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The door swung shut behind him with a solid thunk.

Seb was tall, even in his shiny black and white flat-bottomed shoes. He wore his brilliant white suit and had braided locks of his long white hair, ending each in colorful beads. His quick smile flashed with sharp teeth.

Backing up the stairs a few steps gave me some much-needed height over him. “What do you want?”

“Oh, nothing,” he purred, sidling closer. “Just a little chat.”

At eye level, I folded my arms, and tried to ignore my heart’s pounding. The wards would stop him from lashing out, but the empty stairwell wasn’t giving off safe vibes. “I didn’t think you’d be foolish enough to come back here.”

“I’m not the bad guy, Adam. I only ever wanted to help you. But Zodiac and a human? It was never going to work. You’re his food, darling. I was just trying to save you from the inevitable heartache.”

“I thought you’d figured it out? I’m not human and never have been.”

“Oh, I knew that. You never did smell right.” He gave the air a sniff. “But you smell different now.” His sharp teeth gleamed behind a smile. “Weaker . . . and wounded. Like a dying rabbit.”

“You need to leave. You’re not welcome.”

“Where is your vampire bodyguard? Hm?” He approached my step, pushing into my personal space. But the wards hadn’t reacted, so he didn’t mean to harm me. This was all just typical demon posturing. “I imagine Zodiac is already pleasuring the guests?”

“He doesn’t do that anymore, and unless you have something to say that’s worth listening to, this conversation is over.” I turned my back on him and grabbed the rail, to climb up.

Seb’s hand snatched my wrist and jerked me around, chest to chest.

“Hey—”

Fingers cinched around my neck, forcing my head back. I gasped, and tried to dig my nails behind his grip.

“Oh no,” he mock-whined. “Gideon Cain was right. You really are pathetic. Just demon bait, and I’m about to eat you all up.” He pushed his face close to mine. “Like the stupid little human you are.”

What was happening? Why hadn’t the wards kicked in? In the past, I’d have been strong enough to push him off, but I barely had enough strength to keep my eyes open.

My hearted drummed in my ears, darkness rushed in, and Seb’s leering grin followed me into unconsciousness.

The only place left in the hotel that hadn’t been rented out was the attic, and that’s where I coughed myself awake. Dry, musty air scratched my bruised throat, while thick rope secured my wrists to the chair I was slumped in. But it was Seb, gloating near the boarded up attic window that really soured my mood.

He could have killed me.

But hadn’t . . . Which meant he needed something.

Seb raised his right hand and waggled his fingers, displaying a glinting ring. “A gift from Gideon Cain. Aren’t you fuckin’ surprised?”

“Not really.” I had a ring just like it on my finger, but while I could attack Seb, I’d have to get free of the ropes first, and my limited human body was as weak as a kitten. Even if I did manage to untie myself, I was no physical match for him.

Pretending to be human had been a terrible idea. What had I been thinking? Being human was fraught with danger and limitations.

“Let me go now,” I warned. “And I’ll consider not killing you when I do eventually get free.”

Seb gave a disbelieving snort. “How fuckin’ stupid do you have to be to let me stay at your hotel? Gideon sent me to steal your AI bartender, by the way. Just in case you didn’t figure that out.”

“We knew,” I drawled. “Is this going to take long? It’s just, I have a hotel full of guests⁠—”

“Shut up and listen!” He marched forward, shoes striking the dusty boards, and bent down to grab my chin. “I am supposed to take you back so he can grill you about the bean or heart or whatever that fuckin’ thing is that he’s obsessed with, but imma have some fun first, since you’re the reason Zodiac hates me.” Seb flicked a sharp nail down my nose.

“I think he’s mostly always hated yo⁠—”

He gripped my cheeks, squeezing them against my teeth. “You took him from me. You took Razorsedge. You took my life! I’ve been nice to you. Tried to warn you. Even gave you information on Cain. And what do I get? Tied up and shoved in a dark room, that’s what!”

“Maybe,” I mumbled around pinched cheeks. “If you weren’t such a horrible person⁠—”