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ChapterEight
Joelle hadn’t meant to unleash her powers more than the least bit necessary to gain Alexei’s attention, to keep him from doing something he might regret. She certainly hadn’t meant to light the inside of the SUV like she had become one of the massive studio grids from the party earlier. Regardless of his jacket dampening the glow that snuck around the collar and cuffs of the heavy fabric, the symbols beneath her skin on her face, legs, and hands blared as bright as those distant sweeping strobes from ships on the ocean she’d wanted to see so badly.
Her demon prince lowered the pistol.Mission accomplished. Even if it meant all three men stared at her as if she’d grown a second head.
She wanted to glare right back. After all, she blamed Alexei for the supercharge in her magic given the low hum of powers that had been buzzing between their joined hands throughout the ride.
The guard in the front passenger seat spoke first. “Shit, Alexei, when you mentioned your mate’s an angel, I didn’t think you meant for real.”
“She’s not my mate,” Alexei answered, his voice gruff.
The rejection stung, twisting her gut and stifling her magic. So much for him beingherdemon prince. He didn’t say anything about the rest of his bodyguard’s accusation. True, she didn’t know where she came from, but she’d never heard Noxx talk about actual angels. The Order had documented rare creatures from selkies tociguapasto a mermaid. No magic-born had escaped their cruel study. Yet she hadn’t come across an angel in her years of gathering intel through eavesdropping or going through research.
The bodyguard shook his head. “But—”
He cut off at a scowl from Alexei. “She’s not my mate.” Each word sounded like a needle popping the bubbles of hope she’d floated along throughout the evening.
“Nor am I an angel.” She almost snarled the denial. “Your name?” she asked the guard.
“Eddie, and it’s a pleasure.” He grinned and stuck out a hand.
“Don’t touch her,” Alexei said.
“Excuse you.” Joelle pushed between the grumpy prince and his guard. “Hi, Eddie.” Glancing to the driver, she softened her voice. “Kyle, it’s nice to meet you as well. Now, let’s sort this out, shall we?”
“Okay.” His answer came out as a rough whisper.
“I’m sorry the Order has taken your mother. They held me for years, but I can’t imagine how worried you might be for her or what a horrible position you’ve been put in. Is she human or a demon hybrid like you?”
He met her gaze with wide eyes that held surprise and hurt. “Mom’s human, and she’s done nothing wrong. I don’t know how they took her or why.”
“They target supernaturals so it’s likely they tracked her from someone she knew.”
“Like me?” He sounded stricken.
“Could’ve been anyone who knew she had magical contacts within the community.”
“No,” Alexei said. “Another demon hybrid wouldn’t have ratted him or his mother out because they know the penalty would’ve been death.”
Joelle wanted to ask if he had a silencing spell in that charm box of his because he wasn’t helping the situation. In fact, he was making things worse with Kyle looking terrified again. She rounded on the demon prince, who’d rejected her as if she’d been a problem he needed to solve instead of someone he cared about. She’d imagined a mutual attraction in a man who’d seen her as nothing more than another person to rescue. Well, he’d cured her of that notion so she would remedy his delusion. “What would you do for your family, Alexei? For your sister or your cousin?”
His expression transformed from handsome protector to harsh killer. “Anything.”
Perfect. He’d played into her trap as she’d guessed he would given their earlier conversation. “Which is exactly how the Order infiltrates supernatural communities. They prey upon our love for family, for friends, for anyone who matters. Just as they tortured me so my brother would mark targets for them, whoever gave them information that eventually led them to Kyle and now you—they played them the exact same way. As I said earlier, let me handle this.” She put an extra bite in her tone. No, she didn’t have wings or muscles like him, but she understood Noxx and the Order better than anyone.
Alexei didn’t look happy. In fact, he seemed as ruthless as he had a moment before, but he nodded, and she could work with that.
“Kyle,” she said, acting as if they hadn’t been interrupted. “No one blames you for what happened to your mother. Do you want her home more than anything?”
“Yes.” He glanced to Alexei and back. “I mean, I’m loyal to my king, and I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me, but she’s my mom.”
“I understand.” Joelle didn’t—not really. She’d never known her mother, but now wouldn’t be the time to mention that detail. “Did you leave the car tonight to go into the party, to meet a contact, or for any reason?”
“No.” He answered so quickly, so firmly that she didn’t doubt his honesty. “I stayed in this seat the entire time waiting for a call to come pick the boss up. He normally drives himself, but we had protocol in place in case something happened.” Seeming to catch himself, he paused. “Which it did. I feel bad for whoever they hurt tonight, and I’m sorry for what they did to you. I wasn’t trying to listen to your conversation, but you said torture? How could they do that to you? To anyone?” He trailed off as though considering the possibility of his mother suffering the same.
Joelle couldn’t let him obsess over what he couldn’t control, not now. “Did you give the Order any information about Alexei’s travel plans tonight? Or about his sister’s?”
“I didn’t. I swear.”
