Lilu fluttered overhead, squawking, before flying for an open window.
If Caine were fully human, he’d be dead by now. But even so—she’d staked him with iron and hawthorn. Seven hells, what have I done? Both could be lethal to a night demon. Pressing on his chest, her hands shook uncontrollably. “Caine. I’m so sorry.”
Heels clacked over the floor, and she looked up to find Mist, standing over her arms folded. The valkyrie appraised Rosalind with a clinical stare. “I see you’re the stronger fighter. I guess that answers my question. Now get out of here before I slaughter you, too. Take his body with you.”
Rosalind heaved a sob, and tried to lift Caine from the ground, her body shaking. At the sound of his pained gasps, tears stung her eyes. As she wrapped his arm around her neck, Aurora burst through the door, Lilu trailing behind her. Thank the gods, the raven went for help. It only took an instant for Aurora to hurtle through the crowd and snatch up the incubus. Carrying Caine, Aurora rushed for the door in a blur, and slammed it open to the night air. Rosalind ran after, her breath ragged.
By the time Rosalind got outside, Aurora had laid Caine out below a maple. The vamp frantically cleared the dust off Caine’s skin while Tammi looked on.
Caine rested against the trunk, blood pouring through his fingers, and grief pierced Rosalind.
Tammi’s hand flew to her mouth as she took in her friend. “Rosalind, are you okay? You’re covered in blood.”
“It’s not her blood.” Aurora flashed her fangs. “It’s Caine’s. What the bloody hell happened in there? Why is he covered in your dust, and why isn’t he healing?”
Rosalind’s hands shook, and she couldn’t seem to make her voice obey.
She glanced at Caine, whose eyes were fixed on hers. He was still conscious, at least, though his skin had paled.
He took a deep breath. “We had a fight. She won.”
Aurora snarled, “You did this, human?”
“The valkyrie,” Caine said. “She imbued us with battle rage. It wasn’t Rosalind’s fault.”
“A hawthorn stake,” Rosalind managed.
Aurora’s eyes widened. “This human girl won? You must’ve been holding back.”
“I got distracted,” he said, his voice choked. “She looks pretty when she’s twisted by bloodlust.”
Aurora turned her furious gaze on Rosalind. “Fix it, then. He needs a human female.”
“What do you mean?” Rosalind knelt by Caine’s side, holding her hand over his heart, as if her fingers could heal a shredded artery. Her hands shook wildly. She’d done this to him. “I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know how to stop—”
“He’s an incubus,” Aurora cut in. “He heals through sexual contact.”
Rosalind’s mind raced. “You want me to have sex with him?”
“It doesn’t have to be the full thing, but at least kiss him. It’s not that complicated. Just hurry up.”
Tammi raised a hand. “I’ll do it.”
Rosalind met Caine’s eyes, her chest flushing as she thought of his warm, protective arms around her in the club, and his aura pulsing through her body. “No, I’ll do it.”
“Good,” Aurora said. “We’ll look out for that valkyrie arsehole, or Bileth, or anyone else whose wrath you managed to incur in the past few hours.” She pulled Tammi away, leaving Rosalind alone with Caine.
Rosalind glanced at the blood pouring from his wound. “Does it hurt?”
“What do you think?”
“Sorry.”
“Do you want to heal me? Tammi seemed willing.”
She glanced at the blood on her own hands, her heart fluttering. “Yes, of course. I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault. You do understand how this works, don’t you?”
“Yes. And I understand it’s purely practical. It’s how you heal. It doesn’t mean anything.” She wasn’t sure why she needed to say that, but it was a reminder to herself more than anything.
Moving closer to him, she slid into his lap. As she slipped her arms around his shoulders, he gazed into her eyes, pupils dilating. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Don’t forget what he is, Rosalind. Deep down, he’s a predator, and he can’t be trusted.
But even if he wasn’t human, his proximity alone heated her body.
His breath quickened, and he slid a hand around the back of her neck, his touch sending a jolt of energy through her. At that moment, she almost forgot he was a demon. She only knew she wanted to run her hands over his smooth skin.
His eyes darkened to a deep abyss of midnight black. As his aura strengthened, it fluttered over her skin in a thrilling rush. He slipped his fingers into her hair, and in the next moment his warm, soft lips were against hers. His magic rolled through her body, making her tremble with need. When his tongue brushed hers, heat shot through her belly.
He kissed her hungrily. One hand gripped her hair, the other tightened around her waist. All panicked thoughts flew from her mind, and there was nothing left but Caine.
As she curved into him, his kiss grew more sensual. He lightly traced down her spine with his fingertips, and she gasped.
He folded his arms around her and lifted her from the ground. As he pushed her against the tree, she wrapped her legs around him. She threaded her fingers into his hair, pulling him in for another kiss. Instead, he teased her—nipping her lower lip before brushing kisses down her neck. Her body burned, and she wanted more. She wanted all of him.
“Rosalind!” Tammi shouted.
Caine’s face turned away from her. She could have killed Tammi right then, but thank the gods it didn’t go too far.
“We were just finishing the healing,” Rosalind said, her legs still wrapped around Caine. His aura caressed her skin, and she needed to get the hell away from him before this got really embarrassing.
Something about the stricken look on Tammi’s face pulled her attention from Caine, but it was the person standing behind Tammi who sent a jolt of panic through Rosalind.
Josiah stood with his hands at his weapon belt, his eyes blazing with pure loathing.
Chapter 21
With her dress hitched up around her waist and Caine’s body pressed against her, it took a few moments to register what was happening.
Josiah gripped a can of iron dust, and before anyone could stop him, he unleashed a spray.
With Rosalind wrapped around him, Caine’s muscles tensed. The dust burned the aura off his skin. It must be excruciating pain. His heart beat against her, strong and rhythmic—at least she’d healed him.
Rage contorted Josiah’s face. “You’re not going to control my mind again, incubus. I look forward to watching you burn.”
Rosalind unlocked her legs from Caine as he lowered her to the ground, and she tugged down the hem of her dress. “Josiah. You found us.” She tried to steady her voice.
“Rosalind. I came back to tell you about my progress. I’ve been on the phone all night, begging General Loring to consider your case, and I think he was starting to listen.” His voice cracked. “And then I track you again, and I find you with your legs wrapped around a demon, letting him use you as his plaything. There I was, like an idiot, telling General Loring that you were pure. That you were going to get an exorcism.”
All at once, her encounter with the sybil came flooding back to her. Caine’s kiss had been a distraction, but it didn’t erase the fact that she’d just learned her life was over. There was no way to get the exorcism she so desperately needed.
“Josiah—” she began.
“I told you to stay away from him. I should’ve seen what the other Hunters told me. You’re nothing but a whore.”
The disgust in his voice sent a flash of anger through her. This wasn’t just about Hunters and demons, about good and evil, about fighting for what was right. Caine, for all of his arrogance and obnoxiousness, had been on to something: Josiah wanted control over her body.
She crossed her arms. “The incubus needed healing.”
“He’s helping me, and I stabbed him in the chest. Anyway, why do I need to explain myself to you? For one thing, you broke up with me, and for another, you were supposed to be acting as my Guardian—not my stalker.”
“He’s an animal.” Josiah took a step closer, flecks of spittle flying from his lips. “You should never have been anywhere near him, but you couldn’t resist throwing yourself at him.”
“I’ve been stuck with the demons out of necessity.” Fury ignited in her heart. “That’s what happens when the Brotherhood wants to throw you in one of their interrogation rooms. You end up fighting for your life and joining forces with the demons.” Seven hells. She’d just officially declared herself on the side of the demons, to a high-ranking representative of the Brotherhood. Was this really happening? She was still hoping to wake from the world’s longest nightmare.
Josiah stepped closer. “I should have known your softness was something other than compassion. It was merely your repulsive, corrupted soul, drawn to the other abominations like a bitch in heat.”
She wasn’t scared of him. Right now, loathing overwhelmed her. “I should have never let you convince me to do what we did, Josiah. If my soul has been corrupted, it was because of your influence.”
“What we did saved lives,” he spat. “Human lives. Thousands of them—though I can see you don’t actually care about those.”
“I need you to tell me if it’s true.” She searched his face. “Are the Brotherhood burning people?”
Josiah’s eyes bulged, and he enunciated each of his words like he was talking to a particularly dim child. “They’re. Not. People. The animals deserve to burn, and so do their accomplices.”
Horror burst through her mind, and her knees nearly gave way. The realization that she’d been fighting on the side of sadists hit her like a punch to the gut.
And now, they were coming for her and Tammi.
Caine stepped in front of her, blocking her with his arm. “She’s heard everything she needed to hear. Get out of here before I relieve you of your heart.”
Red tinged Josiah’s face, and he jabbed a finger at Rosalind. “You think this freak is going to look after you? That he’s not just using you like a disposable toy?”
She had no idea what Caine really thought, but that wasn’t the point. She belonged to no one—not to the demons or the Brotherhood. As anger roiled in her chest, she pushed past Caine. “I don’t need people looking after me. And just so you know, I’m stuck with this witch’s soul. I’m corrupted, just like Mason always said, and I’m going to stay that way. So the Brotherhood will have to hunt me down, but when you run back to the General Loring like a loyal little dog, you tell him he better stay the hell away from Tammi.”
Rosalind wished desperately that Caine hadn’t been covered in dust, or he’d be able to use his magic to make this all go away. He could have hypnotized Josiah into forgetting all about Tammi.
What had Caine called her? A staggering hypocrite. She was beginning to see his point.
Josiah’s hand twitched by his weapon belt. “You want me to deliver a message to Randolph Loring from the demon’s whore.”
She cocked a hip. “Call me whatever you want, but you can tell Randolph I have the power of a psychotic mage in my body, and I’m not afraid to use it.” At least, part of that was true.
She was declaring war on Randolph Loring, and her mind buzzed with an intoxicating mixture of thrill and terror.
Josiah’s mouth tightened with barely controlled rage. “You think your evil possession is enough? It didn’t work out so well for Miranda.”
Caine stepped forward again, and she tensed with irritation. She could fight her own battles. She knew how the Brotherhood worked better than he did, but Caine’s body was suddenly alert.
“The Brotherhood found Miranda?” Caine asked, his voice a growl.
Rosalind shook her head, trying to keep up. “Wait. Who the hell is Miranda?”
Josiah’s eyes bored into her. “Interesting. Apparently your new lover didn’t want to mention her.”
Caine’s voice was glacial. “I suggest you get out of here before I tear your spine out through your throat.”
Josiah’s nostrils flared. “You can threaten me all you want, but none of you will last long. The Brotherhood have been slaughtering demons like you for millennia, and we’re stronger than ever. The angels will glory in your demise when the smoke from your body reaches the heavens.” He glared at Rosalind, and the vein throbbed in his forehead. “I look forward to getting my hands on you in the interrogation room, and when Miranda burns, I hope to light the match.”
In a fraction of a second, Caine’s hands clamped around her Guardian’s neck, and Josiah’s eyes bulged.
“You will stay away from Rosalind and Miranda, or I’ll make you wish for death.” The wrath in Caine’s voice chilled Rosalind to the core. “Perhaps I should grant you that now.”
With a hammering heart, she watched as Caine tightened his grip around Josiah’s throat. Caine is going to murder him. For a moment, she almost wanted to watch the life seep out of her former Guardian. After all, Josiah would report all this information to the Brotherhood, feeding them her location, and Tammi’s too. It would bring the Brotherhood down on them like a plague of locusts.
But she couldn’t stand by and watch him die. She’d cared for him once, and he’d cared for her, too.
A horrible, garbled sound escaped his throat.
“Caine.” She grabbed his arm. “Please stop.”
Caine’s eyes met hers, and he loosened his grip. Josiah gasped for breath, stumbling back—right into Aurora. The vampire lifted him by his collar, baring her teeth before she yanked his cell phone from his pocket. She crushed it in her fist. “Run along, and we’ll let you live, for now. You’re a soldier, aren’t you? You should know when to retreat.” Growling, she hurled him out of the park, and he landed on the pavement with a loud thud.
Josiah slowly pushed himself up from the ground, shuffling over the pavement without sparing a glance. Even he knew there was no way to take on an incubus, a vamp, and an angry-ex girlfriend at the same time. As he slunk away, his shoulders slumped. She almost felt bad for him. At least, until she remembered what he’d said about looking forward to interrogating her and burning people.
Tammi’s face had gone pale. “So I guess a reconciliation with the Brotherhood is out of the question.”
Rosalind’s chest tightened. “Honestly, we’re screwed. I’m so sorry I got you into this, Tammi.”
“You’re not screwed,” Caine said. “As long as you’re willing to work with Ambrose, you’ll have his protection.”
Tears pricked Rosalind’s eyes. She’d just declared herself on the side of the demons. “I don’t know that I can do… whatever it is that he wants me to do. And what about Tammi?”
“I’ll tell Ambrose she’s your assistant. She’ll get a salary.” Moonlight skimmed over Caine’s skin. “We’ll work out the details later, but right now we need to hide the both of you before Josiah alerts the Brotherhood. I would use magic to get us home faster, but that twat glitter-bombed me.”
“Let me handle the teleportation.” With a determined look on her face, Aurora stepped out of the park—and directly in front of a car. A blue Toyota screeched to a halt, and Aurora flashed her fangs, smacking a hand on the hood. “We need a ride.” She glanced at Caine, jerking her head at the car. “Get in.”
Caine rushed over to the car, with Rosalind and Tammi close behind. As Tammi hopped into the back seat, Caine pulled open the door, beckoning Rosalind inside. An empty car-seat took up the middle, and she had to squeeze in on his lap.
The woman in the driver’s seat turned to them, her dark eyebrows furrowed. “Um, are you all vampires?”
Aurora slid into the front seat, slamming the door shut. “Just me. Take us to the end of Hardy Street.”
“Please
take us there, Ma’am,” added Rosalind from the back seat. Her bare feet rested on a collection of discarded sippy cups.
The woman frowned. “Call me Marisa. Now, I don’t mind working with vampires. In fact, I run a demon-human ally group to improve inter-species community relations. But I will not drive if you’re not wearing a seatbelt.”
Caine’s arms folded around her. “She’ll be fine. Trust me.”
“Seatbelt,” she repeated, her voice stern.
“Yes Ma’am.” Caine reached around, pulling the seatbelt to strap the two of them in.
“Marisa,” the woman corrected.
As the car took off, Rosalind leaned into Caine. She could feel his heartbeat through his clothes, and his warm breath against her neck. She resisted the urge to nuzzle his throat. She had no idea if that kiss had actually meant anything, but she was probably stupid to even consider the possibility. He was an incubus, after all, and he was obviously deeply untrustworthy.
Tammi let out a long breath. “I’m going to need to process everything that just happened. I don’t suppose I can call my Thorndike counselor about this. I’m just a little confused about what the fuck is happening with my life.”
“You and me both,” Rosalind said. Her mind still reeled from that awful encounter with Josiah. While Caine’s warm body was a welcome distraction, she couldn’t stop her thoughts from running wild. For one thing, she’d just learned that the Brotherhood were as bad as the demons. And then there was the valkyrie fight, the kiss, the threats from Josiah…
Exhausted, she rested her head against Caine’s shoulder. “Imagine if my parents had never done this to us. We’d been living happily in Maremount still.”
“You would have been living happily. I would not.”
“Why not?”
“That’s a long story. Some time I will tell you all about Maremount.”
“Now that I’m apparently on the side of the demons—” Her voice broke. “I should probably learn about my homeland.”
Magic Hunter: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Vampire's Mage Series Book 1) Page 15
