Vivi Anna - Seducing the Hunter

Smirking, she shook her head. “You and your rules.”

“I just want to make sure I don’t end up with a knife in my back and you on the run.”

She pinned him with her gaze. He had to suppress a shiver. “Despite everything, I can’t believe you’d even think I would do that to you.”

Her words gave him a slight pause. He had to keep chanting in his mind, she’s a demon, she’s a demon, and not the woman I fell in love with . But her gaze was fierce and hard and serious. As if he’d actually hurt her feelings by even suggesting she would betray him like that.

“Wouldn’t you?” He met her gaze right on. He wasn’t about to back down, to cower before her.

She took a step away from him, then licking her lips, she glanced up the stairs. “I’m earthbound to you, Quinn. I couldn’t run even if I wanted to. And for the other part, quit being a dick and maybe I won’t consider it.”

He laughed at that. He couldn’t help it. In the past, the insult had been one of Rachel’s favorite things to call him when he was being difficult. It had always made him laugh when she said it.

Surprised, she looked at him and smiled. “Oh, so there is a human being in there somewhere.”

“Yeah, deeply buried.”

“I knew it.”

His laughter died down and he set his shoulders straight. They had to get to work. He suspected the Cabal would be on his ass soon. Once they found out that Daeva had been called out of hell, and by whom, they would have little time.

“So, where are we going?”

“Well, we’ll need a car, lots of gas and supplies.”

“Where are we going, Daeva?”

She sighed. “Look, I can’t tell you that. It’s for your own safety. If you’re captured and questioned, you can’t give them the location.”

“And I won’t be able to ditch you, either.”

She ran her tongue over her top lip. “There is that, too.”

He nodded, resigned to having to do it her way for a while. He just wanted to find the chest. If he had to follow her directions he’d do it. “Fine.”

“Great. Now that that’s solved. I need to clean up.” She pushed past him to go up the stairs. “Do you have any bubble bath?”

Chapter 7

“No, I don’t have any damn bubble bath,” Quinn growled at her as he mounted the stairs behind her.

From the stairs she came out into the kitchen. It was small and cozy with a compact island in the middle. The scent of the sauce he’d made for the spaghetti still clung to the air.

She looked left then right. “Where’s your bathroom?”

“Upstairs.”

She moved through the kitchen and into the living room. She took in the destruction. “Maid’s day off?”

“Courtesy of your goblin friend, again, and the Cabal.”

She didn’t comment as she strode across the room and up the staircase, Quinn right on her heels.

“We don’t have time for your frivolous needs, Daeva. We should be on the move.”

She found the bathroom, but turned toward him before entering. “Look, I’ve spent the last few years in a stinking cesspool of misery and mayhem, thanks to you no less. I’m taking time to wash off the smell.”

“Well, since I’m the one that called you forth and released you, I think that makes me in charge.”

She smiled at him, putting a hand on one hip. “I may be bound to you, honey, but you don’t command me. There’s a huge difference, you know?”

He frowned. “I know the difference.”

“No, I don’t think you do.” She took a step back into the bathroom, then slammed the door shut on Quinn’s next protestation. With a satisfied sigh, she locked the door.

“Daeva, we don’t have time for this crap.”

“Sure we do, lover. While I bathe this beautiful body of mine why don’t you get what you need ready. Make sure you pack an extra pair of shorts, it’s going to be a long trip.”

She heard his exasperated sigh, and it tickled her inside. Let him suffer for a while. Fair was fair. Besides, she really did want to wash off the stench of sulfur she was sure still clung to her skin and clothes.

Plus, it would give her a bit of a reprieve from the sensations surging through her at seeing Quinn again. She didn’t think it would be this hard to be near him, with his masculine scent tantalizing her senses. The urge to touch him warred with the desire to slug him in his pointy nose.

Maybe she was being silly by demanding a bath when obviously there was a level of danger hovering over everything. But she found she couldn’t just jump in as Quinn’s traveling partner, however forced it was. It was a bit too much too soon. She’d just returned from three years in hell, sent there by the man beyond the door. She needed a little time to decompress her anger. Anger that she was surprised she still harbored. Seeing him face-to-face manifested that bitterness.

Daeva turned on the sink tap and splashed cold water on her face. She looked up into the mirror at herself. It was strange to be topside in her true form, well, almost true form. She was minus the fangs and glowy-type skin. She’d gotten so used to seeing Rachel’s face in the mirror that her real appearance sometimes startled her. She could just imagine what it was doing to Quinn. Maybe she should give him a break. This was probably just as difficult for him as it was for her. She gave him credit though, for swallowing his enormous pride and calling her. Asking a demon for help must’ve really pricked him in the ass.

Straightening, she patted her face dry with the hand towel. She opened the door. She supposed she’d give him that break. Although his suffering was sweet, she did possess a heart and conscience somewhere deep inside.

He was there leaning against the wall when she stepped out.

“I thought you needed a bath?”

She shrugged. “Nah, I just needed a minute to adjust to topside. It’s a bit unstable up here. The Earth’s always moving.”

He stared at her as though he didn’t know whether to believe her or not. He opened his mouth to respond but she grabbed his arm and yanked him to her.

His eyes widened when she leaned into his ear. “We have company.”

“Are you sure?” Quinn whispered.

She nodded. “Sounds like three or four men. Two at the front, one or two at the back.”

“Damn it.” He cursed a few more times. “Must be the Cabal. They’re earlier than I thought.”

“I could go blast them.”

He shook his head. “No. No blasting until we absolutely need to.” He moved to the stairs. “We have to get back to the basement.”

She followed him, close behind. “Won’t we be trapping ourselves?”

He shook his head. “Trust me. I’m always prepared.”

They made it back downstairs without incident. He rushed to one wall, slid his hands along the wallboard until he found a groove. He dug his fingers into it and pulled a piece off. Behind it were two duffel bags.

He grabbed them both, tossing one to her, then he pointed to the small window. “We’ll go out that way. I have a car parked about five blocks away for emergencies.”

She watched him pull the metal bars from the opening. Obviously they were there only for show. He tossed his bag through then dragged a chair over and set it underneath.

“You first.”

Although she was better equipped to stay behind and deal with the Cabal if they rushed down the stairs, she didn’t argue with him. Stepping up onto the chair, she pushed her bag out then reached through the window, grabbed hold of a tree root that was pushing through the grass and pulled herself up. Kicking her legs, she managed to wriggle her way out the small opening.

Once on her feet, she reached down and helped pull Quinn through. It proved a little harder for him to squeeze out the window opening. He was much thicker than she was.