Page 23 of Death Wish

“Of course this is about Xaver. Isn’t it always?”

Cole clenched his jaw, a tight muscle in his neck twitching.

Andre ignored him. “I guess my next question is how Xaver got over here in the first place? Without the solstice—”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” I said, but then remembered I wasn’t part of this conversation.

Cole shot me a look before repeating my words for Andre to hear.

“I hate demons.” Andre winced as if he had tasted something sour. “Everything is too complicated with them. Too messy. Honestly, Masters, I don’t know how you do it. Even as a Halfling.”

“I’m not a Halfling,” Cole snapped back. “Not yet, anyway. Why do you think I’m trying to get out of it?”

I hesitated. Get out of it? Get out of what, exactly? Being a half-demon? That was impossible, wasn’t it? They were born by a demon and a human or supernatural mother. It was in their DNA. A person couldn’t just get out of it or wish it away. It didn’t work like that.

Andre rolled his eyes. “You’re wasting your time. I’ve told you this before. There’s no way to lose your demon. It’s impossible. Frankly, how you’ve lasted this long without the beast taking over completely is a miracle in itself.”

Cole ignored that. “Can I count on you to keep good on your promise or not?”

Andre walked over to Kay and circled her like a tiger stalking his prey. After a few turns, he said, “What is she exactly?”

“Huh?” Kay paled. “What am I?”

“You’re a supernatural of some kind. I can smell it in your blood. But not a common one. I can’t quite place it.”

“She’s a Medium,” Cole answered, annoyed.

“Ah, that’s it.” He mused. “It was familiar but unfamiliar at the same time.” He turned to Cole again. “How long do you suspect she has?”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I barked at Cole, who flinched.

“What do you mean?” Kay asked, her voice high with panic.

“Yeah, what do you mean?” Now I was getting pissed. Cole had said Kay could be in danger. The entire part of bringing her to this “safe” house was to protect her from Xaver coming back for her, but from the way they were talking, you’d think something had already happened. Like the damage was done.

My heart hammered in my chest. What could Xaver want with Kay? He possessed Laurence to get to her. That was obvious. The only thing I knew about demons was that they possessed supernaturals to bear children.

Ice raced down my spine as the realization hit.

“Kay, when was the last time you and Laurence did it?” I shouted, unable to control the volume of my voice.

Her head whipped towards me. “Uhhh…” Her cheeks reddened.

She was never the type of person to talk about such personal things, like her sex life, but right now, it was crucial I knew.

“Was it any time recently?”

She didn’t answer, just looked grim.

“Kay!”

“After our date the other day,” she choked out.

“Oh shit.”

If Xaver had possessed Laurence then and had seduced her, that meant he had picked Kay to be his next victim and the mother of his child. And that meant her fate was sealed. Victims never survived the birth of demon children.

Never. Some didn’t even last through the pregnancy.

Andre was watching Kay with a mixture of confusion and interest.

“You don’t think…” Her hands flew down to her stomach, still flat and showing no signs of a demonic baby within. Horror flashed across her face. “Oh my God!”

Then, her eyes rolled back, and her body crumpled. Cole snatched her shoulders before she hit the ground and tried to get her back to her feet, but her head fell forward.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Andre watched the scene pensively, appearing more amused than worried. “Well, Masters,” he began, turning to Cole with a widening smile, “I think it’s safe to say this nightmare of yours has just begun.”

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