Devin folded his hands. “I haven’t seen her since she left for the store a few hours ago. I swore I heard her car pull into the driveway.”
It might haven been irrational, but disappointment sunk in my belly like an anchor. I’d clung to the hope that Devin knew where she was, that she had called him, proving I was acting like a paranoid freak.
“Did you try her cell?” he asked, seeing my face fall.
“Multiple times. She’s not answering.” Probably because there is no reception in Hell—kind of like Spring Valley.
“Hmm.” He grazed the stubble at his cheeks. “Tell me what is going through your head. I can see it’s problematic. Are you thinking that this might have something to do with what happened the night of the fire?”
“Yes,” I said at the same time Chase said, “You bet your ass.”
Devin rubbed his hand over his face. I’ve seen the many faces of Devin. Annoyed. Love. Irritated. Joy. Pissed off.
But never panic-stricken as it was now.
“What did you do to piss him off now?” Devin asked, folding his arms, staring at us like a pair of disobedient children.
Chase kicked out his legs, propping them on top of the marble coffee table. “What makes you think I pissed off anyone?” he asked smugly.
We both shot him an are-you-kidding look, but it was me who was more than willing to knock Chase down a few notches. “Who haven’t you angered this week would be a shorter list.” Under different circumstances, I would have enjoyed the repartee.
“Great. Now the two of you are ganging up on me.”
“This isn’t about you,” I argued. “Shocking, I know.”
Devin shook his head. “I don’t know what the universe was thinking putting the two of you together, but who am I to question the laws of nature?”
“Nature has nothing to do with it. I am just that damn awesome,” Chase said.
Devin kept his gaze leveled on mine. “Angel, I don’t envy you. My nephew is such a pain in the arse.”
The corners of my lips twitched. “At least we agree on something.”
Luckily we had Devin to referee and keep us focused. “I think you’ll find that we agree on more things than you think, like your mom. I’ve had more dealings with Hell than most humans. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. This is bad.”
“Thanks, Uncle Dev. You’re a great help,” Chase said sarcastically, giving him a dark glower.
His uncle paid him no attention. “But…they’ve never seen the likes of you. Or, and I hate to say it, because the last thing my nephew needs is to have his ego stroked any more, but the truth is, he is the strongest of his kind that we’ve seen.”
The cocky smile on Chase’s lips couldn’t get any wider.
I knew just how to dropkick him off his power trip. “Not against Alastair.”
Chase scowled. “She’s right. I am all but defenseless when he commands it. Fucking curse.”
Devin gave him a pointed look for his language. “Then it is a damn good thing he has you.”
Chase and I both stared at him dumbfounded. “What do you mean?” Chase asked, swinging his legs off the table and leaning forward on the chair, his interest piqued.
“You saw what she did that night. With each connection she makes to you, it brings her closer to the veil of Hell.”
Umm, this sounded very bad. I wasn’t sure I was ready for what Devin had to say.
“When the last link is in place, she will wield as much control over those serving Alastair as Alastair himself. She will be able to see through the illusions created by demons. They won’t work on her. If legends hold any truth, Chase will no longer have a connection to his sire, but to you.”
Holy shit buckets.
“Are you saying that he won’t be able to restrain me anymore?” Chase asked, and I heard that hint of hope he was always so afraid to feel.
Calculating light filled Devin’s expression. “In theory, no he can’t.”
A glint sprang into Chase’s silver eyes only to be extinguished seconds later. “Wait, you said that my connection would switch from the demon to Angel, does that mean she could potentially stop me?”
Devin grinned. “Sticking with the theory, yep she could.”
Now it was my turn to smile like a little shit. Oh yeah.
He turned that flinty gaze to me. “I can’t decide if that is better or worse.”
“Well, like I said, the three bonds have to be fulfilled before that is even a possibility.”
Chase and I looked at each other. When or if the triforce was complete wasn’t a question anymore. The deed had already been done. Though Lexi had hinted that her dad knew Chase and I had bumped uglies, I didn’t want to assume. I knew all too well what happened when you assume, and I didn’t want to make an ass out of myself in front to Devin.