The scent of charred fabric proceeds Sabrina rising to her feet, her palms burning patterns into the tablecloth. “For someone that admitted he needs me and has gone so far as to stalk me the entirety of my life, I’d think you’d be smart enough to know that that was an incredibly stupid thing to say.”
Ash matches her energy, rising to his feet. “And for someone that damned an entire race, I’d think you of all people would understand the importance of enforcing boundaries so people don’t get carried away.”
The LED lights in the waterfall surge, the faint tinkling of exploding glass shards enveloped by the stream of water. It darkens the room considerably, but the low overhead lighting is more than enough for us to see by with our heightened senses. Heart kicking into overdrive, I cover the back of her hand.
“Sabrina.” She doesn’t immediately look my way, staring down Ash like she’s prepared for things to come to a head right here and now. “Angel?”
Finally breaking her stare off, she turns my way. I’m not sure what she sees on my face, but whatever she finds, it’s enough to have her reluctantly backing down. Dropping into her seat, she angrily stabs into her dessert. “So, I free your demon buddies and they help you take over the world, then we all live happily ever after, is the gist of it?”
After a beat, Ash sinks back into his chair, body stiff. “You free people that you never should have imprisoned in the first place, and we go back to the way things were meant to be.” Slamming back his drink, he finishes, “The humans were a practice run to work out the kinks, and they continuously prove that they aren’t worthy for this world. So we’re going to do what we were created for; removing the misery from this earth. And the only way to do that is by eradicating the humans we were born to replace.”
Chapter 12
Boden
––––––––
“Fuck, give a guy somewarning next time." Needing to catch my breath, I take a seat on the ledge and drag her up onto my lap so I can risk closing my eyes for a second.
"Feel better?" she asks with an amused lilt to her voice.
Damian sighs in annoyance as he hauls himself up next. "How could he not when you decided the perfect moment to siphon from him was two hundred feet in the air when you both could have slipped and died? That would put anyone in a fantastic mood."
Prying one eyelid open, I take in her flushed cheeks and pleased smile, and the start of my worried lecture immediately dies in my throat. She just looks so... full of life. No putting one foot in front of the other to get through the day, or simply surviving. Even with as frustrating and hopeless as the situation feels right now, she’s handling it in stride, burning off her pent-up energy before it can destroy anything else around the cabin.
"I would like to point out though, that these two got laid when you decided to siphon from them. Seems a little unfair if you ask me. You picking favorites on us, pretty girl?"
Rotating so that she's straddling my lap facing me, she shrugs. "Don't blame me, blame the seating chart. I'm not scheduled to sit on your face until Tuesday."
Gently biting her shoulder, I tighten my grip on her hips, slowly dragging her closer and torturing us both. "Don't let a schedule tell you who you can and can't do. Show it who's boss, fuck me out of spite.” Catching her eye, I wink. “And to be clear, yes, this is me flirting."
Barking out a laugh, she kisses me hard just as Hunter catches up, climbing onto the stone ledge to growl, "Don't give her ideas, Hawthorne. If there's a way to tempt fate, she'll insist on fucking doing it."
She grins against my lips. "You could have gone to the warehouse with the others if you didn’t want to come exploring with us, you know."
He narrows his eyes. "After the last time you nearly got yourself killed rock climbing?” Extending a hand with a scoff, he adds, “And that wasbeforeyou became a blood bank."
