pensive
expression flitted through his eyes. “That’s not what you
want.”
“Don’t tell me
what I want! I just lost the only person who ever loved me. The
only man I ever loved. Don’t assume you know what I want.”
“You’re in
shock. You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I want Raef
back. Can you do it? That’s all I want to know. Can you do it?”
He gave a
slight nod. “I could make a deal but the stakes are high.”
“For who?”
“Everyone. The
Twilight Master calls in favors. Your boyfriend would not be the
same man if you make a deal with the devil to bring him back. He
would be in debt and I don’t think you want that.”
Flame hung her
head and sobbed. “I don’t know where to go. For the first time in
my life I feel lost.”
“What about
your secret society of warriors? Can’t you stay with them?”
She glared at
him, drawing her lips together tightly. “Don’t even try to fish
information out of me.”
“You know what
and who I am. I know who you are and what you have to offer. Let’s
not play games.”
“Why are you
here? You told me the next time we met you wouldn’t be a gentleman.
Yet here you are, pretending to be a caring friend. I might be numb
with grief but I am not stupid. You have no feelings. You only seek
to fulfill your mission…a fight you lost the first time.”
He arched one
brow in a casual manner. “You’re half right. I did have other
intentions for the second time we crossed paths.” He sighed. “But
when I saw you…I didn’t have the heart to mess with your head.
Don’t ask me why. I haven’t felt anything in decades. I have no
idea why I feel sorry for you now.”
“I don’t need
your pity. I need revenge.”
“On who?”
“The bastard
who killed Raef. He barged into the house and knifed him without
provocation. He just became number one of my list of targets.” She
shot him a warning look. “Which dropped you down to second. Must be
your lucky day.”
“I’m
flattered.”
She scowled at
him. “Don’t be. Once Cooper O’Toole is dead, I’ll be gunning for
you. This war has only begun. Did your evil master bring more
creepers back along with you?”
“I can’t tell
you that.”
“Oh yeah, I
forgot, you work for the evil side. Get lost.” She turned and
started to walk up the street.
He followed
alongside on his bike. “Did you say Coop took out Jackson?”
“Yeah and stop
following me. I can walk back to Raef’s for my bike.”
“Let me give
you a ride. We need to talk.”
She stopped in
her tracks and glanced his way. “About what?”
“We just struck
a common bond.”
“Lies, more
lies. You’re trying to trick me.”
“What if I’m
not? You know how this war works. One of us must win.” He grabbed
her arm. “Do you think it will be you?”
Their eyes met
and locked. Rage and sorrow bubbled in her soul. His intriguing
eyes drew her in. She spied something in there that warranted a
closer look. Is it possible that his humanity is beginning to
show? She recalled what the Lioness had said about making Von
feel again and that by using a human’s body to bring him back the
evil realm instilled a sense of humanity in him. What is Von’s
story? Could this be the tiny window of opportunity? If so,
then Raef’s death would not be entirely in vain if her intense
sorrow had evoked feelings in Von. Regardless, that didn’t ease her
pain. Still, if anything good could come from this senseless act
of violence, then perhaps I shouldn’t ignore the
possibility.
At that moment,
she longed for a sign, anything to reveal a glimmer of hope. She
gazed up at the night sky. Raef…where are you? Did you hear me
when I said that I love you? Tears welled in her eyes again,
making them burn. Von released his hold on her arm and she could
feel him staring at her.
“He knows.”
“What?” She
turned her gaze toward him with a sharp turn of her head.
“Jackson, he
heard you. He knows that you love him.”
Flame
expression flitted through his eyes. “That’s not what you
want.”
“Don’t tell me
what I want! I just lost the only person who ever loved me. The
only man I ever loved. Don’t assume you know what I want.”
“You’re in
shock. You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I want Raef
back. Can you do it? That’s all I want to know. Can you do it?”
He gave a
slight nod. “I could make a deal but the stakes are high.”
“For who?”
“Everyone. The
Twilight Master calls in favors. Your boyfriend would not be the
same man if you make a deal with the devil to bring him back. He
would be in debt and I don’t think you want that.”
Flame hung her
head and sobbed. “I don’t know where to go. For the first time in
my life I feel lost.”
“What about
your secret society of warriors? Can’t you stay with them?”
She glared at
him, drawing her lips together tightly. “Don’t even try to fish
information out of me.”
“You know what
and who I am. I know who you are and what you have to offer. Let’s
not play games.”
“Why are you
here? You told me the next time we met you wouldn’t be a gentleman.
Yet here you are, pretending to be a caring friend. I might be numb
with grief but I am not stupid. You have no feelings. You only seek
to fulfill your mission…a fight you lost the first time.”
He arched one
brow in a casual manner. “You’re half right. I did have other
intentions for the second time we crossed paths.” He sighed. “But
when I saw you…I didn’t have the heart to mess with your head.
Don’t ask me why. I haven’t felt anything in decades. I have no
idea why I feel sorry for you now.”
“I don’t need
your pity. I need revenge.”
“On who?”
“The bastard
who killed Raef. He barged into the house and knifed him without
provocation. He just became number one of my list of targets.” She
shot him a warning look. “Which dropped you down to second. Must be
your lucky day.”
“I’m
flattered.”
She scowled at
him. “Don’t be. Once Cooper O’Toole is dead, I’ll be gunning for
you. This war has only begun. Did your evil master bring more
creepers back along with you?”
“I can’t tell
you that.”
“Oh yeah, I
forgot, you work for the evil side. Get lost.” She turned and
started to walk up the street.
He followed
alongside on his bike. “Did you say Coop took out Jackson?”
“Yeah and stop
following me. I can walk back to Raef’s for my bike.”
“Let me give
you a ride. We need to talk.”
She stopped in
her tracks and glanced his way. “About what?”
“We just struck
a common bond.”
“Lies, more
lies. You’re trying to trick me.”
“What if I’m
not? You know how this war works. One of us must win.” He grabbed
her arm. “Do you think it will be you?”
Their eyes met
and locked. Rage and sorrow bubbled in her soul. His intriguing
eyes drew her in. She spied something in there that warranted a
closer look. Is it possible that his humanity is beginning to
show? She recalled what the Lioness had said about making Von
feel again and that by using a human’s body to bring him back the
evil realm instilled a sense of humanity in him. What is Von’s
story? Could this be the tiny window of opportunity? If so,
then Raef’s death would not be entirely in vain if her intense
sorrow had evoked feelings in Von. Regardless, that didn’t ease her
pain. Still, if anything good could come from this senseless act
of violence, then perhaps I shouldn’t ignore the
possibility.
At that moment,
she longed for a sign, anything to reveal a glimmer of hope. She
gazed up at the night sky. Raef…where are you? Did you hear me
when I said that I love you? Tears welled in her eyes again,
making them burn. Von released his hold on her arm and she could
feel him staring at her.
“He knows.”
“What?” She
turned her gaze toward him with a sharp turn of her head.
“Jackson, he
heard you. He knows that you love him.”
Flame
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