Hardly anything. When encountering a high demon, novices were just supposed to run. “I know they’re immortal. Speaking of which, can I have more blades? I don’t feel like one is enough.”
He pulled two more daggers from his holsters, and a thin stiletto. “There are ways of killing them, but the weapons need to be charmed. To deliver a death blow, you need to be a powerful mage. I fit the criteria, but let’s hope it doesn’t come down to that. If we killed Bileth, we’d have far worse problems than the Brotherhood.”
“You mean we might have eighty legions of demons hunting us.”
“Precisely.” His eyes trailed up her legs again, lingering on her tiny black underwear. “As much as it pains me to say it, you should probably put on some clothes.”
“Oh.” She hurried over to her pile of clothes, slipping into her pants and boots. She slid two of the blades into her boots, and the stiletto into her belt. “Where are Tammi and Aurora going?”
“They’re taking a boat to Great Misery Island. I know a sorceress there who is quite fond of me. She should be able to keep them hidden for now.”
Footsteps pounded up the stairs, and within seconds, Tammi’s flushed face was in the door. “Rosalind. Let’s go. We’re taking a sailboat from the dock.”
She shook her head. “I’m staying here. Caine might need me.”
Tammi’s face blanched. “Are you high? I haven’t heard such a terrible idea come out of your mouth since you decided to dress as a slutty sheep for Halloween.”
Rosalind scowled. “You already know I hunt demons. Why is this surprising?”
Tammi stared, her voice incredulous. “You hunted pixies who screwed up the plumbing.”
“Is that true?” Caine arched an eyebrow. “And the slutty sheep outfit, too?”
Rosalind looked between them, her resolve growing. She projected her voice, imbuing it with as much authority as she could. “I’m not going to argue with you two. I’m staying. I’m the one who caused this situation, and I’m not letting Caine take the fall for it by himself. And then I’m going to help tackle the Brotherhood. Got it?”
Caine glanced at Tammi. “We’ll meet you on the island. Aurora knows the way.”
Tammi pointed at him, scowling. “You make sure Little Ho Peep comes back in one piece.” She turned and hurried down the hall.
Caine approached Rosalind, standing so close she could feel the heat coming off his skin. He brushed his knuckles against her cheek, studying her face. “You’re brave for a noble-born girl, but please stay in the house. You have a tendency to screw everything up by making stupid decisions. I’m even firmer in that belief now that I’ve heard about the slutty sheep costume.”
She tightened her fist around the knife hilt. “You need to stop talking or I’ll stab you with one of your own weapons.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time. Would you heal me again?”
A deep, rumbling noise resonated through the house, shaking the walls and rattling the windowpanes.
“He’s outside,” Caine said. “I’m going. Please stay in here.” He wrapped his fingers around her knife-holding hand. “If he gets past me somehow, use this.”
He turned, stalking down the hall, moving silently as the wind through the trees.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and trying not to think of her nightmares. I can’t dwell on my worst fears.
She stepped into the hall and peered out the window, staring at the moonlit street outside Caine’s house. Mounted on an ivory horse—just like in her dream—Bileth strode into a streetlight. Tendrils of his red aura curled off his skin like smoke. His steed’s eyes blazed red, hooves clopping slowly over the pavement. He carried a scythe slung over his enormous, bare back. Curling tattoos covered his pale, muscular body, and horns swooped back from his forehead. She almost thought she heard the low rumble of a drum…
At the sight of him, fear stole her breath.
Caine pushed open the front door and strode toward the high demon. Bileth halted and dismounted, nostrils flaring. When the demon’s feet landed on the pavement, the ground trembled, and shock waves shuddered through the earth.
Caine held up his hands, as if trying to placate Bileth, but the high demon pulled his scythe from his back before charging. Bileth swung, but Caine lifted his forearm, blocking the attack. In a blur of movement— so fast Rosalind’s eyes could barely track it—Caine maneuvered behind Bileth, pinning the demon’s arm behind his back. As Caine pushed Bileth’s neck down, forcing him lower, the high demon lost his grip on the scythe. Caine leaned into him, whispering in his ear, no doubt trying to placate him with promises of submissive courtesans.
But Rosalind knew what the high demon really wanted. He wanted her.