Page 7 of Succubus Sins
“God sakes.” I scrambled to the steps and snatched it up, wrapping it around my chest and pulling the straps over my shoulders.
“I’m sorry, David,” Sarah whispered. “You don’t deserve to die.”
I staggered. How dare she frighten him? Never mind if it was the truth. He still had months, if not years. I hadn’t taken more than I needed…right?
She clenched her purse, as if debating to say something else before shaking her head and scampering back into the bar.
David rubbed his neck and gave a nervous laugh. “Uh, did I hear her right?”
I stiffened and bore my gaze through the closed door as if I could will Sarah to come back. Not that my powers worked that way—at least, not on women.
A cold hand on my shoulder made me jolt. “Cripes, David.”
He chuckled. “Cripes? Does sex transform you into a British chick?” He smirked. “I could dig that.”
“Look, I need to go after her, all right?”
His face fell. “What? Why?”
“She thinks…”
He rose one eyebrow. “That you’re going to kill me?”
I scoffed and jerked away from his touch. He couldn’t find out. Not so soon. Not like this in a back alley of a bar with mice, and empty beer cans, and—where was that god awful smell coming from?
A tiny flash of light caught my eye. If I’d been angled the other way, I would have missed it entirely.
I froze.No, it can’t be…
Another flash of light and an unmistakable, audible,click.
“What is it?” David asked.
I pushed him and hoped he didn’t notice how my legs wobbled. “You’re stepping on my sweater.”
He murmured an apology as I tugged the dirtied blouse over my head.
David’s skin still left its scent on mine, and somehow, someway, Mr. Anderson had caught me in the act.
Judgment
I’m not one for indecision, but the overwhelming desire to make Davidminebattled with the hope that Mr. Anderson could actually save him. I’d been given a second chance at life, and David deserved one too.
The breeze drifted a can across the alley and I knew Mr. Anderson was waiting for me to make my move. If the rancid smell was any indicator, he’d probably been hiding in a dumpster. He’d definitely watched too many bad detective movies…
With one last defiant glare into the dark alley, I hopped the three steps back to the bar and ripped open the door.
“Stay with me,” David pleaded. My skin tingled with the desire to make him surrender completely. It’d only take…
I glared at him over my shoulder, feigning disgust. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. Let’s pretend it didn’t happen and you let me go after my girlfriend.” Even as I said the words, I knew they were empty. The rune across my stomach that she’d activated when we’d first met was now dormant. It didn’t burn, it didn’t sting, it didn’t do anything. Whatever my prophecy needed from her, it’d already gotten it.
She’s one of the seven… but she’s not one of the four.
His eyes followed me with a sad puppy stare as I turned away. I escaped into the drunken laughter and droning music that pounded against my chest and hesitated once the door had closed. Searching for Sarah, I ran my thumb across the small ring around my pinkie finger before blundering through the crowd.
“Sarah!” I shouted, ignoring my reflection in the bartender’s mirror that showed my hair spiked out at the ends like a crazed lunatic.
We had to get out of here. We had to get some distance from Mr. Anderson before he cornered me and slapped on those handcuffs he was so fond of. In any other case, handcuffs sounded like a good time, but not when it came to Detective Anderson. He was not only immune to my powers, but now he had his evidence. Real pictures of me leeching David’s life. I might as well have thrown my hands up and said, “You got me!”
