So, rather than attack Lilah, I decided to feel her out. Reaching out metaphysically, I touched her power, sensing the depths of it. It was rude and invasive but in no way an attack.
Right away, I felt the cloying hand of demon power clinging to her like a second skin. It felt murky and dark, absolute black. However, it was missing the deep abyss-like draw that Shya’s power possessed. Lilah’s was limited, confined by the barrier of her curse. I could feel it there, an invisible force binding her powers, and beneath it was the cool but familiar sensation of vampire.
Lilah could be a threat. No doubt about it, she had the ability to be lethal. I’d seen her drop a demon with just a command, but I wasn’t a demon. I was a mortal and a threat. I had the advantage. I just had to find a way to keep it.
She was far too calm and casual for this situation. I couldn’t handle her demeanor. She wanted me dead, and dammit, that was personal. I wanted her to be mad, to show hatred or spit a venomous word my way. The fact that she didn’t find me worthy of any passion or emotion stirred a fire deep inside me. I wanted to destroy her.
A bored expression marred her face. She crossed her arms and gave me a look like one might give an annoying, yappy little dog. “Is that it? No showdown after all? Pity.”
I stepped back toward the door. Arys was right. I needed time to think this over. Acting rashly would get me killed.
‘Stop the presses! Alexa O’Brien has just admitted to herself that her lover is right about something. That’s newsworthy.’ Arys’s self-assured chuckle filled my thoughts.
I ignored him, unwilling to acknowledge his gloating. I pulled the door open, half expecting to find Falon on the other side. He was long gone.
“Oh, we’ll have our showdown,” I said, waiting for Jez to exit the building first. I glanced back at Lilah. “If you’re as big a bad ass as everyone thinks you are, you’ll stop with the hits and take me on yourself. Either way, I’m coming back for you.”
Jez hovered just outside, waiting anxiously for me to join her. I could feel Arys’s obvious relief, but I didn’t see how putting off the inevitable was a good thing. I wanted it over.
I was about to let the door slam shut when Lilah’s next words stopped me in my tracks. For the first time since I arrived, her tone changed.
“Family is a funny thing, isn’t it, Alexa? One minute they’re dead, and then low and behold… alive after all.”
Slowly, I turned to face her. I’d never fought so hard to keep my feelings from showing in my eyes. With a carefully constructed blank look, I pinned her with a dead stare.
“Your point?”
“It would be a shame if something happened to your sweet little sister. You’ve barely had time to catch up.” She openly taunted me, knowing like every damn demon somehow knows, the right trigger.
I snapped. Human thought was gone. Rationale deserted me. The wolf burst forth in a territorial explosion of fangs and claws. Jez grabbed for me, but she was too late.
I lunged, hitting Lilah square on in the chest. We went down, sprawling with me on top of her. I succeeded in wrapping my hands around her throat. Before I could slam her head against the floor, she planted a foot on my stomach and sent me flying. I flipped over her, landing flat on my back in the hallway.
It crushed the breath from me, but I barely noticed. I was on my feet, lashing out with a blast of power before I could stop myself. A burst of swirling blue and gold exploded against Lilah. In the same moment, I was airborne, knocked off my feet by Arys.
He stood between the two of us, projecting an energy barrier meant to keep us apart. I already knew that with enough concentration I could break it. Could Lilah?
With a cold, calculating stare she scanned each one of us in turn. I half expected her to take a shot at Arys, but she was wary of him. Still maintaining her calm and cool exterior, Lilah spun on her heel and stalked out.
She paused at the door and set her deep orange gaze on me. Regret shone in her eyes. “I really didn’t want it to have to be this way.”
I watched her go, feeling a swell of mixed emotion rise within me. Not only did I have to stay two steps ahead of Lilah, now I also had to keep her from getting to Juliet. Dammit. Why couldn’t it have been someone else? Why Lilah?
What made it worse was that I really believed her. It wasn’t personal. There was something about Arys and I that threatened her. Why exactly, I didn’t know. I intended to find out.
Chapter Thirteen
The early morning sun was blindingly bright. Even with sunglasses, it was too much for my sensitive eyes. I squinted behind my shades, listening as a fireman explained the extent of the damage to my house.
The frame was still standing. It was strong enough for me to go inside and look around, but otherwise, there wasn’t much left to salvage. Oh well. At least I still had the property.