Lord of Embers(The Demon Queen Trials #2)(3)

Patriots

sweatshirts,

and

beaded

necklaces.

Basically

interchangeable, except that one of them was drinking a beer. They didn’t look threatening, and yet— “Is this her?” Jack’s dad asked quietly, his voice sending a shudder up my spine. He took a step closer onto the crumbling footpath. “Is this the one you saw in the City of Thorns?”

“Congressman Corwin.” I cleared my throat. “Nice to meet you.” I glanced to the right, wondering if I should run that way to leap the fence. Right now, they had me blocked in.

The fastest way, I thought, might be to the left—over the fence and into the driveway.

The congressman wore a navy blazer with a bright red tie. His hair was slicked back. He didn’t seem to notice the rain picking up, drenching his neat hair. Over his shoulder, he carried a leather satchel.

Behind him, Jack nodded. “That’s her. She seemed to know the other demons. They thought she was one of them. I said she wasn’t.”

The congressman took another step closer. I considered calling for help, but the only help available to me would be Mr. Esposito and his walker. If I knocked on the door and tried to get inside, there was a good chance these guys would follow me in.

Right now, my phone was dead in my pocket, so there weren’t many options.

The congressman’s nostrils flared as he sniffed the air. With a cock of his head, his jaw tightened.

Lightning cracked the dark sky, and my stomach clenched.

“Nice to meet you, but I need to go, so… ” I trailed off.

I bounded down the stairs and ran for the fence. The jagged metal top cut into my palms as I leapt over it. I landed hard on the driveway, stumbling. But as I tried to break into a run, one of the frat boys blocked my path. Towering above me, he shoved me , slamming me

h ard



onto the wet pavement. As I scrambled back to my feet, the rest of the guys surrounded me.

The younger ones parted, and the congressmen crossed over to me.

Lips curling, he gripped me by the shoulder, his fingers clutching me tightly. He sniffed the air again, eyes gleaming with anger. “

? I

J ack

thought you said she was mortal.”

Adrenaline started to pump.

. I wondered how much magic I had

Sh it



in my system right now. Three days outside the City of Thorns—was I still stronger than a mortal at all?

I smiled blandly. “I

mortal, of course.” I blinked innocently. “It’s am

not my fault the demons kidnapped me. Ask your son. He was there. He told them all I’m mortal, and that’s how I ended up here in Osborne again, where I belong.”

Narrowing his eyes, Jack moved closer. He inhaled deeply, his face growing red. “She smells different now, Dad. She was mortal before, but she’s changed. How was I supposed to know they could change?”

I swallowed hard. “Can you both stop sniffing me? Also, can you… ” I paused, trying to think of a polite way to say . “Fuck off,” I



fu ck

off

blurted. “Please.”

The congressmen let go of me and opened his little leather satchel.

“Are you sure she was mortal before, Jack?”

“I’m sure,” he replied.

“The problem is, son, you’re usually dead fucking wrong about things,” his dad shot back, shocking me. We agreed on that, at least. “I want to take her alive for an interrogation.”

My heart thundered. I didn’t know precisely how demon hunters interrogated demons, but I had a strong suspicion it involved a whole lot of torture. “I’m going to have to decline that invitation, Congressman Corwin. I’m trying to cut down on the amount of time I spend being kidnapped and prodded with knives.”

“I’m not asking.” He reached into his bag and pulled out a metallic hook. It took a moment for me to register exactly what it was. Mortals didn’t have claws like demons to carve out hearts, so they used implements instead. The sight of the instrument—like a small metallic scythe—sent a shiver of ice through my bones.

I hadn’t actually tried to control my claws yet. Right now, I wished I’d been practicing that for the past few days instead of drinking boxed wine in a basement.

I moved to the left, trying to get around the hunters, but the congressman knocked me back again, and my head smacked against the pavement. Pain shot through my skull, and along with it, fury. I gripped my head, anger simmering. These could be the very people who’d murdered Mom.

Now my demon side was starting to rise.

Blocking out the pain in my head, I leapt to my feet and lunged forward. I landed my punch, but it didn’t do much damage. The congressman slammed his fist into the side of my head again, sending me staggering back, and I hunched over, dizzy.

The blows were clouding my thoughts. I had nowhere to go. Orion thought I was Mortana and wanted me dead. The demon hunters wanted me dead.

Even a life of quiet desperation wasn’t in the cards right now, playing chess with Mr. Esposito in Ye Olde Osborne Coffee Shoppe.

A wild, furious sort of panic gripped me, and I rushed forward, shoving Jack’s father hard into the guys behind him. He fell back. I tried to make a run for it again, but Jack struck from the side, punching me in the head. I staggered as he moved behind me and threw my elbow into his ribs, and he grunted in surprise.