Zeev POV
I raised my head to look at Harlee, startled. She had fallen asleep. I felt my body tingle. Did she just say what I though she did? I examined her sleeping face and my Heart throbbed. Her soul fragment had completely altered the course of my life. I had never expected to be able to feel this warmth, this type of love. I had never expected to find my way again, or have my very person gentled, softened. Who or what was I becoming?
Oh dear, Harlee hadn't eaten.
Harlee POV
Zeev had moved me to the bed, he was wrapped around me, a blanket draped over me, his body heat keeping me warm. My stomach growled.
"Finally ready to have something to eat?" Zeev chuckled. I nodded and giggled.
"What time is it anyway?" I asked with a yawn.
"Sometime after nine." Zeev answered. He sat up and I shivered.
"Did it get colder?" I clutched the blanket to my chin.
"Well, ah, you're in a sort of state of undress." Zeev apologized.
"Oh yeah. Kinda threw myself atcha, didn't I?" I giggled again.
"I'll bring you something to eat while you dress." Zeev said softly. I called his True Name softly and he stopped in his tracks as if frozen.
"Don't look so upset. Today's decisions were mine. The emotions behind them are mine. Please be happy that a part of my heart now belongs to you too." I smiled at him, but his face never budged from the sad expression.
Zeev POV
What else was I going to take from Harlee? She was offering her love, her heart to me and I was feeling extremely guilty. I had craved it before. No, needed it. Wanted her all for myself, but I was beginning to wonder if she was better off if I held myself apart. My soul fragment throbbed. The Bond would inevitably twine us closer and closer together...
"Zeev, what happened?" Harlee demanded from behind me. She had the blanket wrapped around her. I shook my head. "You're so broody all of a sudden, don't shake your head at me!"
"It's nothing really. I'm just worried for you is all." I replied halfheartedly, turning back to the food preparations. I felt a light thump as she gripped me from behind. Warmth flooded through me and through our link. My chest throbbed again and I turned, wrapping my arms around her too. "I just don't want you to get hurt anymore" I whispered into her hair.
"It wasn't your fault." Harlee responded.
"But my job is to protect you." The anguished cry escaped my lips.
"Josh wasn't even aiming at me-he aimed for you, stupid. So from now on, you're going to have to remember-if you want to protect me, you have to protect yourself too." She placed a hand on my chest and looked up at me.
"And what happens when I break your heart like I did your soul?" I asked, orange eyes glowing.
"Then I guess you'll have to take responsibility for that as you have for my soul, won't you?" Harlee snapped. I chuckled.
"I suppose so." I replied. She leaned up on her tiptoes and pulled my face down so she could brush her lips along mine.
"For now, you care for me too much to break my heart on purpose. And I have yours anyway, so I guess that makes us even." She said softly. I sighed.
"Dinner should be done by the time you're dressed." I told her.
Harlee POV
Work the next morning was silent. It was just me. After about fifteen minutes, I got bored.
'Hey Zeev, wanna come spend some time with me? It's a slow day and I'm here alone..' I shot at him through our link.
"Mistress." He said with a wicked grin from behind me.
"What have I told you about calling me that?" I scolded as I allowed myself to fall backwards into his arms.
"You never said I couldn't use it in jest." He qualified.
"Demons and their loopholes." I tsked. "How are you feeling today? I know digesting that Grace and everything that happened yesterday kind of soured you for a bit.." I offered.
"Well I have this very kind Mistress who took an entire evening and most of the night to show me how much she cares for me to help pull me out of my depression." I looked up to see Zeev's wicked grin grow and I blushed.
"Is there any Grace left?" I asked quietly.
"I'm afraid not." Zeev sighed. "I burned through a lot of it healing you, and the rest went to fixing this." And with that, his wings appeared with a soft flump. All four wings were magnificently displayed, taking up most of the space behind the long counter, not even fully outstretched. My eyes wide, I ran my hand along the now fully repaired golden wing's feathers. I felt Zeev shiver slightly.
"So soft." I whispered and rubbed my face in them. He curled the wings slightly to knock me towards his outstretched arm, so he could tuck me into a hug, with his rain-scented wings tucked up and around us. "What happens if a customer comes?" I grunted as I snuggled against his chest.
"Demon radar-not a chance." Zeev reported smugly.
"You'll have to wipe the cameras again." I sighed.
"Mmm." He hummed back, holding me closer. I could sleep like this, if I could sleep on my feet. I suddenly felt someone staring at me, and looked up to see Zeev's orange eyes gazing at me hungrily. I shivered slightly. This was a greedy hunger, but I didn't feel like it was the eating kind. He was just somehow possessive and needy all at once. I blushed and he smirked, then looked up abruptly. "There's someone coming." He said quietly and folded his wings away. His eyes went back to a human appearance, but he didn't let me go. Brisk footsteps came around the corner of the customer service department and entered, pausing halfway into the room. I turned to look as a man adjusted his glasses, gazing at us coldly. He was dressed business casual, and his brown eyes glinted dangerously at Zeev.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Demon." The man said icily.
"Mage." Zeev greeted him in kind.
"I would speak to your Contracted one alone." He waved a hand and Zeev's Form emitted wisps of shadows. He gritted his teeth.
"I refuse." Zeev snarled and the man's glare became even colder.
Zeev POV
The pressure the Mage was putting on me to leave increased. I grimly held my place.
"I said begone!" The Mage roared and I felt my Form slip again. I grimaced, clinging to Harlee. She needed my protection. I wouldn't be banished by some mere human Mage.
"You have power, that's undeniable. It looks like I'll just need to use my True Form in order to stay." I snarled and let my facade begin to drop.
"That's enough, both of you!" Harlee snapped. "Zeev stays. He's mine and I tell him when he leaves-not you." She faced the man, daring him to contradict her. He looked at the Mark on her jaw, then at her chest and at me.
"May I?" He strode forward, extending a hand. I snatched Harlee back, growling.
"Just what do you intend to do?" I snarled at him.
"I wish to examine the Contract between you and this human, Demon." The Mage snapped back at me. "I only intend to touch her Mark."
"Zeev." Harley spoke quietly from within my embrace. "It's ok, let him see you're not a threat." She placed a hand on my face and the Mage's eyes widened before he masked his expression again. He readjusted his glasses.
"If I may..." He extended his hand again. I let Harlee move forward, but maintained a grip on her fingers, in case I needed to snatch her away from him again. I felt the jolt as the man's magic raced through our link, examining us and our Bond. I snarled.