Page 2 of Cuddly Demon

I gulp, feeling a bead of sweat run down my temple. "Can anyone else in the library see you?"

"Only you. You're the one who performed the summoning spell."

Onyx steps closer, his hand reaching out to stroke my cheek. I flinch away, but he catches my chin and forces me to look into his deep eyes. "I’m here to do your bidding. What is it that you desire?"

I try to gather my thoughts. Well, I'll be damned. I didn't actually expect this to work.

Now that Onyx is here, I can't let the opportunity pass me by.

"I want to finish these assignments quickly," I say, gesturing to the stack of textbooks in front of me. "I want to ace all my exams and become the top student in my class."

Onyx nods, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "Consider it done."

With a wave of his hand, the books in front of me glow with a soft azure light. The pages flutter and turn on their own, and my pen scribbles notes on its own accord. I watch in awe as the words and concepts become clear to me, as if the information has been directly implanted into my brain.

Within minutes, I finish all my assignments for the week, and I feel more knowledgeable than ever before. I look up at Onyx, who's still standing in front of me with a smug smile on his face.

"Is that all you desire?" he asks, his voice full of amusement.

I hesitate for a moment, but my curiosity gets the best of me. "Well, there's a new game I've been eyeing. It's out of my budget, but maybe you could make it magically appear for me."

Onyx rumbles something low, and before I can blink, the video game I've wanted for weeks is now in my hands. I can hardly believe it, but there it is, the packaging gleaming.

I look up, my eyes wide with wonder. "How did you do that?"

Onyx chuckles, his eyes twinkling. "I have my ways. But remember, everything comes with a price."

I frown, unsure of what he means. "What price?"

"My services aren’t free. Each favor I grant you requires something in return. My last master didn't like the price I gave him, and when I ordered him to pay up in a different way, he locked me in an Etruscan mausoleum called the Tomb of the Blue Demons."

"Your last master?"

"Whoever summons me is my master."

My heart sinks. "I'm sorry you were locked in a tomb. That's not very nice."

"I'm just glad you called upon me."

I turn my eyes toward Onyx's, and a hum of excitement thrums in my heart. Onyx is... captivating. His deep, sapphire eyes seem to hold a world of secrets, and his cuddly yet muscular body radiates power and strength. He clearly contains centuries of wisdom and experience. Despite his demonic nature, I feel safe with him. In his presence, it's as if nothing can harm me.

A sudden urge to touch him rises within me, and before I can think it through, my hand reaches out and brushes against his chest. It's warm to the touch, and a jolt of electricity runs through me.

Onyx's eyes darken, and his lips twist into a wicked smile. "Tell me what else you want."

My heart races, and I feel a flush creep up my neck. "I... I don't know."

Onyx steps closer, his hand reaching up to tuck a stray curl behind my ear. "Are you sure? Sometimes, humans summon demons for other reasons besides asking for help with their schoolwork. I'm from Hell, so my ability to fulfill all sorts of desires isn't constrained by twenty-first century standards of acceptability. Don't hold back."

His eyes gaze into mine, and the library seems to fade away. I feel as if I'm falling into an endless abyss, a hellish one adorned with blue embers that call out to me. All that matters is the demon before me.

"I think we should get to know each other a bit." I smile, my cheeks heating. "You seem amazing, and I bet you have fantastic experiences to share. I'd love to grab a bite to eat or read a book with you in my dorm room."

Onyx cups my cheek. My breath hitches, and my heart picks up its pace. "Consider it done."

In a flash, the library disappears, and we enter my dorm room.

Onyx