Page 45 of The Devil's Waltz

She barks out a laugh. “I’ve been training a long ass time for a moment like this.”

“Yeah, and I’d rather it not be your last,” I say through my teeth and tense when I feel the heat of Xander’s body closer at my back.

“No one needs to get hurt,” he says in a level tone.

“It’s a little late for that,” I mutter, blinking away the sting of tears in my eyes.

“Cami, I’m not going to ask again.” Harper’s voice is firm. She’s not going to let up.

I step closer to her with my heart in my throat. “Whatever you have planned, it’s not going to work.” I lower my voice, and my bottom lip trembles. “He’s the prince of hell. You’re not going up against one of the most powerful demons in existence.”

Her eyes are wide, still burning with rage. “I’m sure as shit not going to leave youalonewith him.”

I close my eyes, my hands balling into fists at my sides. “In the hall,” I say before grabbing her hand and dragging her out the door, leaving Xander inside.

He makes no move to stop us, and everything in me is screaming to run. Run fast and far, but demons love nothing more than the chase.

We wouldn’t get far, and I won’t put Harper in danger.

He must know that. Otherwise, I doubt he would let us leave. I think. I don’t know anything for sure—not anymore.

She barely waits for the door to close between us and him before jumping in. “Do you understand what’s happening right now or are you in shock? Because—”

“I need answers.”

“What if he lies? Are you expecting him to say something that’ll make you feel better?”

“No,” I answer honestly, “but I need to know why.”

“I don’t know for sure, but I have a pretty good idea why. And it starts and ends with your parents.”

The color drains from my face.

Son of a bitch.

“He’s using me to get to them,” I breathe.

“That’s all I can come up with.”

I glance over my shoulder at the closed door. “I want to hear him say it.” I turn back to her. “You can stay here—righthere—but I’m going back in there.”

He’s already had plenty of time to kill me if that’s what he wanted to do. But he obviously needs me for something. So long as that remains true, he’ll keep me alive. The notion sours my stomach, but it gives me enough courage to face him again.

Harper opens her mouth as if she’s about to protest, but then pauses. “Fine,” she finally says, “but if I think for a second something’s gone wrong, I’m coming in.”

“Deal.” Turning to open the door, I pause when Harper says my name.

“Be careful. Please.”

Exhaling a heavy breath, I take a second before walking back inside, closing the door behind me.

Xander is leaning on the wall he held me against only minutes ago.

I rip the bandaid off. “What’s your endgame here? Did you just want to screw with me because of who my parents are?”

He flicks his tongue over his bottom lip, and I hate that I track the movement. “Are you scared of me because of who my mother is?”

I cross my arms. “I’m not scared of you.” My voice has taken on a defiant tone now, but it’s nothing but false bravado.

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