A Demon Made Me Do It by Penelope King Page A

has been my closest friend.
He’s the only one, except Tatiana, who’s always been here for me,
no matter what. The only one I can talk to about
anything.
    But I can’t talk to him about this.
Not this mess I’m feeling. Not without hurting him or losing him.
Just the thought of that happening makes my heart
clench.
    “ Sooo…you’re not mad at me?
I haven’t done something to upset you?” he asks.
    I laugh noiselessly knowing he can’t
see my expression. “No, nothing is your fault. I’m just going
through some weird stuff right now, and I have to figure it out on
my own.”
    He crosses the room and kneels beside
me. Clasping my hand in his, I see a glimmer of light reflect in
his sad, bronze eyes. “If there’s anything you need…anything you
want to talk about, I’m here. That’s our deal, remember? For as
long as you want me, I’ve got your back.”
    Because he’s pure demon, Bones is
immortal, unless he’s killed by a pure Angel—Light or Dark. So
he’ll continue to live on for indeterminate eons exactly as he is
now. When he chooses a companion, he chooses a mortal, like me, and
I will be replaced upon my death, or my deciding to end the
friendship—whichever comes first. I’ve always known just how lucky
I am to have won Bones’ affections and unwavering loyalty when I
was just a young demion. I’ve never taken his friendship for
granted, and could never imagine living this life without him by my
side.
    Until now.
    Now I’m beginning to wonder if I can
stay his friend, now that I know I want so much more from
him…something he can never give me.
    I know this is all Liora’s fault.
Somehow she’s making me have these crazy feelings I’m not supposed to have—or,
at least, not able to control. I’ve never exactly loved that Bones needed to
mate with so many virgins, but it’s never bothered me this much
before. And the couple in the car—as much as I try to block the
man’s story, it still haunts me. Why, oh
why, did I choose that car to stop?
    I squeeze Bones’ hand and give him a
small smile. “I’ll be okay. I just need some space for a while.
Just ‘til I figure out some stuff.”
    “ By space, do you mean
space… from me ?”
    I take a deep breath, whispering my
response. “Yes.”
    His body stiffens and he stands up.
Even in the darkness, his silhouette seems colder, harder. It’s a
subtle change, but I can feel it.
    After a long pause he speaks. “Fine,
but that doesn’t mean I’m not keeping an eye on you.” He places his
hand on my shoulder, and I tilt my head up, wishing I could freeze
this moment in time—when it’s just the two of us. No one else
exists. No one else matters. “Where are you going after you’re done
here?” His voice sounds strained.
    I glance back at the woman huddled in
the corner. She’s almost stopped moving, so I’ll be wrapping it up
soon. Torment to exhaustion then on to the next.
    I shrug. “Not sure yet. Maybe Mr.
Ludwings’s. He’s still playing with little boys in a not-so-playful
way. I guess he didn’t receive my first message quite clearly
enough. This time I’ll make sure he gets it.”
    Bones leans against the doorway.
“Well, I’m just glad you’re doing okay. I’m gonna go find me some
ladies before the sun comes up.”
    Suddenly, it feels like a rock is
lodged in my throat.
    “ Hey, this guy, Ludwing,
doesn’t he live near Baymore Park?” he asks.
    “ Pretty close.
Why?”
    “ I heard some Altrumina
Demons have set up a nest there, so be careful. Do you have any
weapons with you?”
    “ I have my dagger.” I pat
the emerald-tipped blade nestled safely inside my boots, hidden
under several layers of lace. This dagger is good for most demons,
but no match for an Altrumina. One touch is all it takes for them
to transfer their own mind-bending curse.
    Bones arches an eyebrow. “You know
that’s not gonna cut it. Stay away from there, especially since
you’re unarmed.”
    “ Yes, Dad,” I
tease.
    “ I