Trapping me against the wall, the demon narrows his eyes. “Crafty little witch.” His voice carries a hint of an Irish accent that’s more pronounced than when he spoke in my head. Or maybe I was too freaked out by a voice in my mind to notice at the time.

This can’t be happening. A demon on school grounds is impossible. Why aren’t the alarms blaring? There should be a whole tangle of magical guards and professors swooping in right now. Yet, there’s nothing but the blood pulsing in my ears.

He leans forward, his hot breath on my cheek. “If you promise not to scream or try to spell me, I’ll let go.”

For some reason the demon isn’t attacking me; instead, he’s talking like we’re acquaintances and not arch-enemies.

“Disobey, and I’ll have to punish you.”

The sexiness of his voice in person is ten times more compelling than it was in my mind. Heat washes over me despite that a freaking demon has me pinned against the wall. My breasts feel heavy and tingly. My stupid body betrays me because it obviously doesn’t know danger when it’s wrapped in a sinful package.

I give a short nod.

“How about a deal?” His velvet voice caresses my skin.

Demons and their deals that end up only benefiting them and destroying whoever was fortune enough to agree.

“No.”

He clicks his tongue in disappointment. “You’ve not even heard my proposal.”

“I don’t need to.”

“How about a kiss, and I’ll leave you alone?”

“Never. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Oh? I can get you to change your mind…” His fingers lightly trace down my neck and across my collarbone, scrambling my brain before he steps back. His touch has my stomach tightening.

I open my mouth and yell, “Holy Appol—”

“Stop,” the demon hisses and pins me back to the wall, his claws dig into my shoulders. His black hair hangs across one of his amber eyes. “Don’t you dare call out his name, or I will rip your soul out.”

I inhale a breath to scream out for my savior, Apollyon, anyway and buck to get the demon off me. He chuckles, then brushes his bright red lips across mine. A shudder rolls through me and my jaw feels like it’s wired shut. I strain against the invisible feeling, but my mouth won’t open.

“There. Now you will listen until I say you can speak.” He leans away from me and a cool breeze snaps between us.

I lace my arms over my chest, pretending like I’m not terrified of what this demon wants with me. A thousand questions tramp across my mind. He stalks to the incense on my damn spell, and I tense, not sure what he’s going to do. His body coils and moves so graceful, it’s like he’s a stripper rather than a demon. My gaze flashes to the bulge in his skintight pants. I drag my attention up to his face to find him smirking at me. My whole body blushes, but I stiffen my spine, pretending like I wasn’t just caught gawking at him.

The demon snuffs out the incense and opens a window for the smoke to clear. With his back turned, I rush to the door. Faster than a snake strike, he grabs me by my middle and throws me onto the bed. My body bounces and heat creeps up my face as he perches on top of me. His legs press down on either side of my hips, caging me in place, and he arches a black eyebrow that makes his black horns on one side of his head lift slightly.

My heart beats against my ribs like a bird trapped in a cage. I open my mouth to try to scream, but only a hiss of air comes out. I can’t make a sound and my heart beats even faster.

“You done?”

I nod, but he doesn’t get off me.

“I highly doubt that.” He smiles and his sharp canines—which would give any vamp envy—gleam. “And you, little witchy, are why I’m here.”

I struggle to deny what he’s saying, and it only comes out as muffled noises.

“Your spell conjured me.”

My blood runs cold at his words. The love spell… Oh god, if he’s telling me the truth, then I’m going to get expelled. Forget magic weaving or even cleansing a home. My family will disown me, and I’ll be kicked out onto the streets. I swallow against my dry throat, feeling like I’m going to throw up. I’ll have to get a human job, like scraping up gum from sidewalks.

“You and I can help each other,” the demon continues, drawing a clawed finger down my arm, and I shudder. “In exchange for helping you with your magic and pretending to be your familiar, you will let me stay here and won’t tell anyone the truth about me. Deal?”

“Why,” I try to mouth, but my jaw is still locked.

“If you promise not to scream unless it’s in passion, I’ll remove the curse.”

Curse? I scream despite my bonds.

“I take that as a no?” He smirks and now I know where the term handsome devil comes from. His skin is bright red all over, except for his horns and hair. His glowing amber eyes bore into me so much that I squirm under his scrutiny.

“And if you call that idiot in charge of this school for any reason, I will kill you and everyone here.”

Mia and the professors. My chest squeezes and I nod frantically.

I tense, expecting him to kiss me lightly to remove the curse, but he merely taps my bottom lip with his thumb and that little movement sends heat pooling low in my belly.

My jaw loosens and I shove against his bare, broad chest. “Curse? You put a freaking curse on me?” The magic could linger for days afterward. What if the dean or one of the teachers spots it? God, I was so dead.

“Lower your voice, luv.”

“I told you not to call me that.” I grit my teeth and push against him as hard as I can. “Get off me.”

He bows his head slightly. His body moves like a predator as he slides off me and the bed. My gaze darts to the door, but in our struggle or from his power, it’s now closed.

Since I’m still laying on the bed and feel more exposed than if I was naked, I move into a sitting position, placing my back against the wall. “Wh-what do you get out of this arrangement, devil.”

There has to be a motive, right? I’m dealing with a demon here, and all they do is make deals. And I have to admit, I’m curious. Everything we’ve been taught about demons is that they are blood-thirsty monsters without reason or thought. That those who can speak are only liars. So, I’ll weigh everything he tells me and buy my time to escape or find a way to banish him—it. I shake my head. I can’t think of this demon as a person, as anything more than an empty shell of evil.

The demon rakes his hand through his hair. “Call me… Matthis.”

Clever. If it told me his full demon name that would be ammunition I could use against it.

“I’m listening.”

Matthis sits on the edge of my bed, and I can’t help but scoot farther away into the corner. Probably not the best place to be, but I can’t help the fear locking me down. I feel like I’m making constant mistakes around this being.

“I was held against my will until you freed me.”

“By whom?” The words slip out before I can stop them.

His crooked smile makes my heart race. What is this strange power he has over me? I shift on the bed, feigning only mild interest.

“Not anyone you need to worry about.” He hikes up a leg, draping his arm over it. “I need to be your familiar for an entire moon cycle.”

“No.” This is insane. I can’t have a demon as my familiar. I’ll get burned at the stake and worse, put into the textbooks for all eternity because of what a moron I was.

“You don’t understand what I can do for you.” He stands, and I swear he’s six foot six and carved in muscles.

My mind jumps to the fact that all he’s wearing is black leather pants that hug every inch of him. And I snap my attention back to his face and his eyes brighten. He crawls across the bed toward me, stalking me. I’m frozen in place like prey while my veins feel like they’re on fire.

“Tell me what you want.” His voice is a husky whisper, and a tiny whimper slips from my lips.

“Huh?” I managed to squeak out over my pounding heart.

“Whatever you desire, I can make your dreams come true.”

Oh. My. God. I think I’m melting.

I lick my lips and shake my head. I’m afraid to say anything because it might come out as, Take me now rather than I banish you to the lower levels of hell. Not that I can do that without certain items like an unused athame, white candles made from beeswax from only white flowers, and a handful of things I can’t recall right now with Matthias a breath from me.

“You don’t believe me, do you, little witch?” He smirks and looks me up and down. Before I can protest, he trails a claw down my comfy pajamas in the wake of his heated caress, and my pjs are transformed into a clingy, black negligee. “Much better. Though you’d be even better naked.”

There’s a wicked gleam in his eyes that I don’t want to push. Is this an incubus demon, which would explain why I’m practically drooling with him near me? “This only proves you have powers, not that you can help me.”

“I can teach you.” He presses his body closer to mine and my body craves his touch, to know what pleasure he can show me.

“Stop.” I push against his muscled chest that is so warm under my fingertips. “Everyone knows where demons’ magic comes from.”

“And I suppose you know all about my kind when you don’t even know who leads you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Is he talking about our savior, Apollyon? “He imprisoned all of you to this land and stands between evil and the rest of the world.” My greatest hope is to work as a magic weaver to help strengthen the bonds of the demons’ prison. I would get to see Apollyon in person. Is he as tall as his statue in the temple depicts? Maybe he would even take me under his wings and mentor me.

The demon laughs and the sound rolls through me like music I never want to end. “Is that what he told you all? He’s the biggest con I’ve ever met.”

I jerk away from him. “There’s nothing you can offer me, demon. Go back to wherever you came from.”

“Wish I could,” he clicks his tongue, “but you brought me here. So you’re my responsibility. What do you think your precious school will do if they discover their witch has summoned a demon?”

I sink onto the edge of the bed. He is right. The university will look at the fact I have a demon in my dorm room who claims to be my familiar and that would be it. I’d be stripped of my magic and thrown out of here faster than rumors could spread. My parents would disown me, and I would have nothing.

“You can’t stay here,” I choke out. “My roommate…” Though she had secrets of her own, didn’t she? A whole drawer full of black magic spells and knick-knacks.

“As your familiar, I can.” He beams. “And I can help you with your magic. What was the last thing you tried in this preppy school of yours? Pulling a rabbit from a hat?”

“No.” I stiffen, my gaze drifting to the botched love-crush spell I had tried to do. If I am going to trust this demon, I need him to help me pass my finals, not get tangled up in more love spell troubles. “I need a transmutation potion… one that turns the liquid into gold.”

“That’s all?”

I squirm under his scrutiny. “Yeah. Can you do it or not?”

“First, tell me what you did that screwed it up.”

“How do you know I messed it up?” I ask, my chin lifting. “It could’ve been old ingredients or a contaminated cauldron.”

“Right,” he drags the word out. “Give me the ingredients and a cauldron, and I’ll have it done in two minutes.”

But he makes no move to let me go from his presence or stare. I swallow hard and push against his chest. His tail flicks as he steps back. I squeeze past him, my room feeling much smaller with him in it than before.

“I don’t have everything here,” I say, my voice shaking. “I’ll have to go to the supply store.”

Matthis grabs my wrist and heat travels up my arm. I nearly swoon from the intensity in his amber eyes. “If you think of betraying me, I will kill you and everyone here. Is that understood?”

My heart freezes in my chest. “I-I… won’t.”

“On second thought, I’ll go with you.”

Before I can object, his hand on me is gone and in the demon’s place, is the wolf from before.

“Everyone will know you’re a wolf.” I almost said demon, and if anyone caught him with me, we’d both be dead.

“Nah,” he mind-speaks again. “Tell them I’m one of those husky dogs bred to look like a wolf. If you ask nicely, I may even do tricks.”

Heat curled in my lower belly and I wretch the door open. “Fine.”

We’re halfway down the hall when the bell rings. Students pour out of classrooms, heading for their dorm rooms. Vivienne and her groupies stop when they see me.

“You’re still here?” she asks. “Thought they would’ve thrown you out with the trash after your horrible display during the potions final today. Wait.” She waves her hand. “That smell… I guess you didn’t use enough soap to get the stink off you.”

Matthis growls and Vivienne gasps, jumping backward.

“What is that thing?”

“A dog,” I say as calmly as I can muster. If Vivienne suspects he’s not my familiar, she’ll be all too eager to have me gone. “My familiar, actually.” Pets aren’t allowed, but familiars are witches helpers and kinda like emotional support animals.

“Dog?” She scrunches up her nose. “The thing looks like a rabid wolf.”

Can’t say I disagree with her since I thought the same.

Matthis snaps his teeth at Vivienne and her friends. The bully shrieks, jumping back a foot. I wish I had my phone out so I could replay this video over and over again.

“He’s just bred to look menacing.” I rub his ears and he leans into my side. If he were a cat, I swear he’d be purring.

“Well, keep him on a leash.” Vivienne throws her dark hair over her shoulder and the quartet moves on down the hallway.

I let out a breath. “This is too risky. What if we run into a werewolf shifter? They’re going to know you’re not just a dog or even a wolf.”

“I will play alpha to them, and they’ll run away with their tails between their legs,” Matthis answers in my mind.

“Glad you can be so calm about all this.” My stomach twists in knots and we continue down the hallway.

“Amber?” Professor Blossom spots me in the dwindling crowd in the hallway. “I’m so sorry about what had happened.”

My throat tightens so hard my eyes water. “It’s my fault.” She’s going to see through the demon’s wolf-familiar disguise. Any second now, she’s going to scream and start chanting spells to bind us.

“If you want another chance, just use my lab over vacation and send me a photo. I can have my assistant check your potion and remove your failing grade for a better one.” She gives me a smile that twists my heart. “Keep on trying. I know you’ll come to your abilities soon.”

“Yeah, like blasting your familiar,” Matthis grumbles in my mind.

My breath squeezes out of me. “Thanks,” I say, ignoring Matthis comment.

“And who is this handsome fellow?” she asks, looking past me to Matthis.

“Uh… my familiar. He just showed up.” Oh god, was that even what animals did with their witches? I had no idea ’cause I never thought I’d have one since most got their familiars a year or two after puberty.

“He looks like he’s already bonded with you. That’s very good.” She squeezes my hand. “I have to run. I look forward to seeing you next semester.”

“I hope so,” I say under my breath and wave as she leaves.

We head to the supply store on campus, and I freeze. At least half a dozen shifters are smoking outside the building. What the hell are they doing here?

I know Matthis said he could handle them, but I don’t want to push my luck.

“C’mon.” I spin on my heel and walk away as fast as I can.

“You can’t change your mind about our deal.” Matthis keeps pace with me easily. “I can do any spell, make any potion you can think of.”

“It’s too crowded.” I try to think of an excuse he might buy and just blurt out, “Let’s use Professor Blossom’s classroom. She’ll have all the stuff there and no one will be around.”

Finals were over for everyone, and many were leaving to enjoy their winter break.

I powerwalk to the classroom and open the door. The lingering smell of my disaster still permeated the air.

“It smells awful in here,” Matthis mutters, back in his demon form.

“What if someone sees you?” I hiss as I shut the door, leaning against the tiny window in the wood.

“Oh?” He grins. “Can’t exactly do a potion with four paws and fur.”

I wave my hand at him. “And you can’t do it when drowning in holy water, either.” One look at him and they’d fry me alongside him.

“This better?” His skin turns to a golden tan while his tail and horns vanish. The amber in his eyes still is memorizing, but he looks human enough.

“Can you put on a shirt?” I look away, checking outside to see if anyone is lingering.

“You want a transmutation potion or not?”

“Yes. Fine.” I turn back to him, and find he’s dressed in a black silk shirt that makes him look like an exotic rock star more than a student.

He closes his brilliant eyes and items fly off the shelves to hover near him. “Get a cauldron ready.”

I leap forward, removing a medium-size one from the cabinet and set it before him. Magic ripples across my skin like spider webs, and I brush my hands up and down my arms.

There are so many items floating in the air that I don’t even know what half of them are. They drift forward, dumping out either a pinch or a spoonful of ingredients into the cauldron.

“Don’t show off too much.” I wrap my arms around my stomach. “They’re going to know it wasn’t me you make some super-special advanced shit.”

“Calm down.” He claps his hands and everything goes back onto the shelf. The cauldron bubbles like mine did before, but the brown instantly turns to gold.

“H-how did you do that?”

He opens his eyes and my breath catches. “Family secret. Do we have a deal or not?”

I jerk my gaze from his too handsome face. There’s something strange going on and it isn’t just that a demon wants to be my familiar. But hey, if this gets me out of having to study and be able to catch up with Mia and the others on the ski trip after a few days, I’m all for it. No way to I want to be stuck here for two and half weeks.

“Fine. You can be my familiar and help me do magic until I make up all my finals.” After that, I will banish his ass back to hell.