The Sweetest Burn (Broken Destiny #2)(44)

Saying the words made me both happy and fearful. I wanted to celebrate, and at the same time, I was half-afraid that the demon would magically show up to prove me wrong.

Jasmine's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Isn't he already dead?" was Costa's surprised question.



       
         
       
        

Adrian made a low, vicious sound. "He survived what happened in Bennington, and while I hope Ivy's right, I won't believe he's truly dead until I dance in his ashes."

"But how could you kill him?" Costa looked confused. "The sling's gone, and I thought that only Archons can kill demons."

I held up my arm. "Turns out, the slingshot isn't gone. It's just dormant until a demon gets close. Then it turns back into the real thing, except it only kills them one at a time."

Jasmine and Costa stared at the markings in disbelief. Adrian laid his hand over the tattoo, smiling a bit grimly.

"She's telling the truth, and I'd have the burn marks to prove it, if you hadn't stuffed me full of manna last night."

"It burns me, too," I said, with a hollow laugh. "I just don't get any visible welts. At least it doesn't hurt as much as it did the first time I used it."

Adrian glanced back and forth between me and the tattoo before meeting my eyes. "I don't think the weapon's potency has diminished. I think you've gotten stronger and better able to withstand the pain. In fact-" his expression took on a hard, assessing look "-with it, now we have something to use to build up your tolerance to the staff. A hallowed weapon is the best way to train you to withstand another hallowed weapon."

I didn't like the sound of this. "How? I have to be very close to a demon to activate the slingshot, and I don't want to risk my life hanging out with demons anytime soon."

The hardness in Adrian's expression didn't lessen even as a slight smile curled his lips.

"I might know a way around that."





  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I FELT A PANG of nostalgia as I looked around the campus of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If my life had turned out differently, I'd be close to finishing my junior year at the College of William and Mary. Jasmine would be wrapping up her freshman year there, and our parents would be looking forward to having both of us home for the summer.

Instead, we were orphaned dropouts who were sneaking onto campus with a gargoyle disguised as a seagull, a former demon-realm captive and the last descendant of Judas. No wonder there were moments when part of me thought that this was just one long, extremely strange dream. Yet here we were, and somewhere on this campus was the place that Adrian apparently called home. He didn't live here as a student, of course. In fact, according to him, no one knew that he lived here at all. 

I had felt the thrum of hallowed ground as soon as we stepped onto the campus. Since this was a Catholic and Jesuit school, that explained why. There were more than a few churches on-site, but I noticed that the supernatural vibrations grew the closer we came to our destination. By the time we reached St. Joan's Chapel, my nerves felt like they'd been transformed into guitar strings during a concert.

With its medieval architecture, the small stone chapel looked like it belonged next to the ruins of a castle on a lonely European hill. Not surrounded by multistoried lecture halls on the grounds of a modern American university. Evening mass had just ended, judging by the people spilling out of the chapel. I smiled at them as we walked up the stone steps, ignoring the many curious glances aimed at Brutus. If they thought that a seagull tottering behind us looked strange, they'd really freak out if they could see Brutus's true form.

"I still don't think this is a good idea," Costa muttered.

From her expression, Jasmine agreed, but she stayed silent. Adrian gave them a quick, measuring look before replying.

"Once again, anyone who wants to can stay back at the bus."

"As soon as I make sure that Ivy's really safe, I'm out of here," Jasmine said briskly. "Until then, I'm staying."

This time, Adrian's silvery-blue eyes lingered on me. "I'm not saying it'll be easy, but it should be as safe as regular target practice."

"Sure, if you ignore the part about the target being a living, bloodthirsty demon," Jasmine said under her breath.

I had to admit, that had given me pause the first time Adrian had told me his plan, but I knew as well as he did how important it was to train for the staff. Jasmine didn't, so she'd reacted as though Adrian were trying to fulfill his destiny by betraying me. By the time she'd calmed down enough to hear him explain the safeguards, we were halfway to Milwaukee.