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As she walked, breath fogging before her in the chilly, rainy day, her eyes scanned the parking lot just up the hill. There was no sign of Darien’s car or truck, but there was a sedan parked in his usual spot.
It was Arthur’s car. Darien must have borrowed it to keep anyone who might be watching from seeing her leave the school with him.
The sight of it barely eased the tightness in her chest. She would feel better the moment she saw that Darien was okay, that nothing bad had happened to him while she was stuck in class.
The gates swung open with a squeak. There were too many cars to look at, too many faces passing by on the sidewalk. What if they were being watched? What if the imperator knew?
Loren got in the car and hurried to close the door, her breathing rapid, palms slick with sweat.
Darien didn’t say a word. As he peeled away from the school, driving the car faster than it had likely ever moved, Loren fidgeted in her seat, fumbling with her tongue again. “Where are we going?” she whispered.
It took him a long time to answer. “I trusted you last night,” he said at last. He reached across the car and took her hand out from between her thighs. He laced his fingers with hers, his hand practically swallowing her own. “Now it’s your turn to trust me.”
She did trust him. She always would.
Darien brought her to Hell’s Gate. Instead of parking out front, he drove into the garage. Hiding her, she realized. So that no one outside of these walls could see her.
He cut the engine. The garage doors rolled shut. The lights flickered on with the sensor, bathing the massive room and the many cars and motorcycles lined up inside with bright light.
Darien got out and came around to her side. He opened her door and unbuckled her seatbelt.
“I can do that myself, you know,” she said teasingly.
The corner of his mouth tipped up with a smile. “I’m perfectly capable as well.” He took her hands, interlocking his warm fingers with hers, and helped her out.
As they made their way across the room, Darien studied her closely. Really closely. “Are you cold? You’re shivering.”
“I’m scared,” she whispered. She didn’t want to admit it. It made her feel like a coward, but she was downright terrified. It was by chance that she had made it this far without getting caught, without causing any of her family or friends to get hurt, and she feared her luck was running out.
“Of what?” Darien asked.
“I’m scared that I’m losing you.” Her breath hitched in her throat, her worst fear hanging naked in the air between them.
“You’re never going to lose me, Loren. You found me.” He lifted his hand to her mouth and kissed the pulse in her wrist. “Just don’t run from me again. Promise?”
She had run from him. Twice now. Once when she’d walked in on him collecting, and then again last night, when she’d brought him into Spirit Terra.
She still hated herself for the first one.
“I promise,” Loren said, holding up her free pinky.
A smile played on his mouth. He linked his small finger with hers, curling tight.
The other Devils were waiting for them in the kitchen. Jack, Ivy, and Tanner were seated at the barstools at the island. Max, Lace, and Travis stood nearby, a couple of them leaning on the quartz countertop.
Ivy smiled. “Welcome home, Loren.”
“Thanks.” Her voice was small. Darien let go of her hand and pulled out a free stool for her at the island. “What are we doing?” she asked him.
“Have a seat,” was all he said.
She did.
Darien went to the fridge. Loren could feel the many eyes on her face, but every time she glanced at one of the Devils, they purposefully looked away from her. Even Mortifer was watching from behind the cereal boxes, most of his body hidden behind the box of shredded wheat. The Familiars too. They were sprawled across the carpet and the assortment of furniture in the sitting room, their glowing eyes probing.
Loren had never felt so seen in all her life.
When Darien came back to the island, he carried a box of crackers in one hand, a glass of water in the other. He gave a pointed look at her tattoo; the serpent-entwined rod was emitting a mix of red and blue light. “Your blood sugar is low.” He set the crackers and water in front of her. “Drink first.” His eyes were slightly guarded, and she wasn’t sure why. A voice in the back of her mind wondered why he wasn’t giving her juice, like he usually did whenever her blood sugar dipped too low.
