Page 80 of Demons & Damnation

The map zoomed in on Minster Arch and pinpointed a horseshoe shaped road with a large green park at the back of it.

Realisation hit Kyla like a sledgehammer. When she’d found her familiar, she’d not only been metres away from them but also their house.

A gentle whine snapped her back to reality. Kyla looked down to see her new friend sat at her feet, looking up at her with big brown eyes full of love and adoration.

“I have to do this,” she said, scratching him behind his ears. “And afterwards, we’ll think of a name for you. When I’m free of all this and my head is clear. Ok?”

He whined again and licked Kyla’s hand.

“You can’t come with me. You don’t want to see what I’m about to do.”

He jumped to his feet and let out a sharp bark, stopping his wagging tail instantly.

“I am doing this. You don’t get a say in it. Got it?”

He dropped his head and turned around, tucking his tail between his legs as he trotted back towards the house. Kyla followed him inside, settled him on a blanket with a bowl of water, and grabbed the car keys, her body filling with the false hope of freedom as she drove towards her target.

Chapter 33

Sam couldn’t stop thinking about Balthazar. Not only because of what had happened in the woods but because of the draw she felt to him. Something inside her felt as if it had clicked into place, as if she were suddenly at peace and settled. She would even dare to say she felt content. The fact he said he felt that too unnerved her in one way but excited her in another.

The problems he’d hinted at that they would face piqued her curiosity. What could possibly be more problematic than their supernatural statuses? What if she fell for him and something prevented them from being together? It would be a waste of her time and would break her heart. He seemed too good to be true right now and usually when something seemed too good to be true, it was always that way.

His words had left somewhat of a taint on the rest of the day, she couldn’t deny that. He’d taken her into town for a milkshake after their kiss, but he’d seemed distant and lost to his thoughts, his smiles not reaching his eyes, and his mind wandering.

When he’d dropped her off at home, he’d given her a polite kiss on the cheek and left without a further word. Sam traced her fingers over her lips, remembering their passionate kiss in the woods before he’d backed away. Why had he done that?

Her bedroom door burst open, bringing her back to reality. “Hey,” she said, frowning at her brother. “I could have been naked in here. A bit of courtesy wouldn’t go amiss.”

“Oh, get over yourself,” Dylan replied, rolling his eyes. “What I have to say is so much more important than you wearing clothes or not.”

Sam raised an eyebrow and cocked her head to one side, waiting. When Dylan didn’t reply after a few seconds, she said, “And? Are you going to tell me or just stand there like a gormless moron?”

“I was just making sure you were interested. After all, this affects you the most.”

Sam’s heart stopped and flipped over backwards. “What? What are you talking about?”

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