Page 49 of The Devil's Waltz

I arch a brow, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re here, I’m going to say stalking me, so I think that’s plenty to warrant my response.”

He blinks at me, his lips twisting into a faint smirk. “Hmm. A bit presumptuous of you, don’t you think?”

“Okay,” I say, my heart still beating faster than normal, “please feel free to correct me, then. Better yet, turn and walk the other way, and we can both forget this interaction even happened.”

“Tell me, if you hadn’t found out Xander’s a big, scary demon, would you still be so prickly toward me?”

My gaze whips around, checking our surroundings, which is something Blake is clearly not concerned about.His arrogance knows no bounds. “I guess that depends on if you’re one as well.” This whole conversation is making my temples ache, threatening a headache from the conversational ping pong. I’d like nothing more than to walk away from him. But something tells me Blake would follow, and the last thing I need is to get stuck in a parking garage alone with a demon.

He chuckles, his gaze glimmering with amusement before his eyes flash black.

I don’t flinch, expecting the display of darkness this time.

Cocking his head to one side, he asks, “Are we pretending you don’t already know?”

“No,” I say in a level tone, ready to wrap up this encounter. “So, I’ll ask again. What do you want, Blake?”

His expression turns serious, though his eyes return to normal. “Xander asked me to pay you a visit to let you know he wants to see you, but he’s being forced to keep a low profile. You know, with your hunter friends paying him so much attention at the moment.” His eyes narrow slightly, making me stand taller as he continues, “You likely won’t hear from him for a while. At least until the hunters inevitably give up their pathetic little search. Our guy is rather popular right now.” Despite his dark expression, his tone is light, humorous even, and it makes me grit my teeth.

Perhaps that has more to do with the conflicting emotions filling my chest, because I should berelievedat having space from Xander. And yet… “Yourguy,” I mutter cooly.

Blake whistles softly, his brows shooting up his forehead. “If you’re breaking up with him, that isnota message I’m passing along. Xander is very much the type to kill the messenger.” Then he adds with a wink, “Blame his demon side.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, glaring at him as my stomach flips at his words. I can’t even think about it right now, if I’m being honest, because that is a can of worms I’m not prepared to deal with. So, instead of addressing the status of my relationship with Xander, because that’s not something I can talk about, I ask, “Aren’t you his best friend?”

He shrugs, keeping his hands in his pockets. “Best friend, confidant, personal guard.”

“Right. Because he has a bodyguard,” I say almost to myself, shaking my head at how ridiculous it sounds as I let my arms fall back to my sides.

“Xander is the prince of hell—he’s royalty in our world, love. Of course he has a guard.” He says it so matter-of-factly, but the weight of his words settles heavily on my chest.

“So, that’s what you want to do with your life? Risk it again and again to protect someone else?”

Blake steps closer, lowering his voice. “I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for Xander. He saved my life years ago, took me in and gave me a home, and I will forever be in his debt. So, yes. Happily.”

My eyes widen before I can get a grip on my composure, and my feet turn into blocks too heavy to move, cementing me in place. I open mymouth to respond, but nothing comes out, because what am I supposed to say to that?

He steps back, that easy smile fully in place once more. “He’ll be in touch when he can.”

“Okay.” The word falls from my lips before I can clamp my mouth shut. Shame burns in my cheeks. I don’t want him thinking Iwantto hear from Xander, especially if Blake is going to tellhimthat. I shouldn’t want to see Xander, but there’s still a part of me that feels a pull to him. It doesn’t make a lick of sense—I recognize how messed up it is—but I can’t seem to shake it no matter how hard I try.

“Is there something you’d like me to tell him?” Blake asks.

I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak.

He lifts his chin, his eyes dancing across my face as he studies my expression. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.”No.

“Hmm, okay then. Follow up question, just for funsies. Did you know demons have exceptional hearing? That I can hear the uptick of your pulse when you lie?”

My eyes narrow, and I swallow past the dryness in my throat. “This conversation is over.” I sidestep him and, by some miracle, he doesn’t stop me from walking away.

FIFTEENXANDER

There are few places I’m able to feel a semblance of peace. My apartmentusedto be one of them. I mentally cross it off the list when I step out of my bedroom and find my mother sitting at my kitchen counter. The moment I opened my eyes, I knew she was here. I sensed it like a pit in my stomach before the smell of the coffee she’s drinking even registered in my nose.

She has her back to me and doesn’t acknowledge me yet.

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