“I’m siding with Cutter,” Marcus said. “And I’m the one who spent a cross-country drive with the kid.”
“Arrogance can be an asset,” Eric said. “Especially if he gets taken down a peg. Might make him fight harder to get back on top.”
“Did he get taken down a peg today?” Marcus asked. “Because arrogant or not, he held the line. Not bad for a first day.”
“Can’t argue with that,” I said.
“Eh, the whole batch seems okay,” Eddie said. “But none of them’s got what our girl has.”
“That’s true enough,” Cutter said. “I’ve been training her for years, and I don’t have a clue where she picked up some of those moves. I mean, other than from you, Eric, and I’m still not sure how that worked.”
“You and me both,” Eric said. “But I’m proof that it did. Or Allie is.”
“Poor kid,” Marcus says.
Eddie shook his head. “No. That kid’s special. She’s got a gift. And she can handle it. Poor Allie? Not hardly. Poor demons sounds a lot more likely.”
I reached out and squeezed Eddie’s hand. “Exactly,” I said to him. Then I looked at each of them in turn. “Did anybody notice anything about her?” I asked.
“Notice?” Cutter frowned. “You mean her moves. I already told you I was amazed how advanced she’s gotten.”
“No. Not that. Did you notice how the demons were with her?”
For a moment, they were all silent. Then Eric nodded. “I did. I hoped I was wrong.”
“You weren’t,” I told him.
“What?” Laura asked.
“The demons weren’t attacking her,” I said.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course they—oh.”
“Damn,” Cutter said. “You’re right.”
“And Allie? Did our girl realize she was getting the royal treatment?” Eddie’s scowl was severe. I couldn’t blame him.
“That’s the million dollar question,” Eric said.
I shook my head. “No, the million dollar question is why. Why on earth would they leave her alone?”
I met Eric’s eyes, terrified of what this meant. “It’s not that they’re scared of her.”
“No,” Eric agreed. “It’s not.”
I closed my eyes and drew a breath. “It’s because of what she is. Of what she can do.”
“Lilith,” Laura said. “You’re talking about her hosting Lilith.”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Eric said. “But they must want her for something. Why else keep her alive? Why else not even try to take her out?”
I leaned against Eric, feeling suddenly cold. Laura’s eyes met mine, hers full of sympathy. “It’s never going to end, is it? Her being what she is? Standing out? Being talked about?”
No one answered. I didn’t expect them to. It wasn’t really a question, after all.
“Well, there is one good thing,” Eric said.
I tilted my head to look at him. “Yeah?”
