Demon Night

off before she said Ethan’s name. “I am.” And she didn’t want Sammael to know the reason behind her request, so she added, “But he’s like a cop, or a doctor—out saving people. I don’t want him to worry if sunset comes around and he can’t get home to feed me before I go to Cole’s.”
    Jane nodded, but her gaze narrowed on Charlie’s face. “And is that the only reason?”
    So now Jane started paying attention to how she was feeling. Charlie couldn’t halt her wry smile, and hoped Jane would attribute it to her response. “No. It’s also because I know Sammael will hate doing it.”
    Jane’s lashes fell, a mixture of pain and humor running through her scent, and Charlie almost took it back—but she couldn’t. And there was still one other matter that needed to be settled with the demon. She touched Jane’s hand.
    “Let’s go see him,” Charlie said, and for Jane’s sake, she held in her laughter when she spotted Sammael laid out on the porch—and the giant hellhound stretched out beside him, eyeing the demon’s leg with the same hungry speculation that a dog would a meaty bone…only tripled.
    Jane gasped in horror, but Charlie pulled her closer. After a second glance at Sammael, she realized the venom had at least partially worn off. Fear kept him still now.
    Jane went to his head, and Charlie helped him sit up so that he was leaning back against her sister’s chest.
    “Charlie,” Ethan said, and she looked over her shoulder, saw him crouching over the senator’s headless form with Castleford and Selah. Ethan’s brows drew together; he slowly rose to his feet, and she turned back to Sammael.
    Jane was making murmuring, soothing noises, but the rasp of Charlie’s voice scraped over them, and her eyes locked with the demon’s.
    “Jane was going to give you an ultimatum about not killing Drifter,” Charlie said. “But I don’t think she has to—you simply aren’t going to do it.”
    Sammael’s jaw clenched, and Charlie thought it was only so that he wouldn’t declare his intention to do exactly that while Jane was listening. But the crimson sparking through his eyes said it well enough.
    She continued, “Because the bargain stated that you’d prevent any hurt from coming to me—but if he dies because of something you’ve done, it’s the same as ripping my heart out.”
    Sammael turned his head to look up at Jane. Her hand shook when she touched his cheek. His eyes closed for a moment, and he nodded. “Very well.”
    “She’s also real good friends with Jake,” Ethan said from behind Charlie.
    She hadn’t heard his approach, but she couldn’t mistake his amusement. She glanced around; Castleford was there, too, impassively studying the demon, his hand absently stroking the hellhound’s muzzle.
    “And she’s been getting to know a few other Guardians and vampires, too,” Ethan added. “So I reckon before you slay any, you ought to stop and ask them if Charlie would cry over their graves.”
    Sammael’s lips twisted. “Bargain or no, bothering myself with the likes of you would only waste my time. You are insignificant in comparison to the glorious path that awaits—”
    “Jesus.” Charlie stood, rolling her eyes. Even Jane’s lips were twitching, though her expression remained fond…as if she thought Sammael’s bluster was a joke.
    Ethan smiled, but his gaze was curious as he looked over the demon. “That path to glory, the blood that heals—that foolishness you were spouting wouldn’t be part of a prophecy, would it?”
    “Yes.” The gravity of the demon’s reply was echoed in the stony set of his face. “I’ll admit I did not wholly believe it myself until I saw the blood’s effect.”
    “Yet Legion was trying to duplicate that effect,” Ethan said.
    “Yes, but we did not know how to use it, or what purpose it would serve. Or if we were fools for attempting it, based solely on the vague promise of an incomplete prophecy. Even a demon can begin to lose faith.” Sammael rose unsteadily to his feet, and Jane tucked herself beneath his arm. He eyed the hellhound. “You are letting me leave—alive?”
    Ethan’s smile turned hard. “Only because of the woman who’s with you.”
    Charlie stood beside him as Jane’s car appeared in the drive, and Jane helped Sammael into the passenger seat. She looked over the top of the car at Charlie before she got inside.
    “Was he speaking the truth?” Ethan asked quietly when the car drove past