Harlee POV
"Do bodily fluid really keep Demons fed?" I asked, resting my head on Zeev's chest.
"Not all Demons, not all types, not all sources. It's... complicated. You're Bound to me, so I can draw off your soul by consuming your flesh or fluids, but your soul will recover given enough time in between. However, I'm also acutely aware of your pain because of our Bond, and the fact that a part of your soul belongs to me-and I'm not a masochist, so partaking of your flesh is not something I'm very interested in." He traced a finger down my spine. "But tasty meals like today's that bring us both pleasure-particularly if you want me hunting other humans less often-well, I might be interested in trying those more frequently." He brought his face close to mine and licked my lips with his rough tongue. I shivered as my body tingled all over.
"Harlee, I'm still trying to figure this whole love thing out myself since it's new to me, but I can tell you with certainty, I have never loved another being in as many complicated ways as I do you in this very moment. I promise you that I will not intentionally deceive you nor bring harm nor allow harm to happen to you or your loved ones if it's within my capacity to prevent it. As long as doing so in no way endangers your life. I am trying to do better about hunting humans. Masters shape the Demons they're Bound to. You are changing me-but it's like trying to turn a carnivore into an herbivore. I have needs that can't be met all of the time with substitutes and vitamins, and when they can't... Well, even a lion in a zoo is fed meat..." Zeev's voice trailed off.
"I know." I whispered. "But Zeev, I've been one of your victims. Only I wouldn't let go of my soul so easily." Zeev winced and sat up.
Zeev POV
"I'll never be able to make up for that, will I?" I asked bitterly.
"You tried to eat me, eat my soul! No Zeev, you won't." Harlee replied simply. I clenched my teeth and stood up, grabbing my shirt off the floor and slipping it over my arms.
"And I suppose you've tried to atone for every chicken you've consumed? Every cow?" I snarled, yanking my pants up next.
"That's a little-you know I don't eat meat for a reason." Harlee stumbled over her words
"But you did-and you still consume dairy and eggs-which is still depriving creatures of their lives in cages." Harlee's face contorted as I pointed this out. I walked towards her as she looked away and cupped her face in my hand. "I'm not condemning you, you're trying to make changes that you feel are better. All I'm asking for is a little understanding as I try to do the same. I can't promise anything, but when my life or yours is in danger, it means both our lives are in danger, and I tend to think of survival first, morals later. I'm a Demon Harlee." I said softly. "We don't really have much in the way of morals to begin with. The morals I do have now are mostly yours." I shrugged and dropped my hand. "All part of the packaged deal with being Bound."
"Just like I have to get used to sharing your kills." Harlee whispered, sliding from the counter herself. "The corruption of your Heart slowly staining my soul over time. What happens when there are no morals left between us?" She clutched the torn nightgown to her chest. I winced again. Why did it feel like I was always losing to this little human girl?
Harlee POV
I had agreed to this, I reminded myself harshly. I knew my soul was damned. The moment Zeev tried to consume it, I knew my soul was never going to make it to Heaven, if it ever even had a chance before. I mean, I had no aspirations of that anyway, but now my chances were completely stripped. I shut the bedroom door between us. Honestly, at the time Zeev tried to eat me, I didn't even think Heaven existed anymore. And now... I slid down the back of the door. What would I end up like? As cold and dispassionate as Zeev when we first met?
"I would never allow it, My Lady." He stooped beside me and pulled me into his arms. "Don't you see you're missing a key part of that-when we first met. You've already changed me. I am different already. We are different." He held me tighter. "It won't end up like that." He whispered, almost to himself. I was torn between my emotions, but I decided to let my guard down. If I wanted to make sure we didn't end up as a cold, ruthless pair of killing machines, now was the time to start living up the humanity. Retrain some brains. I snuggled deeper into Zeev's arms and tried to relax. I let my soul fragment feel the nearness of his and placed a gentle hand on the side of his neck, brushing his Mark. It's not forgiveness, but it's a first step. Zeev froze for a moment and then hugged me tighter. I felt something wet land on my cheek and looked up to see Zeev's silent tears coursing down his face.
"Tears of a Demon." I murmured softly, lifting a finger to wipe some away and Zeev stared at me as I brought the finger to my lips curiously to see if his tears also tasted of cinnamon. Instead, as I licked the liquid, it was like I felt all his emotions behind the tears. My chest seemed to open up as a ragged hole, craving the acceptance and love of the one I loved, adored, worshiped, but she kept rejecting me. The simple act of her attempt at forgiveness bringing me to tears. My Heart, ah my Heart... I clutched at my chest and looked at Zeev. "Is this what it's like for you all the time?" I breathed.
"Only since the Bond, it's been growing worse over time. My job is to meet your needs, make you happy, please you. Our Bond was formed from my Love and desire to protect you. I'm failing miserably." Zeev grimaced. I cuddled closer.
"Zeev.. I.. This is complicated for me. So much has happened. You tried to kill me, then we tried to kill each other, we finally reached an uneasy alliance, and suddenly you sacrifice yourself for me and pledge your undying devotion and I.. And now you tell me you're in love and I'm so confused. There is a part of me that I think loves you too and I feel for you and the reasons you Fell and the choices you've had to make, but part of me still.. can't..." I swallowed the rest of the words. I knew they would hurt him.
"Can't accept the Demon side of me." Zeev said harshly.
"No. NO." I turned his face to look at me. "I can't yet understand enough to accept your need to consume humans. And being on the receiving end of that makes me sensitive. I know to you, consuming human souls is like one of us eating a chicken sandwich, but you've never been the prey before, so it's hard for me to accept." Zeev gulped.
"I don't want you to accept it." He clutched me tighter. "I.. like this feeling.. this love that you have. It's so different from the way we love, and it reminds me, constantly, of why I left Heaven in the first place. I don't want you to change Harlee. I just want you to accept me. It'll make it easier to keep myself in check if you do." Zeev's pain arched through our link. For an Angel to be untethered it was frightening, for a Demon to become Bonded and then have that Bond be threatened, it was like Falling all over again.
"Hey, hey, look at me-" I patted Zeev's cheek softly. "I'm not going back on our Bond. You're mine, boy." I told him seriously. I felt the zing through our link and could feel his Heart warm. I made a decision spur of the moment and invoked his True Name. His fingers dug into me. "You are mine, and I am yours. Eternally Bound. Do you understand? This Bond cannot be undone. I'm not going anywhere, and I have no intentions of releasing you." As I spoke the words, a sense of finality settled around my heart and Zeev shivered and leaned his forehead against mine. "There's just going to be a bit of a learning curve for us both." I sighed and he nodded.
Zeev POV
Harlee flipped off the TV when I entered the room. She was trying not to let on that she'd been searching the news for information on the people I'd killed. I set her plate down in front of her.
"There were seven." I told her dully. She grimaced, staring at her plate.
"Total or when you landed in the street?" She asked quietly.
"Total." I replied and she nodded.
"What will happen to Kayla's soul, since you've marked her?" Harlee asked abruptly.
"When she's safe, or sometime before her death, I will ask her for a favor in return. A stick of gum, a hug, a gesture of good will, a dollar bill, any of these will also satisfy her debt to me." I replied. Harlee looked at me, eyes large and swimming with tears. She jumped from the sofa and flung her arms around my neck, kissing me on the cheek soundly.
"You would do that for me?" Harlee asked, face inches from mine. I gripped her around the waist so she wouldn't fall and ran my other hand along her jaw.
"This Mark means I will protect you from harm. Even from harm that I might cause, even if it's just to your heart. Yes, I would do this. For you." I replied carefully. Harlee's eyes sparkled and she leaned her face towards mine, brushing her soft lips against my own.
"This is my Zeev." She whispered. "This is the Zeev I love." I felt my heart beat faster.
Author's Note: Zeev visits Kayla on her death bed and asks for a flower from a vase by her bedside. She happily agrees and her debt is satisfied, freeing her soul from their Contract, and allowing her to enter the afterlife. The flower, well Zeev took that home to Harlee. The petals were dyed gold like Zeev's wings and she cried knowing Zeev had released Kayla's soul.
Harlee POV
I forgot I had left work in the middle of an uproar. Zeev and I walked in hand-in-hand and Kayla shrank behind the counter.
"Are you really..a.. De.. Demon?" Kayla asked, stepping back. I sighed. Zeev looked at me and I nodded.
"Yes." He replied in his beautiful deep voice. She squeaked and backed up against the wall.
"Are you gonna steal my soul?" She whispered and Zeev laughed a loud, cheerful laugh.
"I don't think Harlee would allow it." Zeev replied.