I raised my hand slightly. “In fairness, I was thoroughly prepared.”
“That does not help.”
The younger brother's gaze shifted to the unstable portal before he grimaced. “We are officially out of time.”
Another violent crack split through the apartment ceiling overhead. Plaster rained down everywhere.
Nina screamed again. “I KNEW THIS WAS A BAD IDEA.”
My demon turned toward me. “Eva, listen carefully.”
“No.”
“You do not even know what I’m going to say.”
“You are about to tell me to stay here.”
“Yes.”
“Then no.”
His jaw tightened instantly. “Hell is not safe for humans.”
I pointed toward the exploding portal behind him. “Earth currently feels pretty unsafe too.”
That shut the entire room up faster than expected because nobody could even argue with it.
The apartment lights flickered again before completely dying this time. Red light from the portal became the only thing illuminating the room while smoke curled across the ceiling overhead.
Anderson turned sharply toward the hallway outside the apartment like he heard something distant. Then his expression changed sharply.
“Oh that is bad.”
Nobody liked that tone.
“What,” Nina whispered.
Anderson stared directly at my demon. “They sent hunters.”
The entire apartment went still before my demon crossed the distance between us so fast my brain barely processed the movement. One moment he stood near the portal, and the next both of his hands were wrapped firmly around my arms while my heartbeat completely lost the ability to function normally.
“You are staying here,” he said quietly.
“No.”
“Eva.”
“No.”
For a brief moment, frustration crossed his face before the expression softened into something far more dangerous, something that was painfully close to desperation. Then he leaned forward and rested his forehead gently against mine for the span of a single breath.
“You make every bad decision feel reasonable.”
“That sounds like a compliment.”
“It was not intended as one.”
Behind us, Anderson was moments away from dragging everyone physically through dimensions himself. “We are OUT of time.”
