The disgust in his voice sent a flash of anger through her. This wasn’t just about Hunters and demons, about good and evil, about fighting for what was right. Caine, for all of his arrogance and obnoxiousness, had been on to something: Josiah wanted control over her body.
She crossed her arms. “The incubus needed healing.”
“He’s a predator, you idiot,” Josiah said. “He’s using you.”
“He’s helping me, and I stabbed him in the chest. Anyway, why do I need to explain myself to you? For one thing, you broke up with me, and for another, you were supposed to be acting as my Guardian—not my stalker.”
“He’s an animal.” Josiah took a step closer, flecks of spittle flying from his lips. “You should never have been anywhere near him, but you couldn’t resist throwing yourself at him.”
“I’ve been stuck with the demons out of necessity.” Fury ignited in her heart. “That’s what happens when the Brotherhood wants to throw you in one of their interrogation rooms. You end up fighting for your life and joining forces with the demons.” Seven hells. She’d just officially declared herself on the side of the demons, to a high-ranking representative of the Brotherhood. Was this really happening? She was still hoping to wake from the world’s longest nightmare.
Josiah stepped closer. “I should have known your softness was something other than compassion. It was merely your repulsive, corrupted soul, drawn to the other abominations like a bitch in heat.”
She wasn’t scared of him. Right now, loathing overwhelmed her. “I should have never let you convince me to do what we did, Josiah. If my soul has been corrupted, it was because of your influence.”
“What we did saved lives,” he spat. “Human lives. Thousands of them—though I can see you don’t actually care about those.”
“I need you to tell me if it’s true.” She searched his face. “Are the Brotherhood burning people?”
Josiah’s eyes bulged, and he enunciated each of his words like he was talking to a particularly dim child. “They’re. Not. People. The animals deserve to burn, and so do their accomplices.”
Horror burst through her mind, and her knees nearly gave way. The realization that she’d been fighting on the side of sadists hit her like a punch to the gut.
And now, they were coming for her and Tammi.
Caine stepped in front of her, blocking her with his arm. “She’s heard everything she needed to hear. Get out of here before I relieve you of your heart.”
Red tinged Josiah’s face, and he jabbed a finger at Rosalind. “You think this freak is going to look after you? That he’s not just using you like a disposable toy?”
She had no idea what Caine really thought, but that wasn’t the point. She belonged to no one—not to the demons or the Brotherhood. As anger roiled in her chest, she pushed past Caine. “I don’t need people looking after me. And just so you know, I’m stuck with this witch’s soul. I’m corrupted, just like Mason always said, and I’m going to stay that way. So the Brotherhood will have to hunt me down, but when you run back to the General Loring like a loyal little dog, you tell him he better stay the hell away from Tammi.”
Rosalind wished desperately that Caine hadn’t been covered in dust, or he’d be able to use his magic to make this all go away. He could have hypnotized Josiah into forgetting all about Tammi.
What had Caine called her? A staggering hypocrite. She was beginning to see his point.
Josiah’s hand twitched by his weapon belt. “You want me to deliver a message to Randolph Loring from the demon’s whore.”
She cocked a hip. “Call me whatever you want, but you can tell Randolph I have the power of a psychotic mage in my body, and I’m not afraid to use it.” At least, part of that was true.
She was declaring war on Randolph Loring, and her mind buzzed with an intoxicating mixture of thrill and terror.
Josiah’s mouth tightened with barely controlled rage. “You think your evil possession is enough? It didn’t work out so well for Miranda.”
Caine stepped forward again, and she tensed with irritation. She could fight her own battles. She knew how the Brotherhood worked better than he did, but Caine’s body was suddenly alert.
“The Brotherhood found Miranda?” Caine asked, his voice a growl.
Rosalind shook her head, trying to keep up. “Wait. Who the hell is Miranda?”
Josiah’s eyes bored into her. “Interesting. Apparently your new lover didn’t want to mention her.”
Caine’s voice was glacial. “I suggest you get out of here before I tear your spine out through your throat.”
Josiah’s nostrils flared. “You can threaten me all you want, but none of you will last long. The Brotherhood have been slaughtering demons like you for millennia, and we’re stronger than ever. The angels will glory in your demise when the smoke from your body reaches the heavens.” He glared at Rosalind, and the vein throbbed in his forehead. “I look forward to getting my hands on you in the interrogation room, and when Miranda burns, I hope to light the match.”