Beyond the Veil (8 page)

I nodded. That sounded good enough for me.

“
It also means you can
’
t go nuclear on me. So don
’
t bust a blood vessel trying.
”

So, I was trapped in there, with him, unable to call my power, until the Hellhounds got bored. Great.

Only when Stefan had finished marking all four walls, ceiling and floor, of the small basement apartment did he finally stop. He tossed the spray can on the small kitchen countertop and slumped against the cupboards.
“
We
’
re safe. For now.
”

I couldn
’
t help glancing back at the door, expecting the horrid things to come crashing in at any moment, but as the seconds ticked on and nothing happened, I breathed a little easier.

The beige patterns and cream overtones of the small basement apartment were comfortable enough, and thankfully the owner wasn
’
t home. Perhaps it was a weekend bolt hole. Either way, I was glad I didn
’
t have to explain any of this to people not accustomed to demons barging into their lives. I roamed the lounge area, admiring the photos of a man with two young girls who I assumed to be his kids, and felt a pang of guilt for vandalizing his apartment.

Stefan had shaken off his coat and slung it over the couch. The red bloom of blood on his shirt hinted at a wound beneath.
“
Are you alright?
”
His expression was almost one of concern.

I didn
’
t reply immediately. I was trying to work out what was happening. My thoughts ran amok. He had saved me, again. There was no doubt in my mind; Stefan wasn
’
t sent to kill me, but I was a long way from trusting him.
“
I think so.
”

He crossed the room and reached out, as though about to touch my face. I flinched away, moving around the couch, shivering in my torn and bloody dress.

“
You
’
re hurt
…
You have a cut over your right eye. I was just
…
Never mind.
”
He returned to the little kitchen and stood with his back to me. I caught the memory of his wings and averted my eyes. He hadn
’
t looked like any demon I
’
d ever seen before. He
’
d looked
…
glorious.

He shrugged his shirt off his shoulders, letting it slip down his back then peeled the fabric away from the jagged gash in his side. A fragment of metal protruded from his skin with blood oozing around its sharp edges. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the shard and yanked it free with a hiss.

“
Thank you,
”
I said, trying not to wince in sympathy.
“
You didn
’
t have to do any of that for me.
”

He grunted an acknowledgement and tossed the bloodied fragment of metal in the kitchen sink where it rattled. Finding some paper towels, he tore a few sheets free of the roll then dampened them before pressing the wad of paper against the weeping wound.

He turned, leaning back against the countertop. I admired his physique before I could stop myself. I might have glanced away if a tattoo hadn
’
t caught my eye. On the muscular plain of his navel where his jeans hung low, two entwined scorpions had been tattooed into his smooth skin. I couldn
’
t help staring. So many questions went through my mind, but I wasn
’
t sure I had the energy to ask, knowing the answers wouldn
’
t be easy. Exhausted, bruised, and battered, I didn
’
t want any part of this madness. I wanted to go home, but didn
’
t even have one anymore.

“
Will you let me take a look at that cut?
”
he asked after allowing me a few moments to collect my thoughts.

I shook my head.
“
Stay away from me.
”

“
Fine.
”
He tore off more paper towels and proceeded to clean himself up while I watched. I wanted to hate him. Ever since he
’
d entered my workshop, everything had gone wrong. That wasn
’
t a coincidence, and yet I was beginning to believe he didn
’
t want to hurt me. I couldn
’
t have survived what we
’
d just been through without him.

“
You were right,
”
I perched on the edge of the couch, hands clasped together on my thighs, knuckles white.
“
They were sent for me.
”

He gave me a cool glance before returning his attention to the wound.
“
You have many enemies, Muse.
”

“
But you aren
’
t one of them?
”

“No.”

“
Akil said you were.
”

Stefan snorted.
“
Akil. Right.
”
He rummaged through some drawers and found a small tube of Loctite.
“
I could use your help
…
if you can stand to be within two feet of me.
”

I stood and approached him. Considering everything he had done, I could hardly say no.
“
What do you want me to do?
”

He handed me the glue.
“
Would you mind?
”

I looked at the small tube then at the two inch wound in his side.
“
Really?
”
His arched eyebrow told me to get on with it. I pinched the lid free and tentatively touched the nozzle to the puckered flesh around the wound.

He immediately hissed in a breath. I winced.
“
Sorry.
”

“
No, I
’
m good. Just
…”
He planted both hands on the edge of the countertop, bowing his head, and smiled.
“
You
’
re hot.
”

I blinked.
“
Huh?
”

“
I mean
—
your touch
—
it
’
s hot, physically.
”
He laughed lightly, a trickling chuckle that summoned a reluctant smile from me.
“
Never mind.
”

I pinched the wound together, watching lean muscles ripple with tension. Fighting a smile, I squeezed the glue into the wound and held the skin closed for a few seconds.
“
Best not glue myself to you, huh? I
’
m not sure how I
’
d explain that to Akil.
”

“
Do you love him?
”

I frowned. The abrupt question caught me off guard.
“
That
’
s personal.
”

Stefan looked right at me, his smile gone.
“
I need to know the answer.
”
His cold stare could have pierced stone.

“
Why?
”

He hesitated, his sharp blue eyes searching my puzzled expression.
“
Because if you do, then it makes my task all the more difficult, and I need your help.
”

“
What does any of that have to do with whether I love Akil or not?
”

He moistened his lips and straightened so that my hand fell away from his side. I looked up into his eyes, sensing the cool energy thrumming inside him. A trickle of power rippled inside me. The warmth embraced my weary limbs, but that was as far as it could get. The marks on the walls surrounding us prevented the power from manifesting outside of me. I felt my demon butt up against my skin, unable to break free.

“
Who do you think sent those hounds?
”
Stefan
’
s voice deepened.

“
It could only be my brother, Val. I don
’
t know much about Hellhounds, but they
’
re difficult to summon. Only pure demons can do it, even then they
’
re virtually impossible to control. Val has wanted me dead for years. Summoning Hellhounds would just be the last in a long list of things he
’
s done to me.
”

Stefan briefly touched my forehead with his fingertips, probably an instinctive touch, but the dance of power that ignited between us immediately jerked me back. The spark had been so intense that it tugged a great wave of energy from inside, briefly staggering me. I reached for the countertop, steadying myself as Stefan stood firm, his cool gaze heavy with intent. What that intention was, I couldn
’
t be sure.

“
Akil sent those hounds, Muse.
”
Stefan
’
s voice had lost all of its jovial lightness. The arrogance was back, his tone cold.

It was my turn to laugh.
“
You don
’
t know what you
’
re talking about. Akil and I
…
it
’
s complicated.
”

“
I don
’
t doubt that.
”
He raised an eyebrow, implying a great deal with that one gesture.

I tossed the glue on the side and snaked my arms crossed, attempting to control the flicker of anger flaring inside me.
“
How dare you judge me? You don
’
t even know me.
”
He shrugged a dismissive shoulder, further infuriating me.
“
You have no idea what I
’
ve been through. You were looked after. Someone cared enough about you to keep you safe, to train you. I had none of that. I was sold, virtually given away to the demons as a plaything. I was raised beyond the veil. Do you even know what that means?
”

His hard expression softened a little. He rested a hip against the cupboards, his head bowed a little.
“
Who told you I was kept safe?
”

“
It doesn
’
t matter. What matters is, I don
’
t know you, but I do know Akil, and he
’
s done nothing but look after me.
”

“
He
’
s a demon, Muse.
”

“
What are we?
”

“
We
’
re human.
”
He ground his teeth, flicking his hair out of his eyes to glare at me.
“
And believe or not, we hold more power over them than they
’
ve led you to believe. Why do you think he keeps you so close?
”

 
Because he loves me? I didn
’
t speak the words, but they
’
d been there, right on the tip of my tongue. Stefan didn
’
t need to hear it. He saw it in my expression, in the hopelessness on my face. He shook his head.
“
I had hoped you
’
d be stronger than this.
”

 
“
Oh, screw you. You
’
re impossible. You know that? Like a goddamn force of nature. You waltz into my workshop and ruin my life, and now you pity me? I
’
m sick of it. Sick of you.
”
I headed for the door.

 
“
You can
’
t leave. Not yet.
”

  With a sigh, I stopped a few feet from the front door, feeling the chill of his gaze on my back.
“
If you
’
re not an assassin, and you
’
re not here to hurt me, then what are you?
”

 
“
Whatever Akil told you is a lie. I
’
m an Enforcer. This tattoo you so readily admired proves it. I wasn
’
t
‘
kept safe,
’
Muse. I was plucked from my home, stolen from everything I
’
d ever loved, and forced into this way of life, but you know what, I love it. I hunt demons and thrive off it. I kill the bastards who step out of line, the ones who breach the human world and wreak havoc, and I need your help to kill your brother.
”

 
“
I don
’
t believe you.
”
I ignored the
‘
kill your brother
’
bombshell for now because it was insane to even consider it.

 
“
It doesn
’
t matter what you believe. It
’
s the truth. Akil means to kill you. Your brother isn
’
t behind any of this, and I can prove it.
”

 
Stefan watched me closely, waiting for my reaction. I couldn
’
t believe him. Akil wouldn
’
t hurt me. He
’
d saved me from my owner, given me the tools I needed to slaughter the bastard. Akil had been there ever since, my guardian in a world that despised me. No, Stefan was lying. This was Val
’
s doing. My brother was capable and had a motive. There was no mystery here.

I sat on the couch with a disgruntled humph and dropped my head back, closing my eyes against the physical and mental aches and pains.
“
Thank you for everything, but when I leave here, I don
’
t want to see you again.
”

“
Muse, if you go back to Akil, he
’
ll kill you.
”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I squeezed my eyes closed. My headache pulsated.
“
He
’
s not going to do that.
”
Akil wouldn
’
t hurt me. I
’
d seen the passion in his eyes, felt the warmth of his arms around me. There was no malice.

“
You traded one owner for another, and you
’
re too blinded by Akil to see it.
”

“
Shut up.
”

“
Just because he doesn
’
t beat you, doesn
’
t mean he
’
s not controlling you.
”

I snapped open my eyes.
“
Stop it.
”

Stefan glared back at me.
“
Why can
’
t you see it?
”

“
Because
…”
I winced at my own foolishness.

“
Because you love him?
”