Page 161 of Huntress

“Until this week, we have not been allowed to leave our room unless I’m with you, enduring whatever fresh hell you’ve come up with for the day. We finally got a day to ourselves, and I got curious enough to explore. You won’t even let us go outside!”

Cornick’s nostrils flared, his eyes so wide the whites made a complete circle around the iris. “And what makes you think you’re above the rules and regulations of my facility?”

“Your facility? I wasn’t aware you’d funded it.”

He leaned in close, shoving Saint’s shoulder when he moved closer. He tried a second time, but the demon didn’t move an inch. The growl building in his throat cut off when Elsie set a gloved hand on his arm.

“Everything around you was built to my exact specifications because I requested it. The difference between you and me is that I have backing from people much higher on the food chain than Mordane. You think you’re important because you’ve made it to the top in a pyramid of expendable grunts? You are a nobody, Elspeth Chantraine. You’ll never be anything more than a weapon Mordane aims at his enemies. Now, get the fuck out of my house.”

“One of these days you’re going to try your bullshit on someone with nothing to lose, and they’re going to destroy everything you’ve worked for.” Elsie tossed over her shoulder. “Consider yourself lucky to have failed in removing my seal, because it would have been me.”

The guards escorted them back to their room and gave them five minutes to shove their things into their bags. At the elevators, they put the blindfolds in place with instructions to leave them on until they were in the truck.

“Did you have to keep needling him?” Saint asked once the truck started rolling.

“Yes. Nobody around him is brave enough to tell him what an ass he is.”

“Don’t ever ask something like this of me again. I will not sit idly by and watch someone harm you. I can’t handle that level of self-restraint anymore, not for any reason.”

“I’m sorry.” She moved to his bench.

His eyes hardened. “I’m serious. This was too far beyond what we agreed to. You asked too much while ignoring my concerns.”

His anger hadn’t been aimed in her direction for a long time, and it made her feel six inches tall. She tucked her hands between her knees and ducked her head, barely able to withstand the heat of his glare.

“If Cornick ever has the balls to return to the compound, he’s dead on sight. And you? If you ever try bullshit like that again, I’ll lock you up and kill every motherfucker who dared lay a finger on you.” Demon magic flashed in his dark eyes; his voice a low, dangerous rumble.

How could he be demanding, intimidating, and so fucking sexy at the same time?

“I won’t do it again,” she mumbled. He lifted her chin, drowning her in his gaze.

“You’d better not.”

He pulled her into his lap, burying his face in her hair while holding on tight. Elsie settled into his warmth, breathing him in until the stuttering in her chest settled into a slow, steady beat. They didn’t move until they were deposited back at Nest Apothecary.

They hopped out within the barrier's confines.

“Apothecary said you can get the supplies you need, but you’re not welcome without a mission. You do not have transport on such short notice. Here’s hoping we never encounter each other again,” the driver said cheerfully before climbing back into the truck and driving away.

“What a friendly guy,” Elsie mused.

The same soldier who’d seen them off brought them to the commissary for meals, toiletries, and a fresh set of clothes. Once everything was packed away, he escorted them to the barrier.

“No hard feelings.” He showed a smidge more warmth than at their last meeting. “We’re close enough to Dominion that we get far too many people traveling through with no compensation. It’s a drain on our resources.”

“No worries.” Elsie nodded. “After spending as much time there as we did, I’ve experienced enough to know they don’t do much to make themselves worth it.”

His lips pressed together, the only outward sign of his agreement.

On the other side of the barrier, Elsie looked to the sky to get her bearings, then checked their map. Her clingy demon took her hand as soon as she put the map away.

“Ready?” She smiled up at him. Saint shook his head, but let her lead him toward his familial lands.

They’d been walking for an hour when Elsie cleared her throat and squeezed his hand. “There’s something I need to show you. I didn’t want to risk it in the truck.”

The trepidation in their bond brought him to a stop; her dread and an anxious fear of hurting him bounced around in his chest. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, it’s all I could grab before their meeting ended.” Her mouth was pulled into a deep frown, eyes scrunched. Elsie pulled the note she’d stolen out of her shirt and handed it to him. “The timing adds up.”