Shadrach clung to him like he was starving for him, and for the first time since he’d run, he didn’t feel pulled in two directions. A feeling of rightness settled in his marrow, his every sense filled with Shadrach and Shadrach only. It was a cruel twist of fate that he’d spent his life trying to be what the guild wanted only to find out it was a demon that made him feel alive.
Shadrach pulled away first, his hands cradling Isaac’s face firmly. “Come back to the Rink. Come back to me.”
Isaac gripped Shadrach’s wrists so tightly he felt the little bones grind together. “No, no, I can’t. I won’t go back into that cell.”
“No, not the cell. Fuck the cell. Come back tome. Leave the guild behind. Come live with me. I’ll make you happy, I swear. I can’t stand being this far away from you.”
“You barely know me.” It was too crazy to comprehend.They’d known each other for two days, and most of that time Shadrach was his warden. He couldn’t give up his whole world for a demon. He would be damning his soul to Hell. He felt the ghost of the whip against his back at the very thought.
“I know enough.” His teeth scraped against Isaac’s cheek, so reminiscent of the first time they met. “I know you’re mine. And I’m not giving you up.”
The world around them grew hazy, like a mist was creeping into the cemetery. Shadrach followed his gaze toward it and sighed.
“You’re waking up.”
His consciousness was fading, and everything was going fuzzy. His eyes unfocused, and he said, “I told them.”
“Told them what, killer?”
“Told them where it is.”
Shadrach’s face softened. “We’ll make do. Come back to me, okay? Come back to…”
Chapter 12
Isaac
Isaac woke,cold and alone. He drifted through the morning with a heaviness in his heart. His stomach turned at the thought of food, so he drew on a pair of workout shorts and a plain tank top. Maybe he could outrun his demons on the track.
On his way across the grounds, everyone who saw him greeted him and welcomed him back. He couldn’t do more than nod and smile halfheartedly. Some of these people had never spoken a single word to him before. He wondered how many of them had even bothered saying a prayer for him when they heard he was missing.
His mind was preoccupied with arms around his body, lips on his, and Shadrach’s melodic voice saying, “Come back to me.”
He didn’t sound evil. Nothing about the way he’d approached Isaac last night had seemed sinister. In fact, seeing him had been a relief. Like a knife had been removed from his ribs, and he could breathe for the first timesince he’d escaped. He’d been held captive and tortured. The relief should be that he washome. So why did it feel like he’d run the wrong direction?
When he reached the track, he stretched briefly and then fell into a brisk jog. He would run until he ached. Then maybe his mind would be clear.
It was an early morning, and he was the only one on the track. It wound around the property, through the trees and back. He sprinted for as long as he was able, shocked by his own stamina after everything his body had been through. But then he remembered the sweet taste of Shadrach’s black blood—and pushed himself even faster. It was the reason for his stamina, and though it had its benefits, it would also pose many problems if it didn’t wear off soon.
When the training yard came into sight once again, he slowed abruptly at the sight of Father Hawley standing near the edge of the track. Dread prickled through him. In jeans and a black dress shirt with a crisp white collar, he looked like he belonged at a small town congregation rather than a guild of demon hunters. He waved a hand at Isaac, and he knew there was no escape.
He brushed the strands that had come loose from his bun behind his ears as he slowed to a stop in front of him. “Father,” he greeted breathlessly. “What can I do for you?”
“We have a meeting today. Or did you forget?”
Isaac shook his head immediately. “No, sir, I didn’t forget. I was just hoping to get back into my normal routine today.”
“Oh, I don’t think anyone would mind if you took a day or two off to recover. It sounds like you’ve been through quite an… ordeal.” His muddy brown eyes raked down Isaac’s form and back up, and Isaac felt as though there was oil on his skin.
“Of course, Father. I’ll try to take it easy. What time would you like me to come by the church?”
Hawley pursed his thin lips together. “Come by at sunset. I think that’ll be for the best.”
An uncomfortable shiver went down his spine, and Isaac tried to play it off as the breeze hitting his sweat-soaked back. “Yes, Father. I’ll be there.”
Hawley hummed, his eyes lingering on Isaac as his body turned. It set Isaac’s teeth on edge, and he didn’t move until Hawley was out of sight.
Because he dreadedwhat would come later that evening, the day seemed to fly past far too quickly. When the sun hung low on the horizon, haloing the steeple, he reluctantly dragged himself from his apartment to walk across the grounds. He’d thrown a flannel shirt on over his hunter green T-shirt. He could never put his finger on why he preferred to have an extra layer over his body when he went for one-on-one meetings with Hawley, but the weight of the sleeves was comforting.
