AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My gaze flew to Raiden, and he avoided looking at me. I narrowed my eyes at him. He could have told me this when I came home, and he didn't.
"He is mortal," I said, stating the obvious, it wasn’t an insult. I would not be responsible for his death.
"I can handle my own. I rush into fires for a living," Raiden said.
"Fires are not the same thing as a living, breathing prince of Hell. The answer is no, I'll get someone else to help," I replied. I cocked my head at him and raised my brow as my lips pinched together.
“You need help with this one, Sammy, you haven’t faced a high-level demon before on your own.” The sigh that left my mom had my attention swinging back to her. “He is who I have chosen as your partner.”
I stood up, giving myself an advantage over my still-sitting parents. My fists balled at my sides as I threw an angry glare at each of them. I knew what her words meant, she may be retired from all of this, but she was still the one that told me what to do. My mom and boss all in one fierce package.
“Why out of everyone you can think of you pick Raiden? Have all of you lost your minds? I’m not accepting his help.” I met Raiden’s unrelenting stare. Something flickered in the depths of his gray eyes and seemed to be brimming with secrets and regret. I shook my head to clear it of the crazy thought, before adding, “I mean it.”
He wouldn't win this fight, I didn’t care if it was an order.
CHAPTER 2
Samantha
My anger was still strummingthrough me that evening as I prowled the dark streets, looking for demons to slay. How could they suggest Raiden? Did he mean that little to my brother and parents that putting his life in danger was a-ok with them? Well, it wasn't okay with me, he was my childhood crush, and I may never have a future with him, but that didn't mean I wanted him dead.
Ahead of me, I watched a demon lead an unsuspecting female down a dark alleyway. Why would you ever go into a dark alley with a stranger, no matter how handsome he appeared? Some of these girls were almost too stupid to live. Who did stuff like that? The girl that just did it, obviously. I picked up my pace and followed them into the darkness. He had wasted no time and was feasting on her, pulling her soul from her body bit by bit.
The woman's mouth was open in a silent scream as her body convulsed. Unstrapping my dagger, I drew it out as silently as I could, not that either of them were paying attention to their surroundings. I shoved the blade into his back, right where his heart would be. A flame erupted and devoured his skin. An inhuman cry fell from his mouth as he turned on me. I backedaway slowly, the fire would kill him soon. The metal was a gift from the Goddess Artemis, or so they say. I had never met the woman that is supposed to be a distant relative if the stories are true.
I watched with a sneer on my lips as he shriveled up and died at my feet. The woman gasped, coming out of whatever trance he had put her in, and ran past me, tears streaking her face. She might not remember what had happened to her, but the fear of the dark would stick with her for the rest of her life. Maybe then she wouldn't do stupid shit like that again.
Wiping off the dagger, I slid it back into its sheath and exited the alley. The first kill of many for the night. It felt like the stream of demons from the underworld was never-ending lately, not to mention the vamps that went rogue. Technically, they were demons too, they just lived here, and some of them weren't that horrible. Don't tell that to my family, though. No vacations for me. It almost made me want to drop into Fantasia, Lex's supernatural bar. No hunting on the premises, but I could usually find a demon to follow and kill later. No rules against that. A quick drink, a little flirting, and relaxation before the rest of the night drained my energy. I could even talk to Lex about helping me with the demon prince.
Mind made up, I pivoted on my heel and headed for Fantasia in the industrial district. It was at times like these that I missed Brook. But she was busy ruling an entire realm with her four Fae princes, and if she was here, she would have stayed home with her books, anyway. So I would have been alone in the dorm at U of M either way. Eventually, she would have a break and come to visit. Or maybe I'd sneak off to see her. Melancholy filled me, I missed having someone close to me, even if I couldn't share my real life with them. I didn't want a relationship to tie me down, but I wished for friends every once in a while. Sure, I textedRaiden every day, but he was only friendly with me because Ty was his best friend.
I approached the rundown-looking building; the magic shimmered over the surface before it fell away, and I saw the troll that guarded the door most nights eyeing me warily.
"Hey, George, how's it going tonight?" I asked, fake cheer in my voice and a smile painted across my face.
"It was great before you showed up," he grumbled, and my smile widened.
"Awe, I missed you too, big guy," I replied as he held the door open for me.
I gave him a pat on his large shoulder as I stepped past him into the smokey hallway. The loud music led the way to the dance floor, and I skirted around it and back to the bar Lex always ran.
His back was to me when I climbed onto my stool. He was chatting with some fairy girl, and I pushed down the slight jealousy that tried to take root.We were not doing that, I chided myself.We had absolutely no claim on the demigod. Was the sex amazing? Yes, it was, but that still didn't equal a relationship.
By the time he pulled himself away from the beauty and turned to serve his other customers, his vibrant hazel-green gaze landed on me, and his face lit up with a smile that made my heart flip over in my chest.None of that shit, fuck.He sauntered down the bar, cleaning a glass with his towel, his eyes never leaving me.
"Back for more?" he asked after he made me a long island iced tea.
"Trying to get me drunk?" I raised an eyebrow as I lifted the almost pure alcohol drink and took a sip. His were always the best, but so dangerous because they never tasted like they could have you sleeping in some random bed.
The side of his mouth lifted in a half smirk, but he didn't confirm or deny my accusation. Not that he needed to get me drunk to have me knocking on his door, looking to scratch an itch. I'd do that completely sober. Taking my drink, I pushed away from the counter and surveyed the room, looking for a mark.
"No hunting, Sam," Lex called to me, and I waved his words away as I scanned the area for demons.
There were a couple of demons on the dance floor. They just seemed like they were enjoying the night, dancing with other supernaturals, so I skipped them, continuing my search. There was always at least one that had a human on their arm. My gaze snagged on a demon across the room. He was sitting in a booth on the other side of the space, the shadows made only his red eyes glow through the dim light, he was alone.
Keeping my attention on him, I danced my way to the floor. If he moved, I would see it. I held my drink above my head as I let the music seep into my muscles and take control. Dancing allowed me a freedom I didn't get otherwise, and I gave into it, forgetting for just a moment that I had a job to do. I closed my eyes as every beat thrummed through my body. Hands fell to my waist, interrupting my sway, and I adjusted to dance with whoever it was. They had a good flow, and the warmth from their body heated mine.
A spark of awareness started in my belly when I a very male body press against my back. The music slowed, and his nose ran along my neck, his hands ran over my stomach, above my shirt. Still, my nipples pebbled inside my shirt, wanting his touch. Damn, I hadn't even seen his face.
