I’ve never met the human hunters, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t run into them many times. There’s a particular redhead that has it bad for Zeke, and based on the way she looks at him, they’ve been together.
“I fought alone tonight,” he says, staring at me a little too intently.
“You took on five vampires alone?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. I’ve taken on more, but despite Zeke’s insistence that he’s the toughest hunter out there, we both know that I am. I fell to Earth as one of the strongest virtue angels. In angel hierarchy, I was several rungs above where Zeke had ever been.
“Good for you,” I say, lifting my hand and breaking the veil I’d placed on the alley to keep innocent bystanders from happening across my run-in with the demons.
It’s imperative that humans remain in the dark about the evil that walks alongside them in the shadows. Humans aren’t capable of handling such news. Widespread hysteria would ensue, giving the demons no reason to hide. They’d revel in the fear and feed on the souls of the damned still living.
It’s the only reason I can imagine that God allowed us to carry any of our powers to Earth. We don’t have them all, but we do retain the necessities: strength, speed, energy absorption, elemental control, mind control—compulsion—and glamour. Add to that impressive list the innate ability to track down ethereal objects—not ethereal beings—and now I have Solis at my back.
“I’m sorry about earlier, Tori. I shouldn’t push you into something you clearly don’t want. I’ll stop.”
Lies. He’s said this so many times I’ve lost count.
“What’s the draw, Zeke? I don’t get why of all the women on Earth, you keep coming back here. I’ve done nothing but push you away since the day you saved me. Why would you do that to yourself?” I ask, but I already know the answer.
Because we were good together.
When I gave in to my need for Zeke, it was like two stars crashing together. Two celestial beings with energy coursing through us made for one hell of a climax. I can’t imagine he has the same experience with any of his human conquests. The thought sours my already dire mood, but I smash it down, unwilling to go there.
“Maybe I like a challenge,” he drawls lazily, that roguish smirk almost doing me in. I know that as long as I’m on Earth, he won’t stop tracking me. Why? Because despite my insistence otherwise, we’re drawn to each other. Call it spiritually connected if you want.
We’re the only two—from what we’ve uncovered—who’ve experienced Heaven and are stuck here on Earth due to our own choices. Zeke claims he doesn’t want back in, but I know the truth. He doesn’t believe it’s possible. If he can’t achieve it, he thinks it better to delude himself into believing Earth is the best choice. If he tells himself enough times that this place is great, it just might become great. It won’t.
“It’s not a challenge; it’s a flat-out refusal,” I shoot back, hoping he’ll take the hint and leave me alone.
I’m tired of this dance we’re doing. A part of me wants to give in, but I know it’s not in either of our best interests. Why can’t he allow me to do the right thing?
“I could never have an honest relationship with anyone else, Tori. Even if I did try to share my past with someone, I couldn’t tell them everything. There will always be that divide, and it’s not what I want in a relationship.”
“We want different things. Where I’m going, a relationship isn’t possible.”
“When are you going to realize that’s impossible?”
He doesn’t attempt to hide his loneliness, and it’s a feeling I know well. I utilize hunting as a way to pretend I don’t need anyone. His vulnerability cracks a layer of ice around my heart, because no matter what, I do care about what happens to Zeke. What he did for me at the beginning I can never repay.
“I know your opinion on the matter, Zeke, but I disagree. It would be unfair for me to tell you otherwise.” I puff out my cheeks. “I need you to stop. Maybe we can hunt together,” I offer, hoping this gives him motivation to lay off, “but nothing more can happen.”
He nods. “Fair enough. I’ll take your friendship.”
“The innuendos? Will those stop too?” I ask with a quirked brow.
He puts up three fingers in the Boy Scout salute. “On my honor.”
“Hmmm.” I purse my lips and consider his vow. He seems sincere, and if I’m really honest, I owe him an apology. I’ve been overly rude just to keep him at arm’s length, and all because of my own screwups. Not his. Not that I’ll admit that to him.
“Fine. Truce,” I say. “But you’re buying me dinner.”
He laughs. “So, I’m buying my friends now?”
“Who said anything about friends?” I grin wickedly.
“You’re a tough nut to crack, Victoria English, but I think I’m wearing you down.”
“Buy me a beignet, and you’ll be a little closer to the mark.”
