Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity #5)(102)

“That’ll work.”

“Tane’s on the trail. I’m sure he’ll let Styx know if he discovers anything.” With a stiff nod, Jagr turned back toward the door.

Let him go, let him go, let him go…

“Are you leaving?” The words bypassed her brain and burst from her lips.

Once again, he grudgingly halted and turned. “I have my own lair. Or at least I did.” Without warning, that almost smile touched his lips, making her heart kick against her ribs. “The rats may have taken over while I was gone.”

Tentatively she moved toward him, half-afraid he might disappear into the night if she pressed too hard.

“They wouldn’t dare.”

He arched a golden brow. “You’re obviously unfamiliar with the rats native to Chicago. They fear no demon.”

“Perhaps no demon, but every creature fears an oversized Visigoth chief.”

His gaze deliberately skimmed over her pale face, lingering on the dark shadows beneath her eyes.

“Not every creature.”

“Well, I’ve never been very smart. If I had a brain, I’d no doubt be terrified.”

The stunning blue gaze lowered to her lips, his jaw clenching, as if in pain.

“I should go.”

Her hand lifted to touch him, only to hastily drop when he took a sharp step back.

“Will you be back?”

“Not unless Styx commands my presence.”

She swallowed the thick lump in her throat. “Oh.”

There was a tense, awkward silence that made Regan want to ram her head into the wall.

Before tonight she’d felt a lot of things when Jagr was near.

Fury, frustration, searing passion, and heart-melting tenderness.

Never, ever awkwardness.

What the hell had she done?

Slowly his gaze lifted to tangle with hers. “Do you intend to remain here?”

“No. I…” She gave a helpless shrug, unable to explain the stupid panic that attacked her each time Darcy tried to draw her deeper into their cozy clan. “No.”

“Where will you go?”

For all her determination to leave, she’d given remarkably little thought to the tedious details.

“I can’t go far. At least not until I’ve found a job and saved some money.”

His brows snapped together. Regan found herself pathetically pleased by the first real display of emotion.

“There’s no need for you to work…”

“Darcy’s already offered me money,” she hurriedly headed off his offer.

“Which you refused.”

“I’m not just being stubborn, Jagr.”

“Did I say you were?” he snapped.

“You didn’t have to,” she ruefully teased. “It was written in neon across your face.”

His scowl remained firmly intact. “Highly doubtful.”

She sighed, running a restless hand through her hair. “I want to see if I can make my way in the world like a normal person. Is that so astonishing?”

The brief glimpse of emotion was wiped away. Replaced by a coating of ice.

“You’ll never be a normal person.”

“Fine, like a normal demon.” She clenched her hands, wishing she could make someone, anyone, understand. “I need to know I can do it.”

“Who are you trying to convince, Regan?” he demanded, softly. “Me? Or yourself?”

“I’m trying to explain…” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

The tightening of his jaw was Jagr’s only response as he turned on his heel.

“I must go.”

“Jagr.”

“Dammit, Regan, what do you want from me?” he hissed, keeping his back to her.

A good question.

Unfortunately, she didn’t have a damned clue.

She only knew that watching him walk away was ripping out her heart.

“I…I want to thank you.”

He stiffened, still refusing to turn. “Thank me?”

“If it hadn’t been for you, I would have walked straight into the trap that Sadie set for me.”

“Somehow I doubt you would have been so easily captured,” he said dryly.

Her lips twisted. Her pride might want to believe his words, but she’d had plenty of time to consider her rash flight to Hannibal.

“I appreciate your confidence in my skills, but we both know I was so consumed with my need for revenge, I wasn’t thinking clearly. If it hadn’t been for you I…”

“I don’t need your gratitude, Regan,” he unexpectedly intruded, his voice harsh. “Just take care of yourself.”

And with that, he was wrenching open the door and disappearing into the waiting shadows.

Stunned by his abrupt departure, Regan grasped a nearby marble statue as her knees threatened to buckle.

Every instinct screamed at her to run after Jagr and wrap her arms around him. To beg him to toss her over his shoulder, and cart her to his hidden lair.

To…

With a crack loud enough to wake the dead, the arm of the statue snapped off in her hand. With a muttered curse, she hastily tossed the dismembered limb onto the floor.

“God, I’m such an idiot.”