I shouldn’t bethankfulthat he’d left me alone. His little stunt at the Mage Council tonight had proven that he could change his mind at any time. I felt Samael down the other end of our bond continually. My shields blocked me from most of it, but every minute of every day, I knew he was there, waiting me out.
If he wanted, Samael could order me to do anything he wanted. And like anyone bonded to a demon, I would be forced to obey.
Lia shoved her face against mine. I was hyperventilating, I realized. Panic ripped through my chest and my throat tightened. I sat up in bed and pulled Lia into my arms, stroking her tiny head.
For the past four weeks, I’d researched everything I could about how to kill high demons. I’d found nothing. The demon was playing with me right now. He may be interested in me as a woman, but he’d been alive for longer than I could comprehend. Sooner or later, he would become bored, and the orders would begin. I’d lose all free will and be nothing more than a puppet. I had to find a way to protect myself before that happened.
You don’t want to kill him.
I let out a shaky breath. I didn’t. I could admit that to myself now. But I neededsomething. I needed a way to protect myself, so Samael would know if he ever truly wielded that bond against me, he was dead.
When I was investigating the demon murders for Samael, the witches had placed a compulsion spell on a high demon, forcing him to attack me. I’d broken his arm and his neck, and he’d still been trying to kill me.
Samael had exploded his head with a wave of his hand.
How did I even go up against someone that powerful? Compared to the tornado of his power, mine was a gentle breeze on a summer’s day.
I forced my mind away from Samael. I had more than enough to focus on— problems I could actually solve.
I needed to check out Gary’s store. I lifted my phone closer to my face. Four am. Awesome. I wasn’t going to get any sleep tonight anyway, so I may as well get back to work.
I gently placed Lia on the bed next to me and sat fully up. I’d head to Gary’s and see if I could find anything helpful. Then, maybe I’d be able to sleep.
Ten minutes later, I was walking out to my car. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and froze.
“You can come out,” I muttered sourly. “I know Samael has someone watching me.”
Earlier, it was Vas. But he wasn’t usually stuck to me like glue. I think he’d happened to be in the area more than anything, and he’d promptly run back to Samael to tell him I was being taken in by the Mage Council.
A demon dropped down next to me. He was fast, and my heart thumped at his sudden movement.
“Who are you?”
“Inferus, ma’am.”
I stared at him. “Don’t call me ma’am.”
“Yes ma’am.”
I heaved a sigh. “How long have you been watching me?”
“Since the moment you left Samael’s tower four weeks ago, ma’am.”
“Call me Danica.”
The look on his face told me he wouldnotbe calling me such a thing. I growled. I missed Vas. If Samael had decided to temporarily stick someone with me, I would rather deal with the demon I knew and liked.
“Where’s Vas?”
“Away, ma’am.”
“Call me ma’am again,” I gave him a wide grin, complete with crazy eyes. “I dare you.”
Inferus took a single step back. I turned and strode to my car. The demon lifted into the sky, where he’d follow me. I didn’t bother calling Samael to complain. The demon would find it amusing, murmur something filthy which would make me picture him naked, and Inferus would still end up following me around until Samael decided to call him off.
The drive to Gary’s only took a few minutes. I parked around the corner and moseyed down Main Street. At this time of the morning, only a few cars were coming and going, and the few people walking down the street kept their heads down, minding their own business.
Gary’s block was intersected by Mangum Street to the west and Corcoran Street to the east. The guy in the cloak could’ve come from any direction. But some of the traffic lights at the intersections around here would have cameras. I needed to talk to Steve.
