Page 75 of Infernal Hearts

Rani gasps from the other side of the room. “I think I’ve got something.”

I snap the book I’m holding shut and drop it on the ground, walking over to her. “Let me see.”

She hands me the journal, and sure enough, it’s about incubi. Jesus Christ, this is it.

I open it up and see a catalog of information—how deals are made, what our powers are, and what kind of magic is inside us.

Rani fidgets with her jewelry, and her jawline grows hard, yet her voice still holds a forced sense of calm. “What’s it say?”

“Secrets about us—things that I didn’t even know. Like right here, it says here that incubus blood is a powerful healing agent.”

She furrows her brow. “Magnus never told you that?”

I shake my head. “Most of this is new to me.” I pocket the book. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll read more when we get back home. This place is giving me the creeps.”

She nods once in agreement. As we leave, my foot catches on something. A branch? A wire? It all happens so quickly. A sudden whirring flies through the ceiling of the room. The last thing I see Rani do is look up. A compartment opens, full of bright green liquid, dumping all over her. She shrieks.

“Levi! It’s fucking burning!” She collapses to the ground, writhing in pain.

My heart stops, and my vision tunnels. Scooping up the journal and holding her in my arms, I bolt for the staircase. Her cries echo through the basement, curdling my blood. The splotches on her clothes and skin burn into mine, but I didn’t get as much of it as she did. It’s bearable. Barely.

“Just hold on, Rani. We’re getting out of here.”

It was a trap. Someone knew what we were looking for, and they knew we’d end up there, eventually.

She frantically paws at her face, knocking off her sunglasses as she sobs. “It got in my eyes, Levi. I can’t see. I can’t fucking see!” Her once-yellow eyes are now a milky white.

“Jay can help you. We’re going to him.” I sprint as quickly as I can back to the car, cutting through the paths of the crypts. The sun has completely set, and the sky is a soft purple. Jay must have closed the clinic by now. He’ll be the only one there.

I help her in the car, and within seconds, we’re barreling through the forest to Jay’s.

“I don’t feel good.” Rani blindly grips her stomach, lurching over. “It’s getting worse.” She moans, dry heaving and shuddering.

“Just hold on.” I grip the steering wheel, pressing harder with my foot. “We’re almost there.”

Chapter Thirteen

Jason

It’s been a hectic day at the clinic, with clients and surgeries that were more difficult than usual. Between Levi and the search and a normal work day, I haven’t had a moment to rest. Valerie’s in the back cleaning up after a surgery, and Andrew’s left for the day already.

I look up from the computer, and the golden light from the setting sun glows as it hits the stained-glass door. It’s beautiful. The rainbow of colors glow on the floor.

Finally, Valerie comes out from the back.

“So how’s your favorite house guest?” At my silence, her lips form a hard line. “Is there something going on that you’re not telling me about?”

I clear my throat. “Everything is fine.”

She comes over, leaning against the counter next to me. “This has something to do with the demon, doesn’t it?”

Yes. It absolutely has everything to do with him. But I can’t tell her that—she’ll never understand. “He’s just passing through. You won’t need to worry about him much longer.”

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Jason.” She puts her hand softly on mine. “Your safety means everything to me. That’s why I followed you.”

My heart twinges a little. She’s always been family to me. It hurts to lie to her, but it’s easier this way. She wouldn’t understand the pressure I was under when I made the deal. And I’m almost certain that she wouldn’t understand that the deal led to feelings.

I flip my hand over and give hers a small squeeze. “Thank you.”

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