Page 60 of Demons in My Bed
I bumped up against his chest. “What? Scared to get your ass whooped by a girl?”
“Miss Palmer, I really don’t think it’s a good idea. Rhodes is one of the best fighters that we’ve had come through here, so it would be dangerous and irresponsible to allow—”
“Do you allow coed fights?” I asked, not taking my eyes away from his, even though I wasn’t addressing him.
“Well, yes, but—”
“Then write my name down. If you’ll excuse me, I have a fight to prepare for.” I saluted Queenie and flipped off Rhodes, then walked away.
It wasn’t until I was well and truly into the fray of the rowdy crowd that I realized I’d done exactly what Talon and Misha had told me not to do.
Wander off alone.
There was no going back now. I’d made my mind up, and that was that. Plus, Rhodes really needed to be put in his place. I was sick of his better-than-thou attitude. The hell had I done to him? I ignored the little voice in the back of my head that was saying something about the fact that I’d infiltrated his family with the intent to do some fucked-up things... but he had no proof of that. So I didn’t get it.
I started to make my way over to the rings so I wouldn’t miss the fight when it was time. As I scanned the setup, I spotted a small frame with little spiky, blonde pigtails.No way.She was watching a particularly brutal fight between an extremely tall woman and an incredibly short man. One of the woman’s legs were as thick as both the dude’s legs put together, but I knew better than anyone that size didn’t necessarily mean you were going to come out on top.
Stepping up next to the girl, I glanced down and made sure it was her. It definitely was Cherry, my friend I’d made the night of the party at Haunt.
“Interesting matchup,” I said, loud enough for her to hear me over the noise.
She looked at me, and her eyes widened. “Oh my gods! Girl, you’re alive!”
I chuckled. “Last I checked, yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Cherry grabbed my forearm and pulled me a few rings down where it was marginally quieter. “Okay, we all saw them take you wherever they took you and that typically doesn’t bode well for people!” She was looking around nervously, as though one of the guys was going to pop out and bust her ass for talking to me.
“Oh, right.” I supposed that would’ve been ominous to anyone watching. It also felt like it had been weeks since that night, not the few days it was in reality. “Well, I’m just fine, as you can see.”
Cherry looked unconvinced. “So what happened? They took you for a tea party?”
“Something like that,” I replied, winking. “Do you live around here?”
“Pfft, unfortunately. I have a small studio on the east end of town. Nothing fabulous, but it’s clean and it’s mine.”
“That’s all that matters, right?” I smiled at her, surprised by how much I enjoyed talking to her. Maybe it was all of the big dick energy I’d been immersed in over the past few days, but socializing with another woman was doing it for me right now.
Cherry blew a bubble with her gum and nodded. “Got that right. Happiness is in the eye of the bear herder.”
I choked on a laugh. “What?” She waved me off, giggling. Cherry was clearly a tiny bit intoxicated. So was I though, so we made a good team.
“Hey,” she said, sobering a bit. “Do you want to like, exchange numbers? There’s karaoke tomorrow night at this little sports bar by my apartment, if you’re looking for something to do?”
I needed this connection. At first, I thought it would just be to pump her for information about the city, the people who lived in it, and the demons who ran it... but I was starting to realize that if I was going to be here for a little while, a friend might not be so bad. I’d never had many friends. I wasn’t the best at it. Too abrasive, too untrusting, but I always, always had Hunter.
My heart squeezed as I thought of my best friend. He hadn’t been happy about me being put on this mission solo, and even had a discussion with Asrael about his decision. Pissed me the fuck off that he got involved in something that wasn’t his business, but aside from Asrael, he was the only family I felt like I had.
Then the one time at the academy when I’d taken a chance and decided to live a little bit, it had completely exploded in my face. Memories of the entire chain of events liked to assault me at unsuspecting times. Like now, hearing the cheers of the crowd, the sounds of flesh on flesh, bodies hitting the mats...
Hunt sank down beside me on the mat, both of us sweaty and panting like dogs in a desert. “Holy fuck, P. What a workout.”
I quickly wrapped my hair up on top of my head and secured it before spreading my legs so I could stretch my muscles out. “I need the ice bath later.”
“Same. My right quad feels like it’s burning,” Hunter complained, rubbing his leg and wincing through the pain.
We sat there, the two of us stuck together like glue. Everyone else was so cliquey, and I had no desire to play social mind games. I was here with one thing on my mind. Revenge.
“Hey, I heard we’re getting a new instructor today,” Hunter said, continuing his stretches.
