I trace her features mentally, my eyes falling to her plump lips that press into a firm line. Her curvaceous body is attractive, there’s no doubt about that, but what I admire even more is the fire in her eyes as she attempts to stare into my soul. Any other woman would havecrumbled by now, but she’s impossibly steadfast and hopelessly stubborn.
Fucking trouble, that’s what she is.
“I’m sorry,” she says, her expression unwavering.
“Again.”
She hesitates, her gaze only intensifying. “I’m. Sorry.”
I chuckle, amused, and reach up to nudge her chin with my knuckle. “Good girl.”
“Fuck you.”
She whirls around and keeps walking, her hips swaying with every step, and a smirk lifts the corner of my mouth. Again, I follow along behind her.
We cross the street again and make a right without a word, and I’m almost convinced we’re going to walk the rest of the way in silence, but she speaks up again. “You never answered.”
It takes me a few seconds to remember what the question was. I don’t particularly want to get into the logistics of demon magic out here, but I figure it can’t hurt to answer. “Yes, giving someone energy weakens us.”
“Why did you do it then?”
“Why did I save her?” I jump in front of her to stop her again, ignoring her huff that follows. “Would you rather I let her die?”
“Of course not!” She raises her voice, and heat stirs in my chest. I hate how much I enjoy getting under her skin. “But you could have. How does saving her benefit you?”
“I care about Sebastian,” I snap. “We’re as close astwo… people… can be in this situation. I’d do anything for him, including saving his mate, so that’s what I did.”
Her next words are like a lightning bolt to my system. “But aren’t you just prolonging the inevitable?”
“I’m pretty sure you already know the answer to that.” My voice drops again. “I’ll do anything in my power to help her, but I can’t promise it’ll be enough.”
She nods slowly, absorbing my words. “I’ve always been there for her. I’ll do anything to help her, anything for this baby, but in this… I’m powerless. I have to trust that you and Sebastian will do everything you can to save her, even if it winds up not being enough.”
Anxious energy blooms off her, wrapping around me, drawing me in, but I try to ignore it. It’s the first crack I’ve seen in the strong, confident energy she normally exudes.
“I said I’ll do everything I can, and I mean that,” I say slowly, emphasizing each of my words. “You have my word.”
She chuckles dryly. “Forgive me for not trusting you exactly.”
I move so close to her that her chest bumps mine, and the smell of her floral body spray tickles my nose.
“I’m far from a good man,” I say, keeping my voice low as I stare down into her dark brown eyes. They’re nearly black in the dim light. Even though she's never seen my face, I've never felt more exposed, and I fucking hate it, but I’m here now. I might as well say what’s on my mind. “Demon words are binding, which you’ll find out if you stick around. I will protect your friend any way I can.”
The tension that swells between us is thick enough to slice with my claws, and it gets harder to stuff air into my lungs. The way she’s staring at me, like she’s tearing me apart, analyzing the contents of my damned soul, makes me want to turn and walk away. To put distance between us.
But all I can do is stand here, sharing the same breath with her as she picks me apart bit by bit.
After a long moment, she nods and keeps walking.
Chapter 12
Tobias
Silence settles between us as we walk the rest of the way to Joseline’s hotel. Tense, anxious energy swirls around her in an invisible cloud that calls to me, but I do my best to ignore it. Instead, I focus on the nearby shadows, searching for movement, and keeping my senses alert for any hints of dark demonic energy.
Thankfully, we make it without incident, and Joseline jerks her thumb at a ritzy, marble-faced hotel with a revolving door.
“Well, this is me,” she says, not meeting my eyes. My gaze tracks to the hotel, wondering how much money Sebastian dropped to put her up here for the week, but it’s not my problem. He has more money than he knows what to do with anyway. “Thanks for walkingme here. I could have taken an Uber but this was… fine.”
