When Darkness Ends by Alexandra Ivy

Cyn’s teasing caresses. Did she truly want to spend the rest of the night plagued by her unfulfilled desire? Or worse . . . give in to the temptation to track down Cyn and finish what he started? She made a choked sound, squashing the last thought as a white-hot excitement sizzled through her. Grimly she forced herself to focus on the small demon studying her with a shrewd gaze. “Did you find something to eat?”
    â€œ Oui, ” the gargoyle assured her, patting his rounded little belly. “A farmer’s wife was kind enough to share her shepherd’s pie.”
    Fallon blinked in surprise. She’d spied on this world long enough to know that few humans realized that there were demons living among them.
    â€œShe wasn’t frightened to be visited by a gargoyle?”
    â€œIt is possible that she was not precisely aware of her generosity.” Levet cleared his throat, his tail twitching. “It did not seem polite to wake her and ask her permission when she was sleeping so soundly.”
    Fallon hid a smile. “Very thoughtful of you.”
    â€œ Oui, I am a very thoughtful demon.” He gave a small sniff. “Unlike some.”
    Hmm. Fallon didn’t need to be a mind reader to guess who he was referring to. “I assume you mean Cyn?”
    Levet pursed his lips. “I am, of course, delighted to be of service to you, ma belle, but he could at least have allowed me to finish my meal.”
    â€œBe of service?”
    Waddling across the room, Levet halted in front of the massive fireplace and spoke a low word of magic. Instantly the pile of logs caught fire, filling the room with a welcome heat.
    â€œCyn seems to believe that you will freeze to death if I do not ensure that there is a fire lit in each room you might enter,” Levet muttered, turning to glance toward the empty pots that had held the nectar she’d consumed just minutes after Cyn had left. A blush touched her cheeks. It wasn’t her fault she’d devoured the entire stash. She was an emotional eater. “He also insisted that I monitor your food intake.”
    Her brows snapped together. “Why?”
    â€œHe feared you might allow your magic to drain you if there wasn’t someone near to remind you to replenish your strength.”
    â€œOh.” A perilous warmth spread through her heart. “He said that?”
    Levet rolled his eyes. “It was really more of a growl.”
    â€œDid he say anything else?”
    â€œ Oui . I am to contact him immediately if I suspect that you are in danger of burning out.”
    â€œBurning out?”
    â€œUsing too much magic.”
    She shook her head, wondering what game Cyn was playing. Or maybe he was just demented.
    That would explain how he could jump from the unwelcoming host, to the determined seducer, to the fussing mother hen. All in the space of a couple of hours.
    His moods changed faster than a drunken dew fairy.
    â€œI’m in no danger,” she said.
    A part of her wanted to be annoyed that Cyn would question her ability to take care of herself.
    She might not be a kick-ass vampire warrior like Lise, but she wasn’t helpless.
    But a larger part was secretly savoring the sensation of having someone worry about her. When was the last time anyone had considered her needs? Among her people she was little more than a political pawn. Her feelings, her desires, her hopes and dreams were meaningless.
    They certainly didn’t spend any time fretting over the fear that she might be cold or hungry, or that she might be using too much magic.
    â€œI have the bowls tuned to the various Oracles as well as triggered to warn me when someone enters the caves or if the Oracles leave,” she continued, pointing toward the images that flickered on top of the water.
    Levet moved to peer into the nearest bowl. “Clever.”
    Fallon bit her bottom lip, still obsessed with the fact that Cyn had sent the gargoyle to