“Well, I was planning on tormenting tonight…but maybe I can go with you instead?” I trace the side of his face with my finger. God he’s beautiful.
“I might be gone a few days…that’s why I had to make sure to do this before I left.” His eyes sparkle, and he leans in to kiss me again.
I jerk back as if punched in the gut. “A few days?” I whisper.
He nods. “I’ve been tracking these demons for quite some time. I’d lost them for a bit, and then they were hiding out in lands I’m forbidden to enter. But they’ve resurfaced. In fact, they’re the ones responsible for Ivy and Cody. I didn’t want to say anything earlier with Bones right there—”
“What?! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I’m definitely going with you!”
Kieron sighs again and takes a small step back. “You can’t. Like I said, it might be a few days…maybe longer. You know you can’t be away that long. But I need to act fast and secure their position. It’s of the utmost importance that I contain them before they have a chance to disappear again.”
I’m disappointed because I know he has to go, and I can’t follow. But something else is bugging me, too…something I hadn’t put my finger on until just now. “Kieron, when we found Cody and Ivy, you were convinced they were killed by Light-angels. You said they had the markings, the energy and everything. What made you change your mind?”
A haunted look shadows his face, and his eyes darken. He studies me at length before responding. “I was wrong. The demons who did it…they are a special kind that absorb the powers and energies of their victims. They feed off those energies; it’s how they survive and grow stronger. My best guess is they’d had a run-in with Light-angels in the Mortal world shortly before attacking Cody and Ivy in Dryndara.
“I’ve only heard of two demons who have that power…” My voice trails off.
No. I cannot process this. No. No. No.
Kieron nervously runs his hands through his hair, the pain evident in his face.
“I’d really hoped to avoid this. I’d considered just leaving and not saying anything to you, but I couldn’t do it. But I should have…” He shakes his head, as if he’s angry with himself. “Remember how I said I came here to kill you because you were interfering with one of my quarries?”
“Um, yeah…I just figured I killed one of your bounties and you were pissed about the money. I’ll pay you back if that’s what…” I mumble, still in complete denial of where he’s going with this, even though I know exactly where he’s heading. I want him to stop talking now…before it’s too late.
“No, that’s not it. You were interfering because you were hunting them, too. These particular demons are highly sensitive and spook easily. I’d been tracking them for several months. And just when I had them in my sights, something scared them off—you.” He looks down at the ground.
Suddenly, everything is spinning around me and I begin to feel faint. My back slides down the side of the tree until I’m sitting on the ground. But even that doesn’t help. An achy sickness permeates my body, and my blood seems to have turned to poison—slowly, methodically, killing me.
“There have only been two demons I’ve ever hunted who’ve evaded me,” I whisper, still in disbelief.
Kieron nods, and shuffles his feet nervously. “And I have a blood contract from the Supreme Legionary to bring them in… Alive.”
I jump up. “What?! No! You can’t! If they’re here… if they’re somewhere and you know where they are, Kieron you must tell me. I have to kill them. You know I do.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t let you. The Supreme Legionary decreed…” His voice is barely a mumble.
“The Supreme Legionary…Kieron, who are you?” My eyes feel ready to pop out of my head, if it doesn’t explode first.
“Lucky, this isn’t the time to get into all this. I’ll explain after I get back…”
“After you get back from protecting the murderous monsters who killed my friends and destroyed my life, you mean!”
He looks at me with pain in his eyes. “I had no idea what the Amazèa had done to you when we first met. I only figured it out after talking with you. Then I put two and two together. No one would be stupid enough to hunt them if they didn’t have a hell of a good reason.”
My quivering lips twist into a snarl. “Oh, and I suppose you have a good reason?”
“I’ve been bound to this bounty for months. Finding them, containing them, and handing them over to the Legionary is the only way I can win my freedom…otherwise…” He looks away and nervously runs both his hands through his hair.