“I don’t know,” I whispered back. “And I hate it.”
A low laugh echoed from somewhere farther down the hallway outside.
“Human attachments already?” the voice mocked. “That was fast.”
My demon’s expression shifted slightly, not enough for a human to notice, but enough to make everyone else in the apartment tense instantly.
The lazy amusement disappeared from his face so fast it almost seemed unnatural, and when he looked back toward the hallwayagain, something colder settled into his expression that made even the cult members step away from the door slightly.
Then very quietly, he said, “Watch your tone.”
My stomach did something medically embarrassing .
Beside me, Nina made a strangled noise. “Okay wow. I need to sit down.”
“THIS IS NOT THE TIME.”
The apartment door cracked straight down the middle. I jumped backward so fast I nearly slammed into the kitchen counter.
Before I could react, my demon caught my wrist and pulled me behind him in one smooth movement. The speed of it startled me, but the careful way he positioned me there unsettled me even more.
The hallway outside stayed silent for a moment before the voice spoke again.
“Is she the reason you refuse to return?”
My demon didn’t hesitate.
“She is the reason you’re still outside.”
The silence after that physically hurt. Even those three members were stunned. Nina turned toward me with the expression of somebody witnessing relationship drama at supernatural levels.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “He’s in love with you.”
I stared at my demon’s back while his hand still wrapped firmly around my wrist beneath the sleeve of my sweater. Then, against all common sense and survival instinct, one horrible thought crossed my mind.
…Okay maybe the flirting had gotten a little attractive. And I hated myself for thinking about it.
The apartment door groaned loudly as another crack spread through the wood. One of the candles near the entrance flickered violently before going out completely, then the whole apartment was colder than before.
Nina had fully retreated behind the couch now while clutching the kitchen knife with absolutely no confidence. “I would just like everybody to know,” she announced shakily, “that I am unprepared for demon violence.”
The woman in the black coat stepped away from the doorway while keeping her eyes fixed on the crack splitting down the center of the door. “This is becoming excessive.”
“That’s YOUR people outside,” I hissed.
“They are not my people.”
“You literally wear ritual jewelry.”
“That proves nothing.”
Another impact slammed against the apartment door hard enough to shake the walls, and this time something cracked loudly near the top hinge.
Nina pointed at it. “Okay no. That looked expensive.”
My demon still hadn’t moved. His hand remained wrapped around my wrist almost absentmindedly while his attention stayed fixed on the hallway outside.
Then very calmly, he asked, “Do you intend to break her door?”
