And, oh, the look he gave her.
“You have my attention,” I said, dragging his back to me. I did not need a pissed off Valkyrie in my station. “What?”
“Is he going with you?”
I frowned. “Who?”
“The demon.”
“Where else would I go?” Bathin taunted. “I own her soul, and I find her interesting. We’re tied at the hip, Ryder Bailey, and will be for years and years and years. I’m quiet enjoying the sensation of knowing your woman so intimately.”
Oh, shit.
Ryder did two things simultaneously. He pushed me to one side and punched Bathin in the face.
“Whoa!” Hatter yelled, rushing forward.
I was rushing forward too, grabbing Ryder’s arm and pulling him back before he could settle in and pound the salt out of Bathin.
Not because I was friends with the demon. Because I wasn’t sure what the demon would do to Ryder.
“Back off!” I forced Ryder out the door, which was no easy thing, then spun on Bathin who had been surprised enough by the hit to the face that he’d lost his footing.
“You will not retaliate. This is your fault. You pushed him. You were trying to make him angry. Well, congratulations, asshole, you did it. If you touch him, if you hurt him, I will find out just how deep this tie between us runs and I will make you pay.”
His eyes flashed red. For a second, I could see the ghostly after-image of horns curling toward his shoulders and fire licking across his skin. In a blink, that vision was gone and he appeared to be just a guy in business casual kneeling on the floor of a police station lobby, with hatred in every line of his body.
I heard the engine to Ryder’s truck growl to life as he gunned it out of the parking lot.
Great. He’d cut and run before I could call him on this.
“Isn’t that what you wanted, Delaney?” Bathin practically purred. “You told him you needed time to think. You told him you don’t want to be with him. You want space. And now you have your wish. You’re welcome.”
“I hate you.” I knew it was true. Even if I couldn’t feel it. I knew I hated him.
He rose fluidly to his feet, gaze locked on me. He closed the distance and stared down.
“No. You don’t.” His words were hot against my skin and I felt like I was frozen, caught
in a blizzard, and he was a fire beckoning, burning brightly.
He leaned in slow, smooth, fitting us together even though we weren’t even touching.
I wanted to move. I needed to move. I didn’t want him any closer. Didn’t want him this close to me.
“You know I’m a necessary evil. Everyone loves a man with a little evil in his soul.” He pushed forward, and I shoved his chest and backed up fast. Thought I’d hit the door, but the door was open.
Because he’d pushed it open when he was crowding me.
He deftly took my shove like it was nothing, and from the rock-hard feel of his muscles, it probablywasnothing, and stood to one side, a parody of manners, holding the door open for me and Bertie.
“Ladies.”
Well, the one good thing about not being able to feel any emotion was that I didn’t blush at the fool I’d just made of myself.
I wanted to hit him until my hands were broken. Instead, I turned around and walked out that door, the Valkyrie on my heels.
Chapter 13
