Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(89)

“Rafe? What’s wrong?”

“Lamia… has… Lucy.”

A loud breath of air rumbled in his ear. “I’m on my way.”

Dragging his bloodied body across the floor, he reached for the dilapidated chair—Lucy’s favorite—and pulled himself up. There was no way in any part of the afterlife that he would cower in fear. The Fore-Demons chose him for a reason. He—they—Lucy and he—wouldn’t fail. He owed it to her. Sucking in a ragged breath, he shook his head. There wasn’t any need to fool himself any longer. He wouldn’t save her because he owed her. He would save her because he loved her.

A sudden swirl of adrenaline pounded through his system. Blood pumping in his chest, he hoisted himself up and stood tall. Rays of heated energy radiated through his veins, warming him, comforting him… healing him. Even as the freezing swirls of Kalli’s arrival flew around him, the energy pulsed through his body, sizzling against the icy crystals.

“How is this possible?” he muttered, gazing down at the jagged gash in his abdomen as it faded and blended into his skin. All that remained was a thin pink line.

Bursting out of the wall of ice, Kalli allowed her gaze to rove around the room. “Rafe, where—” Gaze locked with his, she arched a brow. “I thought you were hurt.”

With an irritated huff, she crossed her arms across the magenta lace of her bodice. “We don’t have time for jokes, Deleon.” Pacing back and forth in her ripped fishnets and tall army boots, she scrubbed her fingers through her rainbow mat of hair. Still perplexed by her strange choice of garb, he shrugged. He’d seen images of her through history, had seen her beauty. Not that she wasn’t beautiful now…

“Stop reflecting on my life and tell me what’s going on? I don’t like leaving Lucy’s friends unattended.”

“I healed myself.”

Kalli blinked. “You what?”

He blew out a frustrated breath of air. “Exactly what I said.”

“That’s impossible. Even I can’t heal myself.” Kalli shook her head. “Would totally rock if I could though.” Scanning the room, she blinked. Dark crimson blood trickled and coated the floor. No denying that fact.

“Good God! Is that your blood?”

“Yes. I’m telling you the truth. Look.” Ripping up his T-shirt he traced the thin line that remained of his scar. “See.”

Leaning in for a better view, Kalli traced a finger over the faded pink jags. “Definitely a fresh heal.” She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “You lost a lot of blood. Even I can’t heal someone that fast.”

“What’s happening?”

“Duh,” Kalli said, planting her leather-clad ass on the futon, the only piece of furniture not coated in blood. “I don’t know. I’m a healer, not a miracle worker.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Kalli angled a serious gaze his way. “What do I mean? No demon has ever healed himself. It isn’t supposed to be possible.”

“Well, it is.”

Kalli grumbled. “We need to talk to the Fore-Demons. Do you remember anything at all before you healed? Anything you said? Thought? Anything?”

Lucy. He’d thought about Lucy. Saving her. Loving her. “Lucy.”

“You were thinking about Lucy?” Bemusement and amusement both swirled in her gaze.

“I need to save her.”

Kalli’s lips quirked up into a knowing grin. “That’s it?”

“She needs our help. They’re taking her to Belial. I owe it to her. I…” he cut himself off. No way was he ready to admit to Kalli he’d fallen for Lucy.

Kalli’s brow jutted upward. “You what?”

“Nothing. I just want her safe. She’s Lilu’s daughter.”

With a shrug, Kalli crossed one leg over the other. “There has to be more. Maybe the Paladin manual will say something.” Angling her gaze down to the large bulky tome next to her, she smiled. “Still as massive as ever.” She lugged the book to her lap and flipped it open. “Don’t just stand there looking dumb. Help me read it.”

“Section 24-6-A.” He’d spent hours poring over that book during his early years as a Paladin trainee. There wasn’t any sentence or word he didn’t know. The section in question pertained to the healing skills… skills he shouldn’t have… skills reserved for certain Paladins only.

Swiping the mop of hair from her face, she scrunched her brows. “You need to get out more often, Rafe.” Glancing down at the book, she drew her finger across the ancient text. Narrowing her gaze, she let out a deep grumble. “There’s nothing here about self-healing. Where’s an index when you really need one?”

Rafael recited the words, as if he’d just read them yesterday. “To heal yourself, gather your internal energy and focus on that part of you which needs healing.”

“Where in the heck did you read that?” Kalli thumbed through several pages, scanning each line. “There isn’t anything like that in this entire section.” With a frustrated grumble she flung the book at him.

Flipping the pages, Rafael scanned through the text, his gaze flying over word after familiar word. He knew he read it somewhere, but where? Bloody hell! He knew he wasn’t going insane, but he certainly would be if he didn’t get to Lucy in time.