The clerk swallowed nervously, his Adam's apple bobbing in the process. “Right, it's just… I really, really shouldn't, and… this will not make you any less pissed off, and I can't afford to have you trash my store, okay?”
Selma frowned. “So it isn't a sanctuary?”
“Yeah, yeah, it is.” Sweat shone on his temples, the glances he kept casting at Kain resembling a nervous twitch more and more.
“He won't harm you or your shop,” Selma said, casting a stern look at Kain. “I promise.”
Kain arched an eyebrow at her. How she thought it safe to presume he’d honor her promises, he didn’t know.
“It's protected by a goddess,” Fred whispered.
Kain’s snarl came unbidden from the depths of his chest. He fucking knew it! Some nosy bitch of a goddess was hiding away their precious Breeders, and here he was, prepared to voluntarily hand one over to an enemy!
Without turning her attention from Fred, Selma reached back to place a calming hand on Kain’s chest, anchoring his aggression with the light touch as easily as if she’d cast a spell. “A… A goddess? But why?”
“I don't know, honestly. I swear. I just know that she is the only one who will protect you from the demons, and I'm one of her Secret Keepers. My only job is to tell Breeders about this place if they find me. And keep it safe from them.” He made a vague gesture toward Kain.
“So you're a supernatural being, too?”
“Nah, man, I just owed her a debt. Fell in with the wrong crowd, was about to lose my goddamn soul, and she got me out of the pinch after I swore an oath to do this gig for her.”
“Lose… your soul?”
“Made a deal with a demon.” Fred shook his head. “I was young and stupid and wanted a new car.”
Kain put his hand on her shoulder, interrupting what was undoubtedly going to be more questions. “That's fascinating. Selma, we need to get moving before Lord Harisham shows up.”
Selma jolted at the reminder. “Yes, right. Thank you, Fred.”
The clerk nodded and gave her a half-wave, only offering Kain a grimace. “Good luck.”
The moment they exited the shop, a wholly familiar sense dug in between Kain’s shoulder-blades and he growled, jerking his head in the direction of the threat.
“What is it?” Selma pressed in against his side, an automatic reaction to his tension.
Kain wrapped his arm tighter around her shoulders and hurried her along the pavement in the direction of their parked car. “We're being watched.”
20
Selma
Selma blinked and looked over her shoulder as Kain whisked her down the street. In the shadows by a fruit stand, two men in honest-to-god trench coats and hats stood looking at them.
“Demons?”
“Yeah, and they're not acknowledging me. Come, little one. We need to get you out of here—now.”
“You think they're his employees? Lord Haris… something?”
“I'm not sure.” He didn’t elaborate, but they made it to the car without incident, where Kain opened the passenger side door and practically shoved her in.
“What do you mean, you're not sure?” she asked.
The second he'd slammed his own door, he started the engine and reversed so fast the tires squealed. He didn’t answer until they were out of the parking lot.
“I mean that they looked more professional than the average lackeys. They could be Lord Harisham's, or… they could be agents sent by your Procurer.”
An uncomfortable flutter made her stomach clench. “But it could just be the Lord's men?”
