Sarah Gilman - Deep in Crimson

The humans deserved far worse than the death Jett would deliver to them.

He got to his feet, holding Bryce against his chest, and let flames coat his skin to comfort the child. “How would you like to see your sister?”

The corners of Bryce’s mouth twitched and a hint of color returned to his cheeks. He opened his eyes and nodded.

Jett turned and left his old room, Guardians in tow.

…

“Bryce!” Lexine spotted the Guardians—and Bryce in Jett’s arms—as she paced around the motel’s garden. She broke into a run, crossed the lot, and threw her arms around Jett and her brother.

“Lexi,” Bryce murmured, leaning toward her. “I’m tired.”

“You can sleep.” She kissed his forehead. “We’ll be home by the time you wake up.”

“I’m going to stay here,” Jett said. “If Lawrence or his men left any trail at all, I need to find it. I will finish this.”

Her stomach knotted. “The humans who did this are still out there?”

“Yes.” The single word held enough menace to kill. “But I’ll find them.”

He shifted Bryce to her arms, but her brother reached out and grasped Jett’s jacket. Panic filled his voice. “Don’t go!”

Lexine fought back a fresh wave of tears. His whole life, her shy little brother had only reached out to family, never fearful but always cautious and quiet around strangers and acquaintances. Jett couldn’t realize the significance of Bryce’s request. “Jett, please stay with us.”

“Lawrence is a threat to all.” Vin stepped closer. “We’ll search the town and let you know the minute we find something. In the meantime, you’ll do more good staying here.” He bent toward Jett’s ear and dropped his voice to a near-soundless whisper. “Bryce needs you. Don’t make me kick your ass.”

Jett scoffed, but Bryce yanked on the sleeve of Jett’s jacket. “Please?”

He shoved a hand through his hair. “All right, but you have strange taste in security blankets, kid.”

Bryce smiled.

The Guardians dispersed, some by foot and some in the SUVs, as Jett took her brother from her arms so she could dig the room key from her pocket. She unlocked the door and led them inside the motel room.

Jett settled Bryce on the bed. Her brother curled up among all the extra pillows, and Jett sat, his posture stiff, next to him. Bryce picked at a button on the cuff of Jett’s jacket.

“I have to call home and let them know.” She took her cell phone out of her pocket and turned it on, having forgotten she’d switched it off earlier to save the battery. A message waited.

“Lex? The Guardians have told us what’s going on. I’m here if you want to talk.” Ginger, a human-archangel half-breed, had moved into Sanctuary eleven months ago. Not many in Sanctuary spent time out and about during the day, so Lexine deeply valued the other woman’s company. But, she had to call her mother and father first. She dialed.

A high-pitched chime preceded a recording. “The number you have dialed is not in service.”

Frowning, she dialed again, trying Ginger this time. Same message. The phone showed a strong signal, but Sanctuary only had cell coverage thanks to a tower provided by a wealthy human supporter. Maybe the electrical power had gone out for some reason. That happened every now and then. Maybe another thunderstorm went through.

“What’s wrong?”

“The call isn’t connecting. Maybe the power’s down. Or maybe it’s my phone.”

“Try this one.” He freed his wrist from Bryce and pulled a cell from his jacket pocket. “Vin just gave it to me.”

She dialed but got the damned recording again. “Must be the power.”

“That happen often?” Grinning, Jett jerked his arm away as Bryce reached again for the button. Her brother made fists and Jett pretended to fight him. Bryce “fought” back, though his smile didn’t quite reach the shadows in his eyes.

Lexine watched them for a moment before speaking, her tense muscles easing. Her brother would bounce back from this, especially with Jett around. She didn’t dare say it out loud, but quiet, tentative Bryce would be inconsolable after this trauma if not for this stranger he inexplicably trusted. She understood, though. Something about Jett put her at ease, too. “The colony loses power two or three times a year, usually in severe storms.” She sat on her brother’s other side and whispered, “Thank you, Jett.”

Bryce settled down on the pillows and closed his eyes.

Jett met her gaze, all humor gone from his expression. “Don’t thank me. I was wrong.”

“About what?”

He glanced down at Bryce. “Not here. Just…thank God we got there when we did.”

She shuddered. Did Jett mean Bryce’s life had been in danger, even though he’d assured her otherwise? But Jett had brought him back, alive and mostly unharmed. The bruises…what kind of individuals, of any species, could mistreat a child like that? Did they have no hearts at all?

“Without you, we wouldn’t have known where to find him. Thank you. ” She got up and moved around the bed. Jett stood and she threw her arms around him.

He lifted a hand and stroked the back of her neck, the skin of his hand warm and rough. She breathed in his scent: dark honey and rich tea. His grip tightened and his other hand settled on the small of her back.

But he pulled away too soon, his eyes hooded. “You should get some rest, too. Are you due for some sleep?”

It had been a week since her last sleep. She nodded.

“I’ll keep you safe. If you want to rest, please do.”

She held his gaze for a moment. Though their kind needed sleep only once a week, and only for a couple hours, nothing could wake them from their coma-deep slumber. When sleeping, demons needed to trust their lives to those around them if an emergency arose.

Sincerity warmed his voice in the same tone he used when he promised her he’d bring Bryce back—so different from his more typical, gruff manner. Though she didn’t know him well, she did trust him enough to close her eyes for a while, even though the men who took her brother were still out there. Would they attack again? She curled up next to Bryce and shut her eyes, trying not to think about it.

Jett paced around the hotel room for hours. Where the hell were Vin and the others? He opened the curtain an inch so he could survey the parking lot. Deserted. With a sigh, he turned back to the bed.

His thoughts sunk their teeth in Lawrence. Where had the son of a bitch gone? Why attack the colony and kidnap a young demon only to leave that demon to die in the abandoned lab?

He scoffed at his own questions. All that mattered was finding him. And killing him.

Both Lexine and Bryce slept, dead to the world and peaceful. Her mouth curved in a grin that complemented the smooth line of her jaw. She murmured in her sleep, the words unintelligible, and laughed.

Good. She deserved a few nice dreams. He approached the bed and fixed the blanket where it had slipped from her shoulder.

Her smile vanished. “No.”

Had her dreams shifted to nightmares?

She thrashed against the covers and hissed, baring her fangs.

“Whoa.” He sat on the edge of the bed and held her shoulders. What the hell was he supposed to do? A growl ripped from her throat. He touched her hot, sweat-moistened cheek.

She jerked her head to the side and her fangs sank into the base of his thumb—narrowly missing the bone—and her jaw locked in place.

“ Fuck! ” He stayed still despite the sharp pain. If he pulled away, he’d rip his own flesh. He tried a gentle tug. “Lexine, let go.”

Still lost to sleep, she didn’t move. The venom spread up his arm, its progress marked by tingling heat, harmless thanks to his natural immunity.