Page 84 of Lost and Bound

I get that I’m being more argumentative than I should be—all this will be over if I can just keep my mouth shut—but the effects of the Hunter’s Moon and Bael’s ability to infuriate are apparently catching me off guard.

Although I think he feels the same agitation I do. His jaw ticks, but he swallows his emotions, which amuses me on one hand and sends a slither-like warning down my spine on the other. Listening to my instincts, I grit my teeth, hoping to lock away any more smartass rebukes.

“All I did was buy my friends the protection they deserve. See, here’s the thing, new girl,”—he overemphasizes the name Emrys uses—“I’ll do anything to protect my brothers.”

I try to stay quiet—I really do. But there’s something about him, about them, that pushes all my damn buttons.

“From me? You’re kidding, right? I’m a Nom, Bael. Jesus, don’t tell me you missed the memo.”

He flinches at my blasphemy. Barely, but still. He recovers faster than a snake can strike. “What you are is of no concern to me.”

“Apparently not. You just implied I’m some sort of threat.” But he ignores me and the roll of my eyes.

“What worries me above anything else is how Emrys’ energy has waned, Arlan’s hunger is now insatiable, and Cane is wrestling with his wolf for the first time in his existence. And though you’re most certainly right—Noms don’t have the ability needed, but I’m not taking the risk, even if you’re barely a Nom.”

His eyes lock on mine and they’re bottomless black, full of not only warning but consequences. I don’t get the chance to figure out what the hell he’s going on about now because he keeps dominating the conversation.

“Your soul is mine, let’s call it a precaution. Trust me, though, I won’t wait until your heart has stopped beating before I rip your soul from your body if you so much as look at my brothers the wrong way. You will not be my ruin.”

As he talks, my mind races a million miles an hour. There’s an important piece missing in what he’s saying. My mother comes to the rescue once again: Your soul is your free will; a demon cannot legally claim what you do not sign over to them.

“I made no deal with you, Bael.”

“Let’s test your theory, shall we? Your death will save me a lot of trouble. Tonight is the perfect night, a Hunter’s Moon and all.”

The way he grins victoriously makes me question my hard line of never raising a hand in anger—punching demons and vampires in fear is another matter. He must see my struggle because as he walks away, he laughs. Much like everything else that is Bael Morningstar, it’s that mix of malevolence and filthy promise that is equal parts attractive and off-putting.

I rub my eyes, trying to scour my brain of the last few moments of my life, and when I open them again, I see Orion bursting free from the crowd. He embodies pretty much everything that is the opposite of Bael, and I latch onto his light with both hands.

“Are you okay?” we offer at the same time, our words crisscrossing as our hands join.

Despite the hideous standoff with Bael, I can’t help but grin back at Orion when he jinxes me. Admittedly, I’m happy to try anything to put an end to my bad luck curse.

Our getaway timing is impeccable, since the center stage sparkles like a diamond tiara as the live entertainment explodes in a blast of light and sound. The glimpses I catch as Orion and I race past are enough to know it’s going to be an incredible show. But I also know what’s coming up at the end of the night; a fucking actual hunt where anyone is fair game.

We’re not the only Noms taking advantage of the distraction, though there are a couple of Noms who get caught up in the spellbinding spectacle. Orion does all he can to snap them free, clicking his fingers or calling their names, but he’s also focused on getting us out of here.

When the lead singer takes to the stage, the crowd roars, the shifters howl, and our pace picks up to an impossible speed.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

STAB IN THE BACK

I pull myself free from Orion’s hand. “Can we slow down? I’m wheezing over here.”

“Are you going to tell me what the demon said yet?” He snatches a hold of my wrist, making it hard for me to stop running.

I consider telling him for a second before picking up my speed again and matching his pace. I’m not telling Orion, because I know exactly what he’ll do—go straight to the source of my latest stress.

Orion means too much to me, and Bael would get way too much entertainment out of tormenting my best friend before breaking him. Probably while I’m watching.

A caw echoes in the distance, and even without seeing Bugby, his call is a part of me now. I’m pretty sure I’d be able to tell him apart from a conspiracy of ravens.

I entertain myself wondering why it’s a murder of crows and a conspiracy of ravens as we dash past Rodderick’s sheds, turning up the path to the dining hall. It’s a good distraction until it’s not.

“Please don’t!”

Orion and I pull to an immediate stop, searching for where the call for help came from.