Vivi Anna - Releasing the Hunter

Although she couldn’t see his face, Ivy knew the demon was also looking around, trying to figure out how he was going to escape unscathed. She could’ve told him that was an impossibility. After another minute, she sensed that he came to the same conclusion because she felt him relax a little.

“If I answer your questions, will you let me go?”

Quinn nodded. “Yes, but first you let my sister go.”

The demon shook his head. “No, I think I’ll keep her for a little while longer, just in case.” He turned her head so she could look at his face. “You don’t mind, do you, baby?”

She glared at him, and then croaked, “No, not at all, dickhead.”

He chuckled, but it had a nervous twitter to it. “Ask your questions.”

“Have you heard of the Chest of Sorrows?”

The demon shrugged, which caused his hand to move, which caused another slit along her skin.

“Watch your blade, asshole,” Ivy barked.

“Oh, sorry, sugar.” He lifted it slightly, enough that she considered her next move. He may have afforded her enough space between her neck and blade where she could safely break his hold on her.

“Was that a yes or no answer?” Quinn asked, his hand lowered to his sides now. It looked like he was gearing up to make a move, as well.

“I may have.”

“Do you know where it is?”

“No. But I might know who does.”

“Who?”

“Before I tell you, I want a guarantee I’ll get out of here alive.”

“I give you my word,” Quinn said.

The demon shook his head. “Sorry, but somehow that doesn’t give me any confidence.” He backed up again, taking Ivy with him. “No, I’ll just take pretty sis here with me until I think I’m safe, and then I’ll tell you.”

Quinn kept in step with them, about five feet away at all times. He looked at Ivy; she knew he was asking her the question, Can you safely get away? She didn’t know for sure. The demon had a pretty tight hold on her, demons were megastrong and that lousy blade kept wavering dangerously at the main vein in her neck. If she made a mistake, moved too fast, went too slow, that tip could easily slide in and she’d be done for. She couldn’t heal from something like that. If only Ronan were here, then maybe she’d consider it. He wouldn’t let her die.

The demon kept backing up until he came to the street. There was an old sedan parked partially on the curb. He backed up to it, then smashed in the driver’s-side window with his elbow. Reaching behind him, he opened the door.

“You first, little sister.”

Ivy looked at Quinn for a cue. His eyes widened and then a little smirk grew on his face. What was he trying to tell her? Something was obviously going on.

“You just damaged my car, my friend. Big mistake.” The deep voice vibrated over her and she closed her eyes in relief.

Next thing she knew, the demon was no longer holding her hostage. He was flying backwards over the car and out onto the street. Ivy swirled around to see Ronan standing on the roof of the car.

He jumped down, walked to the fallen demon, grabbed him by the shirt collar and dragged him back to the car. He pushed him up against the hood and slapped something on his chest. It was one of her devil’s-trap stickers.

He caught her looking at it and shrugged. “You left some in my gear.” He then motioned toward Quinn. “You can ask your questions now.”

As Quinn moved forward, Ronan stepped away. Ivy wasn’t surprised. He wouldn’t know what Quinn would do. He did steal the key and all. Yeah, he brought it back, but in Quinn’s eyes it didn’t matter.

And did it matter to her? She didn’t know. All she knew was that her heart thudded in her chest and her gut clenched when she looked at him.

He moved toward her, his steps hesitant. It looked like he’d bolt at a second’s notice.

“Thanks,” she said. “Again. For saving me.”

He gave her a little smile. “Seems to be a habit of mine.” He pointed to her neck. “You’re bleeding pretty good there.”

She touched her throat; her hand came away smeared in crimson. She could feel warm trickles sneaking under the collar of her shirt. “Yeah, he nicked me a few times too many.”

He stepped even closer to her. She could smell him now. A dark, dangerous scent clung to him like shadows. “Let me see.” He touched her neck with just his fingertips.

She shivered as a warm sensation drew over her throat, down her shoulders and ventured lower still. She felt her nipples harden instantly under her shirt. She stifled the urge to cover her breasts with her arm to stop him from noticing. It didn’t matter. He noticed. She could tell by the slow, lazy smile that spread over his face and the gleam in his dark eyes.

He dropped his hand from her and took a step back. “There. The bleeding should stop.”

She stared at him for a long moment, taking everything about him in. He looked the same. Maybe his hair was a little longer; the ends flirted with his earlobes. But he was the same. And in that moment she remembered every reason why she fell in love with him. Those reasons hadn’t gone away.

“I like your necklace.”

She reached up and stroked a hand over the silver cross. “At least it’s just a cross.”

His lips twitched a little. “Yeah, good thing, that.”

“I gave the key to Quinn.”

“I figured you would. It’s best with him anyway.”

“Why did you bring it back?”

He looked at her, as if memorizing every nuance on her face, every line, every slope and every muscle. “Because being human meant never having a chance to be a man with you.”

Her heart skipped a beat in her chest and she had to fight down the urge to let the tears welling in her eyes fall. Instead, she cleared her throat and kicked at a small pebble on the ground. “Quinn won’t ever forgive you. I can’t promise you that he won’t try to kill you later.”

“I don’t care.” He reached for her hand and took it in his. “All I need to know is...can you forgive me?”

Her skin warmed in his, and the sensation crept over her wrist and up to her biceps. He was doing that thing he knew she liked, when he transferred some of his power into her. It was sneaky, but she couldn’t stop the giddiness inside her stomach. It was one more thing she liked about him.

“I don’t know. Maybe in time.”

“Good.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss on the back, and then he let her go. He turned to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“Giving you that time.” He gave her one of his devilish smiles and walked out into the night, the shadows along the street swallowing him up.

The jerk, she thought. He’d done it to her on purpose.

Every night for the past week since seeing him on the street in front of the club, she’d been waiting for him to show up at her house.

She would eat dinner, watch some TV, dress for bed then sit in her dark bedroom waiting for the knock at the door or at the window. It wouldn’t have even surprised her if he slipped into the house unseen and unheard to take her by surprise.

But he hadn’t shown and she was growing more impatient and frustrated with every passing minute.

Just the way he wanted her, she suspected.

She could’ve called him on his cell phone, but she didn’t want to seem desperate. She didn’t want him to have the upper hand. She was supposed to be trying to find ways to forgive him, when in reality she’d forgiven him the second she’d seen the hanging necklace glinting in the moonlight. She would’ve welcomed him back into her arms gladly.

Tonight, she’d met Jake for some prep on a new job. He’d had information she needed. He’d also informed her that the Crimson Hall Cabal was after her and to watch her back. Once they’d met, they’d talked, had a drink, then she’d left with Jake’s warning fresh in her mind.