It was an unassuming house, on the outskirts of the city with a yard that was filled with a blooming garden. Dimitri could tell that the house was old just from its structure and architecture, with fading blue paint on the front door.

Rose groaned as she tried to climb out of the car, the seat's leather stained red from her blood. "Fuck," she cursed as she panted from the pain, eyes tightly closed. Dimitri stood outside her door and slipped his arms under her legs and around her shoulders; she hissed in pain as he lifted her.

Dimitri pressed his lips to Rose's, knowing it was the only way he could truly help her. He could feel himself become light-headed, breaking the kiss to steady his footing as he marched up to the front door. It should be concerning that Rose was taking his strength, the feeling of exhaustion that lingered after the kiss would be more worrying if it weren't so fleeting.

"You have to be careful," she rasped. Some of the pain had left her face, though she was still so pale. "It can be dangerous if I take too much. I've probably already taken too much."

"We can worry about that later," he replied. Once they reached the door he kicked it so whoever was inside would let them in. "Who are these people?" he asked, a slight worry that they would be more demons.

The fact his mother was aware of demons still threw him, that she knew enough to know Rose was one and about how to hurt them. So many questions, and he felt that the answers would only bring more.

Rose pressed her hand to her shoulder with a wince. "They're friends."

The door opened and a man with black hair and piercing blue eyes stood in the doorway. His eyes flicked between them before settling on Rose and frowning. "Shit." He looked at Dimitri and waved him in, "Lissa is in the back."

Dimitri followed closely, his concern for Rose pushing all other emotions to the back of his mind. The house has a scent, like that of herbs; it reminded him of his grandmother.

Rose spoke as they walked, teeth clenched and her free hand gripped the front of Dimitri's shirt. "It's a silver bullet, and it's blessed. I can feel it moving to my heart."

"Why were you around demon hunters?"

"I'm not an idiot, Christian," she snapped. "I don't even know how she knew." Her eyes shifted to Dimitri, they were cold and still glowing red. "Why the fuck does your mother have those bullets?"

"I don't know," Dimitri defended. "I didn't even know she owned a gun. There must be a misunderstanding, my mother is never violent."

Rose scoffed, "Obviously she is, considering there's a bullet in my shoulder!" She gripped the back of his head and pulled Dimitri down into another searing kiss; when they broke apart Christian waved at the bed in the middle of the room.

"Lay her there," he instructed with raised brows at Dimitri. "Who are you anyway?"

"I'm…a friend," Dimitri replied quickly, glancing at Rose to see if she would deny it. He didn't know what they were. A challenge? An obsession? An itch to scratch?

All Dimitri knew was that there was a part of him that was completely devoted to Rose, and he had no idea why.

Christain laughed, "Rose doesn't have friends."

"Shut up, pyro. Where is Lissa?" Rose growled.

A woman rushed into the room, a tray of medical instruments in her hands. "I'm here," Lissa replied and went to Rose's injured side, forcing Dimitri to move away from the table. Her blonde hair pulled back into a high bun, and her keen green eyes inspected the wound. "Scissors."

Dimitri was unsure what to do at first when Lissa held her hand out. He glanced at the tray she brought in, picked up the pair of scissors and placed them in her hand. She turned and nodded her head in thanks, then paused and did a double-take.

"Oh. Hi. Who are you?"

"Later!" Rose hissed, "Get this shit out of me and then you can chat!"

Lissa winced and focused back on Rose's shoulder. She quickly cut Rose's sleeve and bra strap; she continued to ask for tools, and Dimitri handed them to her. The skin had discoloured around the entrance wound, black veins spider webbing out across her chest.

"How does a bullet do that?" Dimitri asked aloud, brows drawn together in confusion.

"The combination of the blessing and the silver," Lissa replied as she worked. She cut the entrance wound and then took a long pair of forceps. "It works like an infection, it will continue to spread until it reaches the heart, and she won't be able to heal anymore. So you have to remove it."

Rose's hands clasped both sides of the bed, knuckles white, and her face screwed up in pain. Without thinking, Dimitri's hand rested on her forehead, brushing back her hair. She released a long breath, the pain receding a little as her body took from his touch.

She had never felt so much from just a person's touch, not since her demon side first presented when she was sixteen. If she wasn't in so much pain, she would have moved away from him; Rose didn't trust him, and she didn't trust the feelings he caused to rise.

"Almost got it," Lissa promised when Rose cried out from the pain.

"I can feel you digging around in there," Rose complained.

"It moved."

Rose scoffed. "Of course, it has. I hate being shot."

"How many times have you been shot?" Dimitri questioned.

Christian hummed, counting on his fingers, "There was the time in Denver. Twice in Salt Lake City. San Diago–"

"That was just a graze. It doesn't count," Rose defended and then cursed. "Dimitri, kiss me."

Dimitri flushed, glancing at the others. His lack of experience made him nervous about any displays of affection in front of people, especially ones he didn't know; but when Rose groaned from the pain again, he dipped his head down to press his lips to hers.

It was at an awkward angle, but Rose took what she could, desperate enough to take more than she usually would.

"I got it!" Lissa cheered as Dimitri broke from the kiss; he stumbled back until Christian steadied him.

He threw a glare at Rose, "Try not to kill humans in our house. I don't want to deal with the cleaners."

Rose didn't reply, eyes closed as she breathed deeply. Lissa had removed the bullet and her body could heal again; the energy she took from Dimitri helped. Slowly, the wound began to heal; the infection was still in her body, but it was slowly fading.

Lissa took a cloth and began to clean up some of the blood, and then taped a bandage to keep it clean. "You should take him to rest," she directed at Christian as Dimitri swayed. Once the two men were out of the room, Lissa moved closer to Rose with wide eyes, "Who is that guy, and how did you get shot?"

"That is the guy I was hooking up with," Rose replied as she pushed herself up to sit, wincing from the pain. "And his mother was the one that shot me."

Lissa smirked, "Well, that's one way to meet the parents."

"Shut up." Rose took a deep breath, then glanced at the hallway. "You should probably check on him. After the last two times I was with him, I might have taken too much."

"Two times? How long have you known him?"

"A couple of weeks, but the first time I fed off him was three days ago."

Lissa's eyes widened, "Rose! That's dangerous!"

"I know. That's why I'm asking you to check on him!"

They stared at each other for a moment before Lissa relented. "Fine, but you are lucky he isn't already dead. I saw how much you took just kissing him."

Rose nodded, lip caught between her teeth. "I know. I'm surprised too. I don't know how he's still standing, especially after the first time, but he can withstand it."

"That's strange for a human," Lissa mused.

"I know." On shaky legs, she stood from the bed and headed in the opposite direction of where Dimitri was, "I'm going to the spare room. Let me know if he's dead."

"Please don't get blood all over the sheets."

"How are you feeling?"

Rose rolled over to see Dimitri in the doorway, his hands in his pockets. He was in a new shirt, no longer covered in her blood. She shrugged at him in response; though the bullet was out she still needed time to heal and gain back her strength. "I'm surprised you are still here," she told him, a rueful smile on her lips.

"Did you want me to leave?" he asked. Rose turned to look at him again, and carefully lifted herself to sit up.

"I haven't decided yet."

Dimitri took a step into the room, coming to stand beside the bed. "Is there anything I can do?"

Slowly, her eyes moved up his body until their eyes met. "What did Lissa say about you?"

"She said I was fine."

"Lay with me," Rose told him. If there was something to worry about, Lissa would have said so. But even the fact that he was up and walking around proved he was different; something she could worry about later.

Dimitri slipped off his shoes and laid beside Rose; she had removed her destroyed clothes and taken one of Lissa's shirts. He noticed that when she moved the shirt rode up and revealed her bare hip. He wasn't surprised when Rose pressed up against his side, her hand slipping under his shirt.

"Do you want to help me?" Rose asked; words whispered beside his ear, followed by lips trailing kisses down his jaw.

"Yes."

Rose grinned, and dropped her hands to the waist of his pants, "Good. You still owe me for this morning." Despite her pain, Rose was quick to undo his belt and button, pushing the material down his thighs. Dimitri was shocked, eyes flicking to the open door, but Rose gripped his chin with her hand and made him look at her. "Only look at me."

Dimitri swallowed thickly and nodded. He lifted his hips when she pulled at the waistband of his underwear. His hands gripped her hips when she threw a leg over him and settled over his hardening cock. It shouldn't be so easy for him to get hard for her, after having her bleeding in his arms only an hour ago; yet when her bare skin pressed to his, he was lost to the sensation.

Rose grinded against him, rolling her hips to rub over him, slow drags between her folds until the tip of his cock caught. A sigh left Rose's lips as he entered her, stretching with each inch until she was seated in his lap. "Damn, you feel good," she moaned. Every touch between them was charged, like a static between them. It was addictive.

Their eyes met; as promised, his eyes never left hers even as they started to glow. Dimitri's hands remained on her hips and helped guide her as Rose began to move. She was never one to go slow; most times when she had sex, it was rushed and charged by lust and passion. It was how she liked it. Yet, now she was having to move at a leisurely pace, feeling each inch as she rode him.

"Keep looking at me," she instructed. Her hand moved to his neck, fingers resting around his throat; Dimitri's fingers dug into her skin as hers tightened. "Look only at me, Dimitri."

Pleasure shined in his eyes, barely blinking as they fucked. He couldn't pull his eyes away from her even if he wanted to, Rose was consuming his entire being and he was willing to fall to his knees for her.

She could feel it, her strength returning as she absorbed his energy, riding high off the pleasure shared between them. Her hand didn't move from his neck, using the leverage; her thighs burned from the constant motion, but she loved the power it gave her to be on top. To have a man with the strength and size of Dimitri completely at her will was intoxicating, and how happy he was to let her.

Rose knew Dimitri was close from how his body tensed, and his laboured breath, and doubled her efforts. The more pleasure he felt, the more it healed Rose. "Are you going to come inside me?" she breathed, eyes pinning him in place.

She felt him swallowing under her palm. Dimitri squeezed her hips and pulled her down onto him, making them both moan.

"Say please, Dimitri."

"Please, Roza."

A grin pulled at her lips, her head tilting to the side as she dropped her hips, grinding against him. "And what would you do if I said no? Would you beg me?" She lowered her mouth until her lips were barely touching his, "Or would you beg your God?"

His lips parted, indecision flicking across his eyes for a moment. "You," he replied softly, "I would beg you."

"Good."

Rose pulled back and then rose on her thighs and dropped down, over and over, feeling him hitting deep inside her with each plunge of his cock. Dimitri could only hold on to her, his chest rising and falling quickly as he grew closer. Every thrust felt amazing, the way her body clamped around him and became tighter. When her hand tightened on his throat again, he felt a rush go through him, the danger of allowing her so much control.

He knew if she wanted, she could hurt him, but the risk of it gave him a high he never expected.

"Rose," he pleaded, on the edge of completion.

She grinned at him in satisfaction. He was learning. "Come for me, Dimitri."

It was all he needed, his body locked up as he thrust deep inside her. His cocked twitched as he came, eyes rolling back even as he tried to keep them on Rose. Watching how her eyes glowed, her expression morphing with pure satisfaction and pleasure as she fed off his orgasm. Rose fell over the edge after him, pushed by the endorphins that rushed through her system.

Slowly, they both came down from their highs, chests rising as they caught their breaths. The pain in Rose's shoulder had receded, and the discolouration was almost completely gone.

Rose leaned down and caught his lips in a deep kiss, and drew back with a sigh. "You never fail to deliver," she praised. "It's amazing to think you were keeping all of this to yourself." Her nails dragged down his chest, no longer holding his throat.

Dimitri shifted to rise on his elbows, though Rose remained on his lap; he didn't want her to move yet. "I guess I never had a good enough reason until I met you."

A blush spread over her cheeks, her eyes dropping to his chest. "I should shower."

"Would you like company?"

Rose bit her lip. They couldn't get up to anything fun in the shower, especially considering she just fed from him, but the idea of having him naked, wet, and pressed against her was enticing.

But it also worried her about how attracted to him she had become.

"Maybe you should rest?" She offered, but Dimitri shook his head.

"I'm fine. I just want to make sure you're okay considering it was my mother that did this to you."

He was earnest, and it threw Rose more. "How does she know about demons? You didn't know until I told you, right?"

"I didn't. I have no idea how she knows."

"If I stay around you and she tries to kill me again–"

Dimitri surged up, cutting her off as his arms wrapped around her waist, "She won't. I promise."

She eyed him, deciding what to do. "If she tries again, I won't let it go," Rose promised. She hated killing, but she knew that if it came down to her life or theirs, she wouldn't hesitate. "If you want to hang around knowing that, then you can join me in the shower. If not, then I suggest you use this chance to leave."

It was better if she gave him an out, that way he knew the risks before things became more complicated between them. Despite all of her worries, Rose knew that she would keep coming back to Dimitri as long as he was willing to accept her. She was just as caught in the emotions between them as he was.

She cocked her head to the side, trying to keep her expression blank as she asked, "So what will it be?"

Rose stared at her reflection, fingertips brushing over where the bullet had hit. She grimaced at the memory of the pain and then blushed when she thought of how Dimitri had taken that pain away—how much she had enjoyed it.

The brush of a hand on her shoulder made her jump. She looked behind her at Dimitri.

He had stayed.

Rose didn't know if that made her happy or not. She could feel herself becoming tethered to the human; drawn back each time because of how amazing it felt when they were together. Even just showering together had felt too domestic and like a relationship. And she loved every moment.

"How are you?" Dimitri asked as his own hand brushed the wound. He was surprised by how fast she healed, an ability that was unnatural to his eyes. It was proof that he wasn't in his own world anymore. He couldn't pretend anymore that he didn't share a world with demons—with Rose.

Rose peered up at him as her hand trailed down his defined chest. "I'm better. Another day or two, and I'll be good as new." Another feed would heal most of it, but to take from him again so soon would be dangerous. "We should get out of here," she began, crossing back to the bed where Dimitri's clothes were discarded, and a new set had been laid out for her.

"What's the rush?" Dimitri questioned but proceeded to dress. Rose watched him from the corner of her eye, just as he did her.

She knew the attraction between them was dangerous.

"I don't come over this side of the city often," she explained, forcing herself to take her eyes off him and put some distance between them.

"Why?"

"Because." She could feel Dimitri's eyes, knowing he was waiting for more. Rose sighed, "It's kind of like with human gangs—demons have territories. I want to get out of here before they realise I'm in their territory."

Dimitri's eyes widened, and a burst of panic shot through him. "Will they hurt you?"

A wry smile pulled at her lips, "No. But I much rather leave before–"

They both froze as a loud knock echoed through the house.

"Fuck," Rose cursed and hurried to dress.

Footsteps moved through the house, and Rose knew she didn't have much time. Christian and Lissa couldn't keep them out, and the chance to escape was gone. She reached for Dimitri and pulled his face down to hers.

"Listen to me. Don't speak to them, and try not to look them in the eye. Also, I'm sorry about this," she apologised. Before Dimitri could ask for more information, Rose pushed his hair back and pulled his head to the side. Her lips latched onto the exposed skin, sucking at it until Dimitri gasped, and then, she bit him.

Dimitri jolted back in surprise; his hand covered the bite and checked if he was bleeding. He swayed as a wave of dizziness washed over him. "What did…"

Rose caught him as his knees gave out and guided him to the bed, watching closely as he blinked. Lissa was going to kill her, but she had no choice. "It'll wear off in a second," she promised. "Just remember what I said."

The door behind them opened; Rose didn't have to turn to know who it was. She could feel his presence and felt his eyes boring into the back of her neck.

The man sighed. "She's back here." He paused and inhaled deeply before he cursed. "Fuck, Rose. Do you have a human?"

Rose looked over her shoulder at Mason, watched as he marched up to them and glared at Dimitri before directing a look of fury at her.

"What the fuck is this!"

"None of your business!" she snapped. Though she had done it as a precaution, she tried to hide the bite on Dimitri's neck; instead, she touched it, and Dimitri made a noise crossed between a sigh and a moan.

Mason's eyes narrowed, and he gripped her arm, yanking her away from Dimitri. "You claimed him!"

Rose pushed Mason away and cradled Dimitri's cheek in her hand, "Just until I'm done with him." Her voice was sultry, putting on a show. If they believed Dimitri was just her current snack they wouldn't ask too many questions.

It wasn't hard for Dimitri to pretend, the effects of the bite made desire fill his eyes when they met hers. She knew he was confused, but was aware enough to not ask.

A low hiss sounded from Mason, eyes glowing yellow for a moment. "He's waiting for you."

Dimitri eyed the redhead, but Rose gripped his chin to draw his focus back to her, a look warning in her eyes. She wasn't strong enough to fight off Mason if he felt challenged. With an arm under his, Rose pulled Dimitri to his feet and guided him out of the room. She held him close, fingers digging into his arm.

Her eyes kept straying to him as dread settled in the pit of her stomach with each step closer to the living room. Rose had never bitten a human before, she hated the blind devotion it would create, but she hoped that she had been able to limit how much it affected Dimitri.

When a succubus bites a human, they would pour their power into the bite and have control of the human, keeping the human devoted. But Rose had barely put any into it, yet still, Dimitri wore that dazed look.

Lissa and Christian sat on their couch, huddled together and hands clasped. Lissa's eyes met Rose's and then narrowed on Dimitri; a look of surprise and concern crossed her face. When Lissa looked back to the middle of the room, Rose knew she would have to play it smart.

Rose pulled on an expression of indifference, hiding the pain and worries, then marched into the room. A man stood in the middle, his back to her, but she didn't need to see his face to recognise him. Everyone knew the snake.

She knew him as her father.

Abe spun on his heel and greeted his daughter with a smirk. "You come to visit, and you don't even call?"

"I was just passing through," Rose lied. She tried to push Dimitri towards Lissa, a hope to keep Zmey's attention from him, but Mason was determined to do otherwise.

Though Dimitri looked bigger and stronger than Mason, he still stumbled forward when pushed by the redhead; only Rose taking his arm stopped him from losing balance.

"She brought this one too," Mason sneered, anger and jealousy aimed at Dimitri.

He tried to keep his eyes down, and shivers of fear ran down his spine. When Rose's eyes turned red, he wasn't afraid, but these men were different. The one in the middle of the room briefly glanced at Dimitri before he looked back at Rose. It was plain to tell that there was history between them, but Dimitri didn't know what.

"A human pet, Rose?" Abe asked with a laugh.

"She claimed him," Mason revealed, and Abe's expression dropped.

"You claimed a human? That is surprising. And dangerous."

Rose rolled her eyes, "It's none of your business, old man. I only came here to see Lissa, and now that I have, I'm leaving." She tried to push past but held his cane up and halted their escape.

"What my daughter does is my business." Abe's eyes settled on Dimitri, his gaze piercing. "Why did you bring a human here?"

"I was visiting Lissa."

Sharp eyes snapped to hers. "Don't lie to me. I can smell the blood."

Panic rose in her chest, but she squashed it down, meeting the dangerous glare of her father. "Like I said, it isn't your business."

"You made it my business the moment you crossed the river." He took a step closer, "You should drop this grudge you have, Rosemarie. Soon you will need to accept who you are and stop living in the human world. You will need my help, don't make an enemy of me."

Anger flared; her hands balled into fists so tight her nails cut into her palm. "I stopped needing your help when you got my mother killed."

"That wasn't my fault." A dark aura filled the room, and it sent chills down Dimitri's spine.

Rose scoffed. "Keep telling yourself that, Zmey."

Abe's jaw clenched. His attention moved to Dimitri again, studying him. "Try to not kill him, Rose. I would hate to call in the cleaners." After a moment, he took a step back. "I shall be in touch."

With a nod, Abe left the room, and with him, the others followed. Mason was the last to leave, eyes shifting between Rose and Dimitri. He stood in front of Rose and dipped his head so she had to look him in the eyes. "When you get bored of the human, call me," he told her and snaked an arm around her waist; his lips met hers in a passionate kiss.

It was so unlike kissing Dimitri.

Rose had kissed Mason before and done so much more with him. Yet since Dimitri, it didn't hold as much passion for her. When Mason broke away, she felt awkward, well aware of the brown eyes on her.

Mason left with a grin on his face, and the room became silent.

"I really hate when your family visits, Rose," Christian drawled, rising from the couch with a scowl.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realise he would notice so soon," she apologised.

Dimitri looked at the floor. When Rose offered him the chance to leave and pretend that nothing had happened, he felt determined to stay. But now… The aura that had filled the room wasn't just anger, it was power—an evil power. It never struck him as Rose being evil, she didn't share that aura, and neither had Lissa or Christian. But the man that he called Rose his daughter was.

Yet, when he would look back at Rose, any second-guessing fell away, and he felt drawn to her again.

"You need to get him home, Rose," Lissa pushed; they shared a look, and Rose winced. She almost appeared guilty.

Rose's fingers intertwined with his; the gesture was tender and made Dimitri's heart beat faster. "Come on," she encouraged, "I'll drive you home."

Her other hand lifted to his neck, barely grazing the bite, but he could feel her warmth.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "It won't be for long."