Page 199 of Sins of the Heart

---

habit of trusting no one but herself.

Silence. “Smart girl.” A rough whisper laced with a

smile. Another beat of silence, then he said, “Dae.”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t call me Krayl. My name is Dagan. I prefer

that you call me Dae.”

Wasn’t that just perfect? A soul reaper with a fratboy nickname.

Roxy shook her head. “You can call me Ms. Tam.”

And then she said nothing more because Dagan

Krayl—Dae—tensed and shifted. They were out there

now. Whatevertheywere. She took her cue from his

posture and the hum of adrenaline coming off him,

bringing her knives into defensive position.

“Don’t bother,” he said. “Steel will barely even slow

them down.”

“That’s why my knives aren’t steel. They’re

tungsten carbide sintered with cobalt. Hard enough to

cut bone.”

“And useless in this fight.” His tone—part amused,

part exasperated—got under her skin like grit in a

scrape. “Hardness has no relevance—”

“That’s debatable.” Lord, he made it so easy.

The amusement disappeared, leaving only exasperation. “You can’t cut smoke and flame.”

“Smoke and flame.” Her gaze shot to the window.

Dark shadows inside, darker night beyond. “Is that

what’s out there?”

“Might as well be.” His body shifted against hers,

tense muscle, alert and ready. “Shh. They’re here.

There are more than I expected.”

EVE SILVER

---