Page 57 of A Study of Blood and Ichor

Rory

Even with Vain in control, I was acutely aware of how close Ava’s body remained pressed tortuously close to ours. I couldn’t shake the smell of her hair, her skin. Even the taste of her was still heady on our tongue. Vain looked down at her, and I watched as her pulse thrummed against her neck, nearly toe to toe with a fucking archdemon.

Her body was taut, and her pupils were blown wide as she looked at us.

What the hell do we do, Vain?

Shut up. I’m thinking!

But Vain’s mind was blank. Ghen had left him stunned, cornered like a rat in a cage with nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

Vain pivoted a quarter turn toward the archdemon and said, “Yes, I suppose we do.”

Ghen was domineering—all broad shoulders and corded muscles. His snow-white hair was slicked back, falling just past his shoulders, and his sharp, high cheekbones and strong dark brows gave off both an air of grace and an impervious ruthlessness. He was devastatingly handsome in a mystifying and deadly sort of way.

He radiated power—was power—all that energy pulsing off him felt vicious and unconquerable. Even Vain winced, shrinking back at the closeness and apparent force of him.

“Did I spoil your fun?” Ghen asked, his attention moving down to Ava’s mark, the temporary brand that claimed her as Vain’s.

“Wouldn’t be the first thing of mine you’ve spoiled,” Vain replied apathetically.

Ghen’s eyes narrowed, a frigid disquiet hanging between us.

I hope you know what you’re doing, I told him.

“Come with me,” the archdemon demanded. “And let’s find Eldin too, shall we? He should be around here somewhere.”

We. Are. Fucked.

Keep your incessant thoughts to yourself, or I’ll shut you up myself.

Not if Ghen kills us first, I said, tracking the span of Ghen’s very large arms and his wide chest and trying not to imagine all the ways the archdemon could shatter me in his grip, even if Vain was in control.

Vain fumed with stubborn resolve. That won’t happen.

Ava nipped closely at our heels like a nervous puppy as we followed Ghen in search of Eldin. I wanted to reach for her, to comfort her, but Vain refused, afraid that Ghen might use her against us should he notice our connection was more than just a demon and his pet. If he noticed that she wasn’t really glamoured…

As much as I understood Vain’s reasoning, I hated him for it all the same. She needed us. She needed me.

Rounding the corner, Eldin and Vain locked eyes, then the demon's undulating tentacles went limp at the sight of Ghen leading the charge toward him. He excused himself from one of his guests—a dark-skinned demon with flowing silver braids and six ivory spider-like legs protruding from her backside that curled over her chest like armor—and approached Ghen with trepidation.

Eldin set his half-empty champagne flute on the floating tray of a passing waiter, and I took notice of how his long fingers twitched as they moved back down to his sides before he bowed his head in greeting to Ghen. Because while Ghen was a disgraced archdemon, according to Vain, he was still an archdemon nonetheless.

“The three of us need to have a word in private, Eldin,” Ghen said.

“Of course, my Lord. It’s an honor to host one of the Arches. If I knew you were coming—”

“Save your pathetic groveling.” Ghen rolled his eyes, his tone bordering on disinterest as he said, “False flattery isn’t a good look on you.”

Eldin cleared his throat, eyes darting toward an empty room across the hall. “We can speak privately in the den.”

Vain followed Eldin and Ghen, but as soon as we reached the doorway, the archdemon turned and placed a large hand to Vain’s chest. His eyes bored into ours and I found myself transfixed by the eons held within them, dusted with the constellations and galaxies swirled in his dark gaze.

“Your little whore will remain outside. I don’t care how tight a leash you’ve strung her on.”

“She’s glamour—”

Ghen tsked and said, “No more tricks, Vain. The witch stays put.”

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