“I question you scaring the hell out of a little girl, telling her that you want her life—”
“I meant nothing of the sort. I want—” He swung away from her, hands clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. Claire took the opportunity to move as fast as she could to the stairway, gripping the banister just as he turned back to her. “No—you will not leave my sight.”
“I only need to make sure my friends are safe—”
“You dare accuse—”
“Since you’ve already frightened a child, and sent her mother searching for help, yes, I accuse. But I will also listen, once I know they are all right.” White light flared from his mark, and she froze. “There is no way for me to leave from the second floor.” She kept her voice even, low, wanting to soothe the rage that poured off him. “Let me see them. Please.”
She jumped when his fist slammed into the wall beside her. After an endless moment he stepped back, blue eyes fierce. “Go. Try anything, and I will hurt whoever I have to in order to regain your cooperation.”
Nodding, Claire limped up the stairs, careful to keep the shotgun lowered until she was out of sight. She almost collided with Annie as she rounded the corner.
“God above—”
“Are you okay?” Annie grabbed her shoulders, narrowed brown eyes studying every inch. “He didn’t—”
“You were listening.”
“Damn straight. I wasn’t going to let him touch you without suffering for it.”
“Annie . . . thank you, for wanting to cover my back. Now I need you to help me get Regina and Hillary out of here.”
The grip on her shoulders tightened. “What are you—”
“I’m going to distract him. I want you to take them out of here while I do.”
“Damn it, Claire—I am not leaving you—”
“Yes, you are. They are more important. And he won’t hurt me.”
“How do you know that?”
“He’s a guardian, Annie. A guardian angel. If he harms any mortal, he is punished. Severely. Their mission is to help, to guide, not to do harm.”
Annie let her go, paced across the hall before spinning back to her. “What about his threat—wanting Hillary’s life? Wanting to live her life? Does that sound like the gentle request of a guardian angel? I won’t leave you with him.”
“You will. Get them out, Annie. Please.” Claire touched her wrist. “There’s something wrong here, something I can’t pin down yet. But he is angry, enough that he may lash out before he can control it. I won’t have them hurt by him. And I won’t have him face punishment for it, when I can avoid the situation.”
“Damn.” She let out a breath. “Fine. But if you don’t follow us out in a timely manner, I am coming back for you. No argument.”
“None given. The less time I spend with him, the safer.”
“Oh, God—does he know—”
“Not yet. And I plan to keep him from finding out. He already feels a—difference, with me. I don’t want to give him time to pursue it. Now,” she rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Go ready them, and let’s do this.”
*
Claire left the shotgun with Annie, knowing now it would do no good, and simply inflame the guardian’s already unstable temper. He waited for her at the bottom of the stairs, arms crossed, fear and a desperate need layered over the anger.
“Is she—” His voice lowered, fear edging out the anger. “I did not harm Hillary. I only want—”
“She is frightened, and confused.” Claire moved past him, careful to keep her distance. “And so am I.” Stepping down into the living room, she slowly backed away from the staircase, as if she were retreating. Her goal was the doorway behind her, which she hoped led deeper into the house. “Why did you choose Hillary? You had to know you would terrify her by what you’re doing. And no matter how badly you want it, or how much you threaten, it isn’t possible for you to have her life.”
“Her pain drew me. I understood her need to be free of it.” Just as she hoped, he followed her across the room. “It is not her life I want. I want to live, to escape the bonds of being caught Between. I have been there for so long, and it seems as if all the good I do means nothing to them.”
“You had a life.” Claire softened her voice, knowing she tread on shaky ground. “How you chose to live that life is the reason you ended up Between. There will be forgiveness, when whatever debt you have has been paid—”
“It will never be paid!” He raised his fists toward the ceiling, an angry prayer. “They will never free me, never forgive what sins they believe I have committed.”