“Are you insane? He’s my best shot at staying safe in this city!”
“The vampire who kidnapped you, locked you up in an apartment you’re not allowed to leave, and blackmailed you into doing his bidding is your best shot at staying safe? If that’s your kink, Jay-Jay, you should’ve stayed in hell.”
Jaci shivered at the thought. “Look. As long as Gabriel believes I’m following his orders, I can keep my head down and work on the spells for Dad without worrying about anyone trying to kill me, feed on me, or fuck me.”
Meech cracked up. “And you think this vampire prince isn’t interested in at least two out of those three?”
Exsanguination…A shiver rolled down her spine as the vampire’s earlier threat echoed. Despite the hours that had passed—not to mention the scalding hot shower—the ghost of his mouth still lingered on her neck.
Fear makes honest fools of us all…
“Not with me, he isn’t,” Jaci insisted. “He’s just another cocky vampire prick, Meech. As far as Gabriel is concerned, I’m trash. The only reason he hasn’t killed me is he thinks I can help him.”
“Can you?”
“Doubt it, but he doesn’t need to know that.”
Meech just stared at her with that know-it-all smirk, black eyes glittering like she was in on some secret. One Jacidefinitelywasn’t interested in hearing.
“Anyway,” Jaci said. “I didn’t summon you to gossip about—”
“Sexy evil vampires doing sexy evil things to you?” Meech wriggled her eyebrows, purple like her hair.
“You areliterallythe worst. You know that, right?”
“Truth in advertising, babe. If you’re looking for the best, next time summon an angel.”
They both laughed, but it didn’t last. The real reason for the summoning sat heavy between them.
Meech’s smile faded, her eyes turning serious. “I’m sorry, Jay-Jay. No luck yet. Emphasis on yet.”
Jaci nodded, no further explanation needed. Meech had been searching for Jaci’s dad’s soul for as long as Jaci had been working on her spells. But the realms of hell were as complicated, convoluted, and endless as the prisoners who inhabited them.
There was only one demon who knew for sure where her father was. One demon who thrived on brutalizing him. And she’dnevertell.
“Viansa… Have you seen her?” Jaci dreaded the answer, but she had to ask.
Meech lowered her eyes. “Your sister—”
“Half-sister.”
“She may be your half-sister, but that bitch isfull-on crazy.” Meech glanced up again, worry tightening her brow. “She’s trying to manifest, Jay.”
“What?Here?”
“Where else?”
“But that’s impossible!” Adrenaline spiked, making Jaci itchy and hot, her heartbeat shuddering in her chest.
It was the one saving grace—the thing Jaci had counted on to keep her safe from her family. Viansa could haunt her nightmares—a favorite trick for the sociopathic succubus—but that was as far as the bitch could get. She was physically bound to hell, her dark soul eternally cursed to haunt the dreams of the living, but never their realm.
“She can’t take form,” Jaci said. “She can’t even leave hell in a vessel. It’s… no. It can’t happen.”
“Hence thetryingpart of the equation.”
“Tell me she’s not close.”
“I wish I could, but you know how she fixates on shit.”
