“Explain.”
“Do demons and vampires mix?”
He pulled his head back and the grin was gone. He considered me with those pale green eyes, as if trying to read the text inside my brain.
“Demons care not for vampires across the long dance of eternity we’ve shared.”
“Can you kill one?”
“Most.”
“Lavius?”
His eyes shot to the bite on my neck. From the heat in his gaze, and the dark expression, it seemed he was acquainted with the evil in question.
“With consequences, yes.”
“Consequences?”
“If I killed him, you would die, and I want you living, Delaney.”
“Why?”
“It would be so much more pleasant for me, and I am all about my own pleasure. I told you that.”
“Terrific. Look, can you break the tie between me and Lavius, then kill him?”
“That would be two favors, Delaney Reed. I have only offered one.”
“Delaney, say no. Don’t bargain with this being. You know he’s darkness. An end, not a beginning. Not even a weapon you should use.”
I gave dad a soft smile. “He’s the only weapon I have.”
Bathin made a happy little humming sound. “I live to serve.”
“Bullshit,” Dad said.
If he couldn’t bring Dad back to life, or kill Lavius, then there was only one other thing that I wanted, needed that badly.
“Can you find Ben Rossi and bring him back to Ordinary alive before midnight?”
Bathin’s nostrils widened, as did his pupils. “This. This you desire. You are in pain. I can taste it, oh. I can taste it.” He swallowed as if he’d suddenly shoved something succulent in his mouth. “Why have you misplaced that particular vampire?”
“My reasons are my own. If you can free my father’s soul and find Ben Rossi, and return him to us, alive, breathing, whole–every finger, toe, and scrap of flesh he currently possesses, including his soul and sanity before midnight tonight, I will give you my soul.”
“Delaney.” My name left Dad’s mouth in a hush that sounded like something heavy had struck his chest.
It made tears push at the back of my eyes.
Yes, I was frightened. Yes, I knew I was selling my soul to a thing of darkness. A thing that as Dad had said was an end, not a beginning.
I knew how stupid this was. How risky.
But I knew other things too. How much Jame loved Ben. How much Rossi loved Ben. How much it was my job, myresponsibilityto keep the people of my town safe. And that if I hadn’t been the one to directly cause Ben to be taken, that I was absolutely the one who could right now, right here, directly bring him back.
Safe.
Whole.
