Page 85 of A Study of Blood and Ichor

Ava didn’t spare him a single glance. “Okay.”

“When I tell you to stop, you stop. I will not interfere with your amusing little exorcism attempt, but I will not allow you to run yourself into the ground over it either. If I think you’ve ingested too much ichor or it’s running through your system too quickly, then I will force you to end the session.”

“Fine.”

“Do you even realize the risks you are taking here?”

She whipped around, eyes flashing with irritation. “I know the risks of consuming too much.”

Vain dipped his head and let out an exasperated sigh. Stubborn thing, he thought.

“Come.” Vain walked up to a chest set atop a stack of crates. It was a large black leather box with a set of complicated gold locks sealing it shut. Vain pressed a hand to the locks, and they threw themselves open automatically.

Ava stepped up beside him as he raised the lid to reveal all manner of weapons—the sharpest knives and long blades forged of the purest silver and selenite, iron chains fitted with razor-sharp prongs, a crossbow with explosive selenite bolts, and polished manacles and collars for binding—a demon hunter’s dream cache in a single box.

Ava’s gaze trailed over the weapons, landing on the large glass bottle filled to the brim with a clear liquid.

“Is that—”

“Holy water. An extra measure of precaution should we need to expel the ichor from your body quickly.”

“You thought of everything, didn’t you?”

“I like to plan ahead for every possible outcome. One of my better qualities, I’m afraid.”

Ava sneered at him. “You really are vain.”

“I never claimed to be humble,” he said with a smile.

“You’re insufferable.”

Vain inhaled slowly, in part to let the insult wash over him, but also attempting to scent out the lie. “Ah, you don’t really believe that, Ava. Tell me, what would be so bad about accepting your desire for me?”

A hard frown set across her features as she glanced up at him. “You’re a demon.”

“My, you’re perceptive.”

“Shut up. You know what I mean,” she snapped, her tone as sharp as the blade she ran her fingers over.

Vain’s voice dropped dangerously low as he asked, “What changed, mellilla?”

Yesterday she had allowed Vain closer to her than she ever had, and now she acted as if she wanted nothing to do with him.

She regrets it.

No, Vain said. She’s afraid.

Vain didn’t look away from her as he let his question hang in the air between them. Ava’s throat bobbed, but she refused to meet his hardened gaze.

“There’s no shame in admitting you’re fascinated by me or that you want me as badly as you want Rory.”

“You don’t understand,” Ava blurted.

“I understand perfectly.”

The closeness of her was too much to bear. The familiar scent of her, the way her eyes swept over every inch of our face while she attempted to mask her feelings. If I were in control, I would have kissed her right then. I would have wrapped myself up in her and never let her go. Fuck, I wanted that so bad.

But I wasn’t in control.

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