Harlee POV
"Harlee? Why Harlee?" Squeaked Kayla. I sighed again.
"She's basically my Mistress, excuse me, Master." Zeev answered, a twinkle in his eye.
"What?!" Kayla squealed, looking from him to me. I tugged Zeev towards the counter and put one hip on the edge. Zeev stood behind me, allowing me to lean into his chest, his arms wrapped around me so I could relax while he bore all my weight.
"Zeev is Bound to me and I to him. It's complicated, but he's made a pledge to protect me from harm, and hurting you would cause me emotional harm, so he won't do it unless I tell him to, which I have no intentions of ever doing. You're safe Kayla." I answered.
"But.. the Mark.." Kayla stammered.
"Will keep you safe from other Demons for now, since they're not very fond of us. Don't worry, your soul will be yours when you die, so live a good clean life and you'll go where you wanna." I waved a hand. Zeev squeezed my ribs.
"Josh said you're going to Hell." Kayla said with tears in her eyes. I blew out a breath.
"Not for a very, very long time. It couldn't be helped. Zeev saved my life and it altered my destiny." I was trying to keep this simple.
"He-saved your life?" Kayla looked over my shoulder at him with a spark of hope.
"Not all Demons are evil, or at least not completely evil. Zeev is sort of neutral. He's been knows to do good and bad deeds. Now that I hold his leash, I'm trying to make him fall more on the side of good, but sometimes, things happen.." I trailed off as Kayla shivered.
"Did you really eat people?" Kayla looked directly at Zeev and I felt him tense. A questioning tendril of thought entered my mind and I nodded slightly.
"Yes." He answered slowly. "Because Harlee and I were dying. It's not something I'm proud of, but my vow to protect Harlee is unbreakable and I will do whatever I need to to do it." Kayla stomped towards us.
"Well you made a vow to me too, you know!" She shook a finger in his face. "You promised you'd make Harlee happy, and I expect you to honor that!" She crossed her arms and huffed. Then looked mortified and covered her mouth, backing away swiftly. "I just threatened a Demon!" She squeaked. Zeev however, was laughing uproariously.
"I kind of regret having to trade off on our Contract little Kayla. You have such spice in you." He chuckled. She blushed. I could sense Zeev's Demon eyes glowing and elbowed him as Kayla flinched.
"Don't scare her." I scolded.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Mistress. I miss the days she used to shamelessly flirt with me, and I intend to bring her back around to that adorable behavior post-haste." Zeev replied and Kayla looked mortified
"I used to flirt with a Demon! I'm so going to Hell!" She moaned and Zeev laughed again. Even my lips twitched into a slight smile.
Zeev POV
It was nice to see Harlee relaxing and being more herself again. She didn't even run me off, so I stayed with the two girls most of their work day, conveniently disappearing whenever staff or managers dropped by. Kayla saw me waving a hand at the security camera after one such disappearance and reappearance and her eyes grew large.
"Oh so that's what's been happening to the security cameras!" She exclaimed and I laughed all over again. Kayla slowly relaxed throughout the day until Josh showed up in the afternoon for his shift. He had brought yet another talisman to try to ward me off.
"Back Devil!" He shouted brandishing a religious figure.
"One: DEMON, not Devil. Two: You don't practice that religion, so it wouldn't work for you, you have to have the faith to back up the act. Three: FALLEN ANGEL, so it wouldn't work on my anyway." I shrugged and pulled Harlee against me because I knew it would irritate him. Sure enough, his face got red and he spat a few words at me. My shirt sleeve caught on fire. Harlee gasped, but I sighed and waved it out.
"DEMON, boy. Hellfire? Eternal damnation? Any of this ringing any bells in that dense skull of yours?" I sighed dramatically. Kayla was staring wide-eyed at us.
"Is this..normal?" She asked Harlee quietly.
"Yes. They do this every time they meet." Harlee said with exasperation. "I made Zeev stop retaliating after he 'misplaced' Josh's clothing on the roof." Kayla giggled, then stifled it with a hand.
"See, I knew I liked you." I winked.
"What's your True Name, Demon?" Josh spat.
"Uh yeah, that's not how that works." I shrugged.
"I demand you tell me." Josh argued. "What's your True Name?"
"Nope." I answered
"I'll ask again, by the law of three-tell me your True Name." Josh demanded.
"Zeev. Harlee named me." I smirked. Josh threw the religious figure at me and I caught it before looking it over. "Oh-made in Mexico-nice. They're usually made in China. Can I keep this?"
"No!" Josh spat and stomped passed us to the breakroom. I could almost feel Harlee roll her eyes.
"Well, I better go.." Kayla said slowly. Harlee waved at her and I smiled.
"Seriously, don't worry. My big bad wolf is on a short lead." Harlee patted my arm, currently around her upper chest.
"Woof." I said and Kayla smiled slightly.
"See ya guys." Kayla replied softly and gathered her things before leaving. Josh burst from the breakroom and tossed salt on me.
"Seriously Mage? Salt?" I tsked as Josh grumbled and Harlee giggled. I squeezed her tighter.
Harlee POV
Josh griped the whole afternoon that Zeev stayed with me at work, which I was pretty sure is the entire reason Zeev stayed in the first place. I was finding a new peace with Zeev after actually hearing him out about Kayla. My heart felt lighter and I was enjoying him going back to his old mischievous self.
"Would you at least let go of her?" Josh barked as Zeev pulled me into his arms once again, responding to my thoughts. Zeev landed a kiss on my neck to further aggravate Josh.
"I don't think so." Zeev replied, then kissed me again in the hollow under my ear. I stifled a moan as Josh gritted his teeth.
"I swear Demon.." Josh growled.
"Be careful-vows are dangerous for people like us." Zeev warned, not removing his lips from my neck. I felt my knees going weak.
"You don't have to look like you're enjoying it so much!" Josh snapped at me and turned away. Zeev chuckled.
"Are you enjoying yourself my Lady? Would you like me to continue?" Zeev murmured against my ear, nibbling at the lobe. I felt my head start to go a little fuzzy as I nodded then shook my head quickly.
"I'm at work Zeev." I hissed.
"And?" He replied.
"You're gonna get me fired." I scolded.
"The Mage won't tell, will you?" Zeev taunted, running his tongue along my collarbone. Josh glared.
"I would never do anything to hurt Harlee. I feel pity for her is all. She is unaware that Demons have seductive powers. You truly care nothing for her, your facade, aroma, flavor, all of it, are just designed to entice humans." Josh replied with disgust. I felt a jolt of hostility and wasn't sure if it came from Zeev, me or both of us.
"Now wait just one minute!" I objected, but Zeev silenced me with a kiss.
"We have nothing we need to explain to the young mage." Zeev whispered, his warm tongue sliding across my lip as his cinnamon aroma washed over me. Something whizzed by my face. "That was dangerously close Mage." Zeev growled. As he straightened, I saw a strange black blade protruding from his shoulder. Black shadowy wisps danced from the spot where it met his flesh and dark drops of blood slowly fell to the floor. I felt a twinge in my own left shoulder. Josh walked forward.