Chapter 15
Asecond passed. Then two. When I was still alive after three, I cracked my eyes open.
The wooden beam had slipped through the demon’s fingers and fallen harmlessly to the ground. Mouth open in a silent cry, he swayed, tilting sideways before crumpling to the pavement on his stomach.
My demon blade protruded from his back. I blinked, unable to look away from the gruesome image. The spellcaster rune in the dagger’s hilt twinkled. It emitted a burst of light as the magic sucked his soul and disintegrated his body, leaving behind nothing but a gross, oily slick on the pavement.
I swallowed the acid climbing my throat and tried to sit up. A stabbing pain seared through my ribs. Caden crouched next to me. His face was pale, and he ran a jerky hand through his hair.
“I thought you were dead, Graves.”
That explained why he looked as if he’d seen his first ghost.
I forced a weak smile. “You weren’t kidding. You have killed demons before.”
He blew out a harsh breath and placed his hands on my shoulders when I moved too quickly. “Whoa, take it easy. Let me make sure you’re all right. Tell me what happened.” His touch moved down my shoulders, examining my ribs, then over my arms. He was quick and efficient, but I noticed a slight tremble in his movements as if he couldn’t shake off the past few minutes.
Him and me both.
“I was searching Jake’s van when the demon appeared. He must have been following us after we met with Gwen at the historical society. Someone hired him to come after me. I saw the mark on his wrist. He was an underling, and he demanded to know where this thing called the Soulbinder was. Do you know what he was talking about?”
Caden went still. A dark look shadowed his face.
“You have heard of it, I can tell. Do you think it’s one of the artifacts from the dig site?” I gripped his arm, forcing him to meet my gaze.
“Possibly. Oscar can find out more now that we have a name.”
“Well, whatever it is, the demons are looking for it, and they’re not afraid to send someone after it.” I carefully brushed the gravel from my clothes. My cute top was stained and ripped at the seams. Blood dotted the fabric. I frowned at the loss of my outfit. “At least I got my first demon attack out of the way. It could have been worse. I almost had that one.”
His fingers sifted through my hair. “You must have another one of your head wounds if you think that.”
I smirk-winced as Caden wrapped his leather jacket over my shoulders. The inside was warm, and I pulled the ends closed, breathing in Caden’s familiar scent.
“You know, most girls get offered their date’s jacket when they’re cold. I had to fight off a killer demon. Doesn’t sound fair.”
“You’re not most girls, Graves.” The low rumble of his tone sent a shivery sensation down my back.
My gaze snapped to his. He framed my face with his hands and brushed his thumb against my cheek. The surrounding air thickened the longer our gazes held.
For a moment, he looked exposed, almost as if he wished he could snatch the words back and bury himself beneath a mask of indifference. Clearing his throat, he angled my chin down to examine a stinging cut on my forehead.
Air hissed through his teeth, and his jaw tightened. “You’re bleeding.”
“You should see the other guy.”
“I did. I saw him almost impale you. Not something I’m soon to forget.”
If his jaw got any tighter, he might crush a molar. Definitely not unaffected. Caden tugged on the knot of his tie and slipped it over his head. Folding it into a makeshift bandage, he pressed it gently against the wound on my forehead.
There we were, crouched on the pavement, dumpster adjacent, and this was still probably the most romantic evening I’d ever had.Sad, I know. But the truth hurts, along with my forehead.Caden dabbed at the cut, only satisfied when the bleeding stopped. He tucked a loose curl behind my ear.
“Come on—I already paid our bill. No dish washing required. Let’s get out of here before someone finds us and calls the police.” Caden retrieved my demon blade and helped me stand. My toes curled against the dirty pavement, and I pointed to the strappy sandals scattered at opposite ends of the alley.
“Don’t forget my shoes.”
His brow rose, but he didn’t ask follow-up questions. When he turned his back, I sucked in a deep breath. A sob constricted my throat, and I forced it back down. The adrenaline from the fight had worn off, and so had my brave front. Not even the lingering feelings from Caden’s protective care could counteract the anxiety rising inside my chest. I needed a second to compose myself, or I’d fall apart in the alley. Tucking my shaking hands into Caden’s jacket pockets, I stared, almost dazed, at the spot where the demon had fallen.
A cold knot of dread twisted in my stomach. That was too close. A few weeks ago, I would have been studying under my covers with a bag of cheese puffs. Now, I was fighting death matches in an alley.
