Guess we knew what was causing it now.
That realization wasn’t comforting.How the hell were we supposed to defeat the devil?
“I will bring this house down around your ears if you do not come out here and talk to me, young lady.”His voice amplified like he was using a microphone.
Oh shit!I lifted a single, shaky finger.“Be right back.”And then I bolted after Daruka.
I caught up to her on the back porch.
“I know, I know,” she said before I could even open my mouth.“I need to get out there before he hurts anyone, but I’d rather do it on my own terms.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“I’m making it up as I go along.”
“How about giving me the gist?”
Her gaze darted to the west, to the east, and back west again.“Lure him back to the hellmouth.That has to be how he was able to get into town.”
“Agreed.”
“And somehow figure out how to get him and all of his minions—except you and I, of course—back to Hell.”
I waited, in case there was more.As far as plans went, it was a pretty flimsy one so far.
“And then I’ll run back to my car and hightail it out of town.”
There it was.I shook my head.“No.Come up with a better plan.”
She ground her teeth and shot me a frustrated glare.“We don’t have time to argue over this.My being here puts every single resident in danger.Even if I can convince him to return to Hell, now that he knows my location, he’ll keep coming back.He won’t relent until I go with him.So either I go to Hell or I go…someplace else.”She shook her head.“My mother said this was the safest place for me.That he’d never find me here.I can’t believe a stupid post on social media gave me away.”
“Sorry,” Krishna muttered, gaze downcast.If he’d been in wolf form, his tail would have been tucked between his legs.I hadn’t even realized the young werewolf followed me, although I wasn’t the least bit surprised.
“Maybe set your social media posts to private,” I suggested before refocusing on Daruka.
She was losing her cool, and fast.I needed to distract her, help her find her balance again.And I could not let her leave me.
I dropped my hands onto her shoulders, gave them a squeeze.“Daruka, I need you to understand that what I feel for you, it’s not just sex.It’s?—”
“Seriously, Asmoday?Right now?You want to have a heart-to-heart while the freaking devil is trying to destroy the life you built for yourself?”She narrowed her eyes.“Yeah, I see you.You’re hiding, too, but you’re happy.And your family isn’t going to destroy the town to get to you.”
My family wouldn’t even leave the elfin forest to search for me, but that was a point for another day.
“I just want to tell you that I’m in it for the long haul,” I hurried to say.“Whatever happens.If you need to take over Hell, I’m going with you.”
“I’m not taking over Hell.That’s not in the cards for me.”She pulled out of my grip and strode to the edge of the patio.“You don’t think you belong in the elfin forest?Well, I sure as heck don’t belong in Hell.Why do our fathers insist upon forcing their own ideals onto us?Why can’t we just live our own lives?”
I stepped up behind her and smoothed my palm up her spine to cup her neck.“I lo?—”
She spun around and slapped her hand over my mouth.“Do not say it.”
I licked her palm.She jerked it away, scowling.“Gross.”
“Fine, I won’t say it.Not right now, anyway.But you’re not getting rid of me, Daruka.I hate to break it to you, but if you run away without me, I will come after you even if that puts me right in Satan’s path.”
“He’ll kill you.”Her eyes widened.“He wouldn’t even hesitate.”
“Then I suggest you not leave me behind.”
