“She might not be bound to him, but she was still his Shadow Girl.”

“I don’t believe it! You’re still interested in the girl, despite the fact that she might be some kind of alien. Does this sickness of yours have any bounds?”

“Coco, however, courted consequence; she was still a girl, and she still assumed a connection between what she was doing and what she wanted and what might result.”

“...the girl's lover was gone, but his shadow was still there.”

“She leaned forward. He thought she might kiss him, but she simply touched her forehead to his. "You have a very nice cock, Sir.""Don't harsh the mellow, girl.”

“Ara?"She jerked her face up. "Huh? Where were we?"But his expression had grown serious, the lesson forgotten. He interlaced his fingers and said, "We are bound.""Bound?"He collected a piece of rope, knotting it."Oh, you mean bound?"He gave a nod, then drew in the sand.An infinity symbol? "Clever demon, how did you know that...?"He was gazing at her with a question in his eyes."Bound forever?" And somehow she met his gaze and lied, "Yes, demon. Bound forever."As if to make her feel guiltier, he gathered her into his arms, cupping her face against his broad chest. His voice a deep rumble, he said, "Carrow is Malkom's."She wanted to sob."Yes?""Yes," she answered, wishing that it could be so simple between them. Demon meets girl. Girl might be falling for demon.”