“Waiting to stake your ass.” She gave the demon a wide berth, the iron blade she’d concealed in the back waistband of her jeans now gripped in her hand. Oh, she knew what he was. Born with extrasensory awareness, it made her cognizant and wary of the demon-kind living in this world. Otiums, Harvey called them. They appeared human and preferred a quiet life. It was why they’d defected to Earth and away from the cruelty of their world. But then every species had assholes who terrorized theinnocent.
“Wanna play, little human?” he taunted and leaped forher.
Going low, Shae struck out with her weapon, slicing him across the chest. Growling, he dove for her, knocking the blade from her hand. She countered with a flying kick. He grabbed her foot, yanking hard. Using his body as leverage, she flipped backward through the air, breaking his hold and landing on herfeet.
In a move she didn’t even see, his fist struck her in the solar plexus, sending her flying to the filthy ground. She lay there, unable to breathe, scalding pain scouring her body, so sure she’d fractured herribs.
“Shae?”
At the horrified voice, she simply shook her head, eyes squeezedtight.
“Hell, I’msorry—”
“I-I’m okay…will be…” she wheezed. Crap, even speaking hurt. Had this demon really been a malevolent one, he would have taken her blood, her soul, whatever he wanted from her bynow.
“Hold still.” Harvey, her best friend, laid his hand on her chest, and a slight warmth spread through her at his healingpower.
When her lungs functioned again, and it didn’t feel like her ribcage was being pried apart with a chest spreader, she opened her eyes and stared into a lean, handsome face. Red-tinged, caramel-hued eyes watched heranxiously.
“Thank the dark gods! I’m really sorry about that last punch, I didn’t mean to hit you sohard.”
She grimaced, rubbing her chest. It wasn’t something she’d willingly want to experience again. “It’s okay. I wanted to learn how to fight your kind, so I have to accept all the bruises that come with it. Thanks for thehealing.”
“No problem.” His expression still edged with worry, he tunneled his fingers through his dark hair. “With the places you go, and now what you want to do, I have to be sure you’re ready foranything.”
She sat up and blew out a rough breath, disarraying the reddish strands of hair falling over her face. “Don’t judge me because I’m agirl.”
“It’s notthat. It’s because you’rehuman.”
Right. Her lips twisting wryly, she took the hand he extended, and he pulled her to her feet. She picked up her camera. Darn! The casing had cracked, but at least the rest of the expensive equipment appearedintact.
“Here.” Harvey handed her dagger back, then pulled on his leather jacket he’d left lying on the crates near the wall, covering his bloodyshirt.
Remorse flooded her. “I didn’t mean to hurtyou.”
“It’s nothing. I’llheal.”
She dropped her things into her backpack. “How did you findme?”
“Where else would you be when RockinHell is in town?RockinHell.” He snickered at the band’s name. She smacked his arm. “Don’t be mean. Why don’t you accept the band manager’s invitation and play guitar forthem?”
He snorted. “You gotta be kiddin’ me. Play withthatloser?”
“Ash’sokay—”
“Forgive me if I trample all over your rose-tinted glasses. The guy’s an asshole. He can’t see what’s right in front of him. He’d rather have a revolving door to his bed than you. Hell, if it was me, I’d tell the others to fuck off and come afteryou.”
Grimacing, she glanced at her scraped knuckles then swiped the blood on her jeans. “It’s been a long time, and I’m okay, honest. C’mon—” She hooked her backpack over one shoulder and her arm through his. “Let’s forget this and go have adrink.”
“S’pose it’s better thanstalking.”
She huffed out a laugh. “You give me crap about Ash, and that’s whereyouwere thisevening?”
Harvey was head over heels for a human girl who had no idea he existed. And he was too terrified to even approach her because of what hewas.
“More like every evening. Pathetic, right?” Disgust etched hisfeatures.
Smiling, she changed the subject. “Did you manage to get me aname?”
