The Demon Within (16 page)

Then understanding hit. Henry, the skunk. Her mood lightened a bit with sadistic amusement.

She wasn’t stupid. He wouldn’t find the medallion there.

She took a deep breath to center herself then stepped onto the landing. Hand on the newel post, she searched the faces of her friends and comrades. Some were resolute, some determined, while others seemed resigned.

“Where’s everyone going? Are we having a party?” She blinked innocently at Jarred, but he only crossed his arms over his chest in the way men had a way of doing when they thought women were being unreasonable.

She dropped the pretenses. “This is only a simple in and out recon. No danger. No engaging the enemy.” No one said a word. Defensive, but determined to go alone, Caly placed her hands on her hips and widened her stance. “It’s a one person job. More people will only attract more attention.”

“If it’s a simple mission with no danger, you won’t mind company.” Ruman stepped from the shadows, the smirk on his face enough to make her want to kiss him.

No!

She meant smack him.

Uncertain of his agenda, she kept silent and trailed cautiously down the rest of the stairs.

As if he sensed her betraying train of thought, Jarred snickered. It quickly turned into a cough when she elbowed him hard in the stomach. The skin of her face tightened. If not for the demon’s interference, she would’ve managed to talk her way out of company. Because of this buffoon, the chances were nil.

She couldn’t sneak off and find her djinn with everyone in attendance.

Her jaw ached from gritting her teeth against the desire to swear. “The more people who volunteer, the greater our chance of discovery. The group can’t withstand more publicity. The last thing we need is to be followed and suffer another attack.” She dared anyone to argue with her edict.

Of course, Henry had to challenge her judgment.

“Are you saying you’re the only one competent enough to complete this mission?” Cocky as ever, he appealed to the others and spread his arms. “We’ve all earned our dues. One person going alone is suicide. As much as we don’t get along, this is something none of us can condone.”

Kelly had the audacity to smile. “As much as I hate to admit it, doofus here,” she gestured to Henry, “has a point.”

Nodding in agreement, David wrapped his arms around Kelly from behind and rested his chin on the top of her head. “Select one or two people to scout the area and keep look-out. It’ll allow you to search without fear of discovery. We’ll be able to watch if anyone shows a little too much interest.”

Silence filled the room. Caly expected Henry to explode when no one automatically jumped to obey his command. Instead, he remained tightlipped and acquiesced without a word.

Caly scrambled for an idea, but she had nothing. She conceded defeat with little grace. With a turn of her heel, she stormed outside to her
Dyna Superglide
. The
Harley
chugged when she cranked the engine over, and she revved the throttle. The smell of gas, the rumble of the motor, soothed her. From the saddlebags, she removed her heavy leather and suited up for a ride, leaving her hands free of gloves in case of attack. She had to be quick, her fingers dexterous enough to grab for her weapons.

Zipped and buttoned, Caly lifted her leg and rested the heel of her boot against the bottom of the porch railing. By rote, she strapped two large handled knives to the outside of her right pant leg, one to her calf, and one on her thigh. Legally, the state allowed only a three-and-a-half-inch blade. Because she moved to the country, she could claim they were for hunting and get away with her five inch
Browning.
Other weapons remained hidden on her bike. They were illegal, but illegal was better than dead.

Caly swung her leg over the seat, double-checking that her blades were easily accessible. A twist of the wrist sent the engine revving until it settled into a loud purr. Bike upright, she kicked the stand back and placed yellow tinted glasses on the bridge of her nose.

Before she could take off, someone settled on the back of her bike. Though they didn’t touch, her body went on full alert. She knew without looking who thought to grab a ride.

No one rode with her.

Ever.

“Get off.” If attacked, she needed to be able to move without hindrance. And she sure as hell didn’t need him anywhere near her when she was trying to keep her head straight and focus on what needed to be done to keep her friends safe.

Ruman placed a large hand on her hip and leaned forward, his chest pressed flat against her back. The jacket didn’t prevent his essence from enveloping her senses, nor his warmth from surrounding her, wrapping around her until it was all she could do to keep her mind on the mission.

Chin on her shoulder, his lips a breath away from her ear, he whispered, “Make me.”

The words were husky.

A dare.

The challenge simmered between them. She clenched her hands on the handlebars, a tremor wrapped up her arms as she resisted putting her hands on him. If she touched him, she couldn’t guarantee it would be in violence. The shiver that worked its way down her body made her want to turn around and steal the kiss he owed her.

The glimpse she caught of him from the side mirror revealed a playful smile, and the enjoyment he got out of taunting her. Beneath the dark lenses he wore, she found brown eyes devouring her.

Daring her.

“It’s not worth my time.” With a shrug, she forced her eyes away from him. A small voice whispered
demon
, but her mind and body drowned out the sound. Each hour they were together, it grew fainter.

That was so not good. Lips pursed, she took off with a roar and a spray of gravel. Nighttime was a wasting.

His hands tightened almost painfully on her hips. Caly concentrated on driving the twisted country roads. The longer they waited to search the compound, the more dangerous it’d become both in terms of the attackers finding them and the trail going cold.

She weighed the consequences of a detour and with a quick, impulsive decision she pressed the turn signal. The turnoff would add an additional twenty minutes to the ride, but the little jaunt might possibly be worth the cost. It was time to get some answers.

Her features settled into firm lines. “There are precious few references in the old records about guardians. There was no mention of any curse or your kind gaining their freedom.” She spoke the statement matter-of-factly but it sounded more like a question.

Instead of hollering to be heard over the wind, Ruman edged his body closer in a way that threatened her resolve to find out more about him. “I’m a unique case.”

The deep rumble of his voice echoed along her back and it took her dazed mind seconds to digest his words. She swallowed hard and decided silence was the better part of valor until she could find a way to control her response to him.

A sharp turn ahead had her downshifting, leaning the bike into the curve. Accelerating, Caly allowed herself to enjoy being outdoors. For a moment, she gained the freedom she was often denied.

Wind scooped around them, over them, clearing away the problems of the day. No clouds dimmed the stars’ brilliance, no traffic obstructed their path. They crested a hill and Caly slowed to a stop at the peak.

The moon’s rays illuminated the valley below them. Cast in shades of gray, the panoramic view of the countryside stole her breath. To her, the night had a beauty that rivaled what the day could offer. Even the city in the distance, a harsh reminder of the outside world, didn’t detract any from her pleasure.

Ruman’s hold loosened, and Caly turned to see that the smile he’d wore had disappeared. Not a muscle moved as he took in their surroundings.

“What is it?” Concern made her reach out and touch his arm.

He looked where her hand rested, and Caly quickly removed her fingers from his sleeve.

“Sorry.” Heat spread from her cheeks to her ears. Facing forward, she placed her hands back on the handlebars in a death grip. She’d been stupid to bring him here.

Strong arms wrapped around her from behind with a quickness that caught her heart. He rested his face next to hers, only inches separating them. “It’s beautiful.”

The sadness in his voice reminded her of the many times she’d been so alone, struggling to survive. Uncomfortable with her thoughts, Caly said the first thing that came to her mind. “I used to come here years ago.

“Oscar made me run for miles. I hated his regimens with a passion. But after the first few months of training, I took pleasure in the incredible peacefulness here.” She shared a small part of her past with him, knowing he’d understand. “The fight is worth the price to keep this place safe.”

Caly paused, unable to put her feelings into words. “I want to come here when I am eighty and find it unchanged, unsoiled by the evil that hunkers so close to the gates.”

“Do I feel evil?”

For once, she didn’t think of him as a demon or part of her mission. He didn’t move after he asked the question, but the stillness in itself clued her in to how much her answer meant to him. The arms around her remained strong and steady. In truth, they had saved her life. The face next to hers looked over the valley, and Caly reached back, removing his glasses.

His gaze snapped to hers.

Those dark eyes that never let any detail escape now had a crack. A light blazed from within, a meager hope to be seen as something other than the enemy, something other than evil. The intensity bore into her like he wanted to read the truth of his question in her soul.

The thought prickled her skin. Unable to turn completely in the limited space on the bike, she reached behind her and touched his hair. The texture was unlike anything she’d ever felt. The thick strands tangled with her fingers, the length wrapped around her wrist, inviting her to explore further. Her mouth watered at the smell of black licorice, and she licked her lips, craving a taste.

Her strange affinity for the candy the last few days now made sense. The man had followed her, leaving behind his scent and a strange yearning she couldn’t fulfill no matter how much licorice she consumed.

Because of him.

Unable to deny herself the chance to touch him, she traced his ear from top to bottom before she trailed her fingertips slowly, carefully down his cheek. Rough stubble scraped her skin and a shiver worked through her. With her thumb, she touched his lips. Once. Briefly.

He shuddered under the touch.

Her lips tingled in response, craving what she couldn’t have. Chest heavy, scarcely able to catch her breath, Caly dropped her hand and faced forward. “No, you don’t feel evil.”

She feared that he might actually be telling the truth about being an angel, which made their actions all the more foolish.

Not wanting to deal with the consequences of what she started, she revved the
Harley
. “Hang on.” With a roar, they barreled down the road toward town. The wind didn’t beat away her thoughts like before, but the speed forced her to focus on things other than her libido.

Or the questions he’d failed to answer about his past. Ones she had been too afraid to ask.

* * *

The building stood empty, a ribbon of yellow police tape stretched across the doorway. Ruman studied the abandoned warehouse. The others had arrived before them and secured the place.

When a patrol car turned the block, Caly shoved her delicate hand into his, and they walked past the door.

Ruman looked down at their interlocked fingers, his chest oddly tight to see her small fingers laced with his. Skin roughened from years of training met his touch. Faint lines crisscrossed her hands, a testimony to her determination to master her beloved knives. Her affinity for them showed in the way she took care of her weapons, and her ability to keep all her fingers. He traced a wicked scar on the outside of her thumb, followed the jagged path to the underside of her hand. Her muscles twitched.

Fascinated with her response, he raised their hands. Only to come to an abrupt stop when she jerked them down again.

“What are you doing?” Caly hissed the words, her smile all teeth. But instead of looking at him, she glanced over his shoulder at the way they had come. “The cops are gone.”

Like he had a disease, she dropped his hand and marched away. He understood the need to look inconspicuous.

He did.

Their life would be in danger the longer they remained in the open.

It didn’t matter. He wanted her hand back in his. He wanted to feel that connection with her again.

A shudder seized him, and he shook his head like a dog. Things were getting to him. He went from being repulsed by the thought of touching a human to craving just one small touch of affection from her. She got to him with only one look from those forest green eyes that hid so much. When she turned the corner, he hurried to catch up.

He should remain alert, ready to save her life and fulfill his requirement. Yet, even as he thought the words, he couldn’t remove his gaze from the way her backside fit the leather chaps. The way her muscles flexed and moved. The way she fitted so perfectly against him on the bike.