water cascading down my face.Well, the ice water wasn't the only thing that was getting me out of my thoughts of Ashlynn. I could hear the redhead groan from the other side of the door, but I knew she wasn't going anywhere. I could already see her, arms folded across her chest, those blue eyes of hers sparkling with that silent fury she was known for. Lilith's thing was Lust, as everyone knew. But anyone who knew her, knew how vicious she could be.

"You need to tell her Callum. Unless, of course, your plan is to keep her around and never tell her. You know, keep her blissfully ignorant until the Angels come for her and end up killing her."

I stepped out of the shower, the anger that coursed through me enough to dry me almost instantly. Boxers and sweats were thrown on in a hurry, and I threw open the door. I didn't even pay attention to the look she gave my shirtless form. "They will not touch her." I didn't need a mirror to see the red that had filled my eyes. "And they will not find out she's here. Need I remind you, Lilith, what happens when anything I care about is threatened?"

She glanced away from me, a frown touching her full lips. She didn't want to look at me, and I couldn't blame her. She'd always had a bit of a thing for me. But I couldn't stand her. "No, Callum," she muttered. "I know all too well what happens." She rubbed at her arm, fingers trailing over a hairline scar there. I should have gone deeper with that knife. But, you can't change the past, and I hadn't had reason to do that to her again.

"Good," I growled. "Now get the f**k out of my room, Lilith. And don't tell Ashlynn a thing."