Chapter 9

NATHANIEL

"Interesting thing you've got going on with your mate," Ishmael said. I could hear him snag the glass of whisky from my table.

I didn't bother opening my eyes when I answered. "Ayra is not my mate. Demons don't do mates."

At least it was rare. I knew that much. Only a few demons I knew in my life had such a connection, and they weren't even referred to as 'mates'. There wasn't a term to describe it, but everyone around just knew their lives were intertwined.

If one died, then the other would follow. That made demons dread that type of commitment. Who would want to die for their partner?

What was common amongst demons was marking. It was a way to exert dominance or stake a claim over another. It went both ways. The males and the females could do it.

The mark lasted for as long as the demon was interested in the other. As long as I was interested in Ayra, the mark wouldn't fade, and as long as the mark didn't fade, the demons would always attack