That was how he looked right now: out of control. Ashamed. Defeated. Anxious.
Shaking his head as if the motion could somehow clear it, Darien patted his pockets until he found his car keys. He threw them to Loren, and she barely brought her hands up in time to catch them—to stop them from smacking her in the nose.
“The others will take you home,” was his only explanation.
Loren’s back stiffened. “And where willyougo? No offense, but you don’t exactly seem in any position to take care of yourself right now. You can probably see nothing except shadows and auras—”
“Just go home, Loren.” It was obvious that he was trying very, very hard to keep his tone civil.
Loren swallowed, not quite understanding why she felt so wounded—why she was trying this desperately to stay beside him. He was under no obligation to watch her every second of every day, and the other Devils were more than capable of relieving him of watch duty once in a while.
So why didn’t she want them to?
“I have to go to the academy,” she said tightly. “I have school tomorrow, and I can’t miss another day.”
“One of the others will take you,” he repeated. Every word was strained. “I just need some space, alright?” He turned then and walked away, hands in his pockets, before she had a chance to react.
She stared after him until she couldn’t see him anymore—until the night had swallowed him up.
Until Max came up behind her. Loren was hit with déjà vu; this whole scenario felt like what happened at Hell’s Gate last night—after their visit in Stone’s End.
Had Darien been experiencing a Surge then as well?
“Let’s go, Loren,” Max said.
She turned around to face him, pulling her attention from the path Darien had walked. He wasn’t coming back, not right now, and she had to accept that.
Max held his hand out in request for the keys. The cigar he was smoking burned a bright red in the murky darkness. “The demons are starting to wake up.” As if to back up his statement, a dreadful baying ripped through the night, causing the hair on the back of Loren’s scalp to prickle.
She crossed her arms, suddenly chilled to the bone. “I need to go to the academy.”
He blew out a breath of rippling smoke. “I’ll take you to Hell’s Gate to get your things and then I’ll take you to the academy.” He inclined his head in the direction of the parking lot.
With a sigh, she nodded stiffly and rejoined their group. The Devils adjusted their positions so all sides of her were protected as they walked to the car. Despite Max’s statement about the demons waking up, she didn’t feel fear, not with the Devils surrounding her. And she knew Darien had little concern for the creatures, though she did worry about him while he was in this state. How could he possibly take care of himself if he hadn’t been able to senseher—a clumsy human—when she’d walked around the corner?
As they neared Darien’s car, she blurted, “What exactly is a Surge?”
The car chirped as Max disengaged the alarm system, and the locks clicked open. “A Surge is something that only people with the Sight suffer from. It’s a nervous disorder that causes a person’s magic to surge, hence the name, causing a type of panic attack that often can’t be stopped until some of their magic is released. Aura Healers have tried to help him, but none of them have succeeded.”
“And what do they do to release their magic?” Loren asked as she got into the car through the door Tanner opened for her. She waited until everyone else was inside before she amended, “What doesDariendo to release it?”
Max seemed reluctant to give her an answer. The car rumbled to life, and he didn’t speak until they’d left the parking lot. “He usually seeks out a fight.” A pause. “Or goes out on a job.” Killing, then. She shouldn’t feel surprised, but she found herself shuddering. It seemed the concern she felt for Darien while he was suffering a Surge—and was out by himself at this late hour—was not warranted. Max added, “I’ve had Surges before, and they’re a real pain in the ass, I’ll tell you that. Darien’s probably going to a fighting ring right now, and I don’t blame him for it.”
“So, the only thing that helps is hitting things?” She found that she didn’t want to say the wordkilling.
“Or fucking the first hot girl who gives him a double-take,” Jack interjected with a laugh. He was typing on his phone, only seeming partially interested by this conversation.
Max sighed, shaking his head. “You’re an inconsiderate dickbag, you know that, Jack?”
Jack was grinning, though his eyes were still on his phone. “And all you fuckers are mean to me, but I’m pretty used to it by now.”
It was Tanner who said, “Well, how many times do you need to be told not to talk about other people’s business? Especially your boss’s. I’m surprised Dare gave you his blessing to marry Ivy, considering how often you get under his skin.”
Jack shrugged. “I’m only speaking the truth. And I’m pretty sure Ivy would’ve had his balls if he’d tried saying no. I’m the whole package: looksandcharm.”
Max’s voice was barely audible as he mumbled, “Whatever you say, Mr. Pretentious.”
The tires screeched as Max picked up speed, merging onto the freeway toward the Victoria Amazonica District.
