Page 22 of Demon Hunger
I took a step back, completely breaking contact.
He opened his eyes, but only halfway. They glowed gold as a smile tipped his lips. “Is that proof enough for you?”
I shook my head. “It isn’t.”
He frowned.
“Desire isn’t enough, Drevan. I don’t want to feel this way, don’t want to feel attracted to this… glamour.” I swept a hand down the length of his body. “Because it doesn’t matter if this is how you’re supposed to look, my Truesight says otherwise. If you love me as you say, what you see is what you get. You don’t have to wonder. You say I should love your soul, but can anyone truly know anyone so deeply? Can anyone be so pure of heart to see past the glaring flaws?”
He winced at that and took a step back, pressing a hand to his chest as if it hurt, as if my words had physically injured him.
I felt horrible and harsh, but my words were honest.
“I’m sorry, Drevan.” I started walking toward the door. “I’ll go.”
I pulled the knob and crossed the threshold.
“I’ll take you back. It’s not safe for you to be alone with Jophiel out there.”
I wanted to refuse, but I was too scared to turn down his protection. He was the only one who could fight the angel on his level.
“I can transport you—” He shook his head, cutting himself off. “Never mind. We can’t use a portal.”
Too bad. That meant I had to endure his company the entire way there.
He joined me out in the hall and closed the door behind him. I sat on the top step of the staircase and quickly set my shoes right and laced them tightly. As I stood back up, Drevan walked down two steps and turned around to face me—his height on par with mine.
“I won’t give you up, Lucia. Never. I will bare my soul to you, and you will have no other choice but to love me.”
Nonchalantly, he moved to sit on the railing, gave himself a push, and slid down to the bottom landing, blowing me a kiss as he went.
Bastard.
9
Saturdaymorning,Drevanstoodin front of me, his eyes roving all around me as he set a glamouring spell over me. It was meant to disguise Blazebringer at my back, which he’d informed me I was now required to wear at all times while outside of the league.
He squinted and, grabbing me by the shoulders, turned me slightly to the left.
“One final touch.” One of his long fingers traced a line in the air close to my ear.
I kept my eyes averted and held my breath in an effort not to inhale his intoxicating scent. This closeness was too much. Behind him, Jenna gave me a sympathetic look. I’d told her what happened between us, so she understood why I found Drevan’s proximity more discomforting than normal.
“I think that’s it.” He nodded, taking a step back and appraising me. “Turn around.”
I did as requested.
“Perfect. The glamour is on the Queller, so any time you strap it onto your back, it will be concealed, that is, until you wrap your hand around the hilt.”
I stepped in front of one of the gilded mirrors in The Plaza hotel penthouse and confirmed that the glamour was effective as promised. The weapon would be hidden from human eyes, though regrettably not from anyone with Truesight like Jophiel or LeBeau. However, the knowledge that I had it on me might be enough to keep them at a safe distance from me. I had a way to defend myself, a dualistic weapon forged in heavenly fire with ill intent, no less. Jophiel was properly scared of it. He’d cowered from it before, so having it made me feel marginally safe.
“Everyone ready?” Drevan glanced around.
Everyone nodded.
Five minutes later, we were downstairs, staring as a black limousine pulled up to the front of the hotel.
“Won’t this call unnecessary attention toward us?” Benjamin asked.
