Demon Girl Read Online Free PDF Page B

padded over, thick claws glinting and
pressed into my legs. A soft growl rumbled in his throat and his
whole body vibrated. I tensed then flexed my hand and let it drift
down. As he pushed his wet nose into my palm the growl became a
satisfied purr. The cat was warm and smelt musky. My fingers rubbed
up the coarse hair behind his ears then smoothed it down. He nipped
at my finger and I yelped. He twitched at the sound, and the long
whiskers on his upper lip whistled as they cut through the air.
Nudging the back of my knee he made a contented noise, tinged with
almost an apology for startling me. His eyes lingered on mine,
blinked at me then he sniffed the air and gathered his front and
back paws together. Ears flat against his head, he paced forward
and slinked lower.
    I gasped, spotting a sable colored deer
grazing within my line of sight, half hidden by a few dogwood
trees. The cat’s muscles bunched tightly before he sprung forward
and bounded away. I didn’t watch what happened to the deer after
that.
    Breandan watched me, head cocked
thoughtfully.
    I marveled at the short ebony hairs stuck on
my fingertips. Evidence my encounter had been real. I trembled.
    “Did that mean something to you?” I asked
quietly.
    “Oh yes,” he replied and took hold of my
hand, and started to walk again. “Nothing out here will harm you
unless you pick a fight first.” He paused. “Usually shifters are
not that sociable. Rarely do they interact with those outside their
pack, even when they leave Pride territory. Do not make a habit of
petting them. Despite your difficult personality, I will
protect you until death, but would prefer not to have to deal with
such dire circumstances unless necessary.” Jerking to a stop he
yanked gently on the ends of my hair to pull my head back.
“Alright?” His teeth nipped my neck then his lips pressed a kiss to
my pulse point. There he stood amongst the trees, smiling down on
me and waiting for my answer.
    All the while, for all that I’d just
experienced and all he’d told me, all I could think was, he
kissed my neck .
    “Believe it or not I don’t skip around
looking for trouble. I only come out here for some space to think
and run. And I can take care of myself.”
    After a beat of silence he chuckled and
walked on, continuing to tow me along side.
    A shifter. I had stroked a were-cat, one of
the most feral demons in existence. Only Breandan’s firm grip and
steady steps forward kept me moving.
    “I never realized the different demon kinds
lived so close together,” I said.
    “Our territories are vast. Right now we are
in his back garden. The Pride encompasses the entire human prison.
That is why we showed respect and stayed still. If he had taken
issue with us here, he would have let me know. But then he has
probably scented the vampire too, and is happy to have the extra
help in hunting it down.”
    “Prison,” I echoed, startled. “Vampire?”
    Saying the name made my toes scrunch together
in my boots and my stomach pitch dangerously. The dead ones were
not demons people dressed up to make scarier than they actually
were. Vampires were the creatures you made nicer in stories so that
you didn’t pass out when reports one had breached the Wall, and
eaten a few homeless people came your way.
    “Is that not what it is? A prison the humans
have locked themselves inside?”
    There was too much behind that simple
statement I could not begin to get into.
    “So, you can go wherever you like? To hunt
vampires, I mean. It doesn’t matter you’re not his kind?” I was
fascinated. I had learned more about demonkind in one hour than
years of training.
    “Why would I not be able to go where I liked?
There has not been a war between demonkind and we respect each
other enough not impose foolish rules of ownership. Though most of
us do avoid venturing into vampire cities. Shifters are bestial
under a full moon, but sensible for the most part. The alpha-male
keeps them in good order. As for