I grimaced. If only.
No, if my colleagues and teachers found out, that would be bad enough. Despite my young age, I was a highly respected senior exorcist. I had never once failed a job before. I’d never even required assistance. I was independent. Hard-working. If I asked for help now, my perfect reputation would be sullied.
But the idea of my brother finding out about this failure chilled me to the bone.
“Nobody needs to know about this,” I said under my breath. “We’ll try another exorcism.”
“Oh hell no,” Chase argued, stepping away from me. “I am not letting you shove arrows down my throat again. Or anything else for that matter.”
Frustration surged in my chest. This idiot was still possessed by a demon. A terrible one. Didn’t he understand how dangerous that was?
“There are other methods,” I explained. But as the words left my mouth, I saw the doubt etched across Chase’s face.
How dare he doubt me? Exorcism work had been my entire life since I was young. It was all I knew.
So if I wasn’t good at this... whatwasI good at?
Chase grimaced. “I dunno, man. Your failed exorcism doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.”
Failed exorcism.
The ground turned to jelly beneath me. My entire being felt unstable, like my existence itself was faltering.
I had failed. I was a failure.
And now Hell’s most infamous demon was roaming the streets in the body of an annoying gay jock.
I didn’t know whether to be angry or depressed. Right now, I was both.
I dug my fingers into Chase’s muscular forearm.
Half begging and half demanding, I urged, “Stay the night. Please. Give me one more chance tomorrow. I won’t fail again.”
Chase’s gaze softened around the edges, like he hadn’t expected me to plead. But I was desperate. News of my failure couldn’t get out. I had a reputation to uphold—and a city to keep safe from demons.
Chase hesitated.
My chest clenched with alarm. Was he about to say no? I couldn’t let him refuse.
“Anything you want is yours,” I offered. “Just ask. I’ll do anything as long as you don’t leave the temple grounds until tomorrow.”
Chase mulled it over. Then he cleared his throat. “Um, there’s a slice of birthday cake at my apartment. I don’t want it to go stale, so... could you bring it here?”
I stared at him.
He could’ve asked for anything, and all he wanted was a slice of birthday cake?
“I’ll have someone fetch it for you,” I agreed.
Chase lit up. “Awesome. So do I get a guest room, or do I have to sleep in this creepy place?” He wrinkled his nose. “I can’t take any more incense.”
My shoulders slumped in relief. Now that I was certain Chase wouldn’t run out into the streets while possessed, I felt more at ease. But that didn’t stop the doubt from creeping over me.
I’d already failed once. What if it happened again?
It can’t. It absolutely can’t.
“Yes, of course. I’ll show you to the... guest quarters,” I said, pushing the door open.
