I want to turn around, to head back to my tour bus and crawl into bed for the night, but I’m making sure this stubborn human gets to her hotel room, or wherever she’s headed, without getting herself hurt or killed.
For several minutes, neither of us says anything, which is fine by me. I’m already annoyed and don't feel like arguing.
“What did you say your name was?” I don’t really care what her name is, but I’m tired of not remembering.
“Does it matter?” she snaps. “You’d probably prefer to call me a bitch again.”
I suck my teeth. I guess I did do that, but it wasn’t unwarranted. “You can call me asshole to keep it even, then.”
A beat of silence, and then she groans. “It’s Joseline. Jos. Whatever.”
“I’m—”
She cuts me off. “An asshole?
I chuckle dryly. I guess I walked into that one.
More stuffy silence settles between us as we cross ata crosswalk. I have no idea where she’s leading me, and I’m not inclined to ask. It wouldn’t matter either way; she’s stuck with me until she reaches her destination.
“Thank you,” she says out of nowhere, and my steps nearly falter. Did she suddenly change her mind about me walking her to her hotel room? Is she thanking me for it? “For helping Niki.”
Oh. Of course.
Based on her lack of follow-up questions, she has to know how I helped her. I’m sure Niki or Sebastian explained afterward. Right?
Is she aware that she’s in the company of a demon? Or does she just not care? If she knows, why the hell is she acting so…normal?
Shouldn’t she be running away screaming? Telling me to get the fuck away from her?
My stomach tightens at the thought.
She’s speaking again before I realize it, her voice low. “Did giving her energy leave you weak?”
My head snaps in her direction. What a bizarre question. And she asked it as simply as if she was asking the time.
I stare at her through the holes of my mask, blinking.
“What?” she snaps.
“Of all the questions you could possibly ask, that’s the one you have?” I shake my head. She’s far too calm. Maybe she’s actually insane. Maybe she freaked out and screamed and cried when they explained it on the tour bus.
That has to be it…
There’s no way a human finding out about energy-sucking demons is this calm.
“I didn’t realize there was demon protocol, sorry.” She rolls her eyes and walks faster, attempting to put space between us.
“Shhh! Are you crazy?” I mutter, hurrying to match her pace. “You can’t just go throwing that word around. Surely, Sebastian warned you.”
She gestures widely to the empty street as her feet keep pounding the sidewalk. “You’re right. All these people could definitely overhear us. My bad.”
Anger sparks in my chest, flaring through me, and I grab her arm, spinning her around. With the momentum, she nearly slams into me. Her breath stutters as her eyes climb up to meet mine, and electricity zips through me.
“Hands off.” She shakes her arm out of my hold but doesn’t attempt to move, staring me down instead. Gods, she’s so full of wicked fire and incredible at pushing my buttons.
I hate her.
“I will not let you risk my freedom because of your carelessness,” I growl out, my voice low and gravelly. “And I cannot protect you if you insist on being so fucking combative. For everyone’s safety could youattemptto follow our rules?”
