Page 108 of The Devil's Trials

His lips twitch. “I’ve missed your sharp tongue.”

That trips me up, and I stare at him for too long before I cross my arms over my chest. “Xander—”

He catches my elbow, drawing me toward him and guiding me down the hall toward the room I came from. I don’t protest, but the second we’re behind the closed bedroom door, I start in on him, my anger from before still simmering just beneath the surface.

“What am I doing here?” I demand unsteadily, following him as he crosses the room toward the sitting area.

He gestures to the couch he stands behind. “Sit down.”

I don’t. Instead, I repeat, “What am I doing here, Xander?”

“Sit down, Camille.” His tone is sharp, and it cuts into my chest, reminding me exactly who he is. Why I shouldn’t be anywhere near him.

I turn on my heel and cross the room toward the door. I can’t be here any longer.

“Don’t walk away from me,” he calls out, igniting something in me.

I whirl around, and suddenly tears are blurring my vision. “I should have walked away from you the moment I found out what you are!”

He stumbles back—he actually recoils—as if I hit him.

I exhale an uneven breath, meeting his gaze, and ask once more, “What am I doing here?”

“Camille—”

“What do you want?” I snap.

“You.”

The air leaves my lungs in a viciouswhooshas I take an instinctive step back.

Xander sighs. “There are things happening in my world that could put you in danger, and I needed to make sure you were safe.”

Too many emotions shove forward, making it hard to breathe, and I swallow hard. Walking back toward the sitting area, I keep a healthy distance between us. I’m not entirely sure what makes me say it, but the words are out of my mouth before I can’t stop them. “Tell me everything.”

He walks around the couch and sits, waiting until I take the armchair furthest from him, putting the glass coffee table between us.

“There is a very old, very powerful demon that has made it his mission to destroy me. Marrick was quite close with my mother and agreed with her vision to eradicate the hunters. From the second I made a play for the throne, he’s been vehemently against my reign.”

I wipe the dampness from my palms on the armrests, keeping my gaze locked on his face. “What does that mean exactly?”

“Marrick will do everything possible to ensure my downfall, which means you’re not safe.”

My eyes widen as my heart beats faster. I can’t help the jumble of racing thoughts as I try to sort through everything being thrown my way. I want to ask what I have to do with Xander’s downfall, but honestly, I’m too afraid of the answer. Instead, I say, “So you decided to have Blake knock me out and bring me—” My gaze shifts to the window before I look at him again. “Where are we?”

“Vancouver.”

I blink. “Vancouver…” My voice trails off. “Why?”

He shrugs. “Staying in Seattle was getting a bit precarious.”

“Right. And how long do you plan on keeping me here? I assume I’m being kept, considering you’ve already said I can’t leave.”

He sighs. “I’d rather you didn’t see it that way.”

“And I’d rather not be here, so I guess nobody wins.”

Xander cracks a smile. “You didn’t miss me then?”

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