Wicked Bite (Night Rebel #2)(33)

“If this was this easy, Ashael would’ve done it himself,” I interrupted. Damn demon’s blood should have hit me with the potency of a bottle of tequila. Instead, it only felt like a few shots. “He’s lying about the danger and you know it.”

“Of course he is,” Ian said in an exasperated tone. “But I can still handle it.”

He probably could. I was the one who couldn’t take this, and I didn’t know how to make my constant, irrational fear stop. I hated being this out of control when it came to Ian! If I could rip my feelings out and murder them, I would.

“Is this the part where you’re telling me to stay back only because you want me to follow you?” I asked in a harsh tone. Better to be angry at him than feel the borderline-panic coursing through me.

“If I’d told you Ashael needed to know what you were before he’d grant us passage to Yonah, you would have shown him whether you wished to or not,” Ian replied, not flinching from my anger. “By telling you that Ashael would spot your nature on sight while also telling you not to come, I made it your choice to reveal yourself to him. Not mine.”

My emotions ripped right down the middle, making me want to slap Ian, then kiss him until neither of us could think. He’d shamelessly manipulated me, but he’d done it to protect me. How could I, of all people, fail to understand that?

“She’s a real bitch,” I muttered.

Ian gave me a wary look. “Who?”

“Karma. Has to be a woman. Nothing else is that vicious, patient, or effective.”

A smile tugged Ian’s mouth. “How drunk are you, luv?”

“Not nearly drunk enough,” I said grimly. “But if you’re doing this alone, I need to give you something. In private.”

Ashael rose. “I’ll give you both a moment—”

“Not that kind of privacy,” I interrupted, not looking away from Ian. “Take me where no one can see or overhear us.”

Ian pulled me into his arms, saying, “Be back shortly. Don’t go anywhere,” to Ashael.

Then he teleported us out of there.





Chapter 18


I’d seen Mount Fuji many times, but I’d never been to its summit. The snow was up to my knees, clouds turned the horizon into an endless expanse of white, and the cold slammed into me like a train smashing into someone tied to its tracks. Still, this more than met my requirements. No one was near us.

Ian turned his back to the freezing wind while tightening his arms around me so his body took the brunt of it. I leaned into him, feeling his chin rest on top of my head. I expected him to ask why I’d had him bring us out here, but he didn’t. He only held me until tears stung my eyes, which I couldn’t blame on the icy wind because he blocked most of it.

There were many reasons why I shouldn’t feel the way I did about him. It was too soon, I was too old for him, the timing couldn’t be worse, he’d lost over half his memory, I’d lost my immortality, Dagon was determined to kill both of us . . . and it all washed away when he bent and his lips covered mine.

I no longer felt the cold or the wind or the snow. All I felt was how tightly he held me, how his power sparked against my skin, and how he kissed me with delicate savageness, as if he sensed my turmoil and sought to turn it into raw need instead.

He would have succeeded. Our icy surroundings wouldn’t have stopped me. My prior resolution to keep him at emotional arm’s length wouldn’t, either—I’d already failed at that. But there was one thing stronger than even my desire for him.

“Stop,” I murmured, ducking my face away. “I told you, I have something important to show you.”

The wind snatched away his groan. “What, my sad death from a terminal case of blue balls?”

I stifled my snort. “Being celibate won’t kill you, but I don’t trust Ashael not to send you into a trap. Yes, you can handle yourself, but I’m incurably paranoid, so humor me. Plus, a new memory could drop you at the wrong moment.”

He shrugged. “Have your ghost friend tail me, then, if it’ll make you fret less. For all I know, she’s here now.”

“Leah?” I called out, sighing when there was no response. “She probably couldn’t keep up with Ashael teleporting us. Something about demons throws off ghosts, but that’s off topic. If this relic retrieval is a trap, I, ah, wanted to show you how you can summon me.”

He stared at me until more than the cold and bracing wind made me squirm. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

I shrugged as if I wasn’t revealing my most dangerous secret. “Whatever my other nature is, it can be summoned the same way demons can. Good thing the ritual isn’t as complex and dangerous as summoning my father. That’s deadly, but to summon me, you just need my blood, my true name, and these symbols.”

So saying, I pierced the tip of my finger with a fang, then drew the symbols across Ian’s palm with my blood. The cold froze them into place and Ian’s gaze drank in every curve of the symbols. When I was done, I shifted self-consciously.

“You can take a picture with your mobile, if you want.”

“No need.” His voice was thick. “I’ve memorized them.”

Now, we both knew I couldn’t run from him again. If he summoned me, I’d be pulled to his side no matter where in the world I was. But I hadn’t been able to run before anyway. Not for long. What drew me to him was stronger than any ritual.