Story Excerpt
Air Demon

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“Hey, Storym.”

Storym didn’t even look up, just nodded his head. He had heard the human coming before he even reached the library. A nod was all he could manage without attacking the surface dweller. Looking at Nick would have been nearly impossible.

“Whatcha doin’?”

“Working.”

Storym knew his response was tight-lipped and stern. He couldn’t help it. He was barely holding onto his control as it was. The more time he spent around Nick, the less control he had. Why couldn’t Nick just leave him be?

Or better yet, return to the surface world where he belonged? Nick had no business being in Jinnistan. Storym didn’t care that Nick was supposed to be one of the chosen ones. Every second spent in Jinnistan put Nick’s life in danger. Storym couldn’t figure out why everyone else didn’t understand that. It was clear as day to him.

“Oh,” Nick said simply. “Whatcha working on?”

Storym rolled his eyes when Nick strolled over to stand behind him, peering over his shoulder. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “This is important.”

“Anything I can help with?”

“No!” Storym barked out. He instantly regretted his sharply spoken words when Nick winced and jumped back. The thought of being cooped up in the same room with Nick for hours on end made Storym’s skin itch.

He wouldn’t be able to hold onto his control if he was anywhere near Nick for a prolonged period of time. The mere sight of the man was enough to make him grit his teeth and run in the other direction.

“I’m sorry,” Nick said as he turned away. “I’ll just leave you alone then.”

“Look—”

“Why don’t you like me?” Nick asked as he spun around to stare intently at Storym. “Have I done something to offend you in some way?”

“No, of course not, but—”

“Did I break a rule or something?”

“No, but—”

“Is it because I’m supposed to be a chosen one? Is that why you don’t like me?”

“You know the chosen ones are revered by my people,” Storym said quickly. “Your place in this world is well established. You can—”

“Then why do you keep avoiding me like I have the plague?” Nick’s head tilted to one side. His forehead wrinkled as if he was in deep thought.

Storym held his breath as he waited for Nick to say something more. He was a little shocked when Nick just shook his head and started to walk away again. “It’s not that I don’t like you, I just—”

Nick paused at the doorway, but he didn’t turn. “It’s okay, Storym.” Nick’s smile was a little sad as he turned around. His pale blue eyes seemed even paler than usual. “Despite me being some proclaimed chosen one, nothing says that you have to like me. I won’t bother you again.”

Nick walked out of the room before Storym could reply. Storym sighed and leaned back in his chair. He so didn’t need this shit. He was supposed to be going through the ancient scrolls to see if Clagh had missed anything.

He wasn’t supposed to be worrying about the surface dweller, but he hadn’t been able to get Nick out of his head since he first saw the man. The man intrigued him. Hell, the man made him want to drop to his knees and beg for mercy.

Nicholas Patrick Dane was everything a Demonas Amaté should be, and he was Storym’s. Storym just couldn’t claim him. He had no intention of bonding himself to a surface dweller. In Storym’s book, that made Nick totally off limits—no matter how much Storym craved the man.