Vowed in Shadows by Jessa Slade Page B

well enough to at least make it shiny.”
    She scowled. “All I knew, I had a weird night and I woke up with some trashy jewelry lying on my floor. Could’ve come from anywhere.” When he rolled his eyes in disbelief, she added defensively, “I have a lot of loving customers, and they tuck their gifts in a lot of places.”
    He held up his hand to forestall further explanation. “Which neighbor? And where does he pawn his goods?” Or evils, in this case.
    â€œYou going to chop off his head too?”
    â€œNot before he directs me to the anklet.” When was the last time he’d had to justify himself to another? The feeling chafed like the hook against his scar tissue. “I have never chopped off a human’s head, and I don’t plan to start. Is that answer enough?”
    She crossed her arms, jaw set mulishly off-kilter.
    â€œNim,” he said with strained patience. “If there’s a demonic weapon loose in the city, don’t you agree it’d be wise to find it?” With each word, his voice got louder.
    â€œI suppose I should’ve asked for more money.” And still she hesitated another moment. “It’s Pete, down the hall in 713. But he won’t answer the door for just anyone. I’ll go with you.”
    â€œClean up first. The blood on you will unnerve him more than I will.” Jonah scuffed the hook along his thigh as he gave her a once-over. Just looking at her made his missing hand twitch. “After we retrieve the anklet, I suppose you have to meet the rest of the league. You should wear something . . .”
    She set her arms akimbo, the tight clench of her fingers dragging the already low-slung waistband another inch past her navel. “Wear something what?”
    He backpedaled mentally. “Something without ichor holes.”
    â€œRemember how you said you really liked my honesty?”
    â€œI don’t think I said that exactly.”
    She wrapped one long dread around the rest and tucked the edge under in a makeshift restraint and stood square to face him. “Honestly, I don’t want to go anywhere else with you. I don’t want to meet anyone you know. Now that I think about it—actually, I didn’t even really have to think about it—I don’t want to know you .”
    The scornful words grated along his nerves. “Biblically, it’s a little late for that. We can’t reverse this.”
    â€œWho said anything about reverse? If I really am faster and stronger, I figure I’m going to have a killer new routine worked out before the Viva Las Showgirls finals. I might even try fire dancing, since I’m immortal and all.”
    He stared at her. “You’d turn your damnation into a striptease?”
    â€œWhat are you doing with it that’s so much better?”
    â€œDestroying evil.” The hook dug into his leg. “Winning back my soul.”
    She shrugged. “That monster only attacked because you lured it in. And you only notice your soul is lost because you’re still looking.”
    â€œWrong.” He all but choked on the word. Her casual denial of what had happened to her—not disbelief, just dismissal—shocked him. “Possession wasn’t a choice, and neither is what you do next. The demon chose you to fight.”
    â€œI’m a lover, not a fighter.” The sharp edge to her smile belied her words. “It should’ve asked me first.”
    â€œIt did. Not in words. Still, you accepted it.”
    She waved one hand. “Entrapment. It’ll never stand up in court.”
    Frustration made his temples throb. “You’ve already been judged and found guilty. And sentenced.”
    She wrinkled her lip. “By you.”
    â€œI played no part in your possession.”
    â€œDidn’t you?” A merciless glint brightened her fathoms-deep eyes. “I saw you in my dream, you know. The one where you