Free A Dangerous Demon King (The Sentinel Demons Book 4) by J. S. Scott

listening to Kristoff’s comment. “I’m fine,” she answered distractedly. “Why is he so reluctant if he knows I’m his destined mate?” She directed her question to Athena.
    Athena answered carefully. “He has his own secrets, and they aren’t mine to tell. But believe me when I say that he doesn’t believe he deserves anything good.”
    “When do I need to decide?”
    The goddess smiled. “As long as you can hold out against his attempts to seduce you. Eventually his nature will overcome his resistance.”
    The women spirited her away to the corner of the room, and Sophie continued to ask questions about the mating process and exactly how it worked. Kat, Athena and Talia shared some of their own experiences, and generally filled Sophie with as much information as she could absorb at one time.
    Finally, Sophie glanced at the bed and stared at the muscular form and gorgeous face of the man who was still under the sleep induced by the goddess. He was perfect. Kristoff was a king, a male made up of strength and power. Even though she understood how the mating of Sentinels worked, she still had a hard time believing she was his chosen radiant .
    Believe it. My darkness is already lighter. I may even forgive Athena if she gets me out of this damn sleep spell now.
    Sophie smiled as she turned to Athena. “He wants to wake up, and he’s getting cranky.”
    The goddess rose her arm gracefully, murmuring a few words in what sounded like an ancient language Sophie didn’t understand.
    Kristoff didn’t wake slowly. He bolted upright on the bed, his light blue eyes growing darker instantly as his gaze focused unwaveringly on her.
    His stare turned a brilliant amber, and Sophie turned her head without thought, trying to hide her face.
    “Never try to hide from me,” Kristoff growled as he appeared at her side. “Never try to shield yourself away from anyone. You’re beautiful, and your scars are part of your character. You’re brave and strong. Never shy away from who you are.”
    She turned in surprise, marveling at the powerful glow of his eyes, a light so strong it cast an amber tint to the entire room.
    Sophie knew the color of his eyes was a direct result of his desire for his mate. “I’m a disappointing mate, don’t you think?” Meeting his stare, she tilted her chin so he could see her, scars and all.
    He was right. Being fearful was no way to begin her relationship with him. If he rejected her physical appearance, so be it. But his words and his character gave her a courage like she’d never known. She had no need to hide from anyone. She might not always be comfortable in her own skin, but her scars were part of her past, part of her. People were either going to accept or reject her for something that was beyond her control. Honestly, those who judged her by her appearance weren’t the kind of friends she wanted anyway.
    He reached for her chin and tilted her head up even farther. “Never say you aren’t beautiful. I feel your light, I share your mind, and I know your soul.”
    Strangely enough, she believed him because she was starting to know him, too. She sensed his darkness, felt the pain of the centuries of isolation he’d endured. To be a king required a certain aloneness and separation. “You’ve been alone for a long time,” she murmured, the words leaving her lips uncensored.
    He nodded abruptly, knowing immediately what she meant by her observation. “I always have been.”
    “But you weren’t always a Sentinel,” she said, cocking her head as she observed his fierce expression.
    “Time for us to depart, I think,” Athena said abruptly.
    Kristoff looked at Athena, then his eyes drifted over the Winstons. “Everyone disobeyed me except for Athena. What do you have to say for yourselves? It was foolish to risk your lives just to save me. I’ll have an explanation before you go.”
    “It wasn’t just for you, although we would have risked everything to get you out of there. You