Strange Fire (Rebel Heart Book 3) Read online

  I didn’t want him to have to save me. I wanted us to save each other.

  “Yeah, no problem. I’ll drive Spike home.” Arrow didn’t dish up any of his usual assholery, which didn’t make me feel any better. Did he feel sorry for me? Still? Because screw that shit.

  I gave Jett a quick squeeze. “So much for our girls’ night of fun. Call me tomorrow.”

  With a pained nod, she headed for the exit.

  Rowen turned to go after her but paused to glance back at me like he wanted to say something. After a strained moment of silence, he said, “Have a good night, Spike.”

  I watched him go, feeling the weight of everything he didn’t say. My shoulders slumped. I stifled a sigh but otherwise didn’t react. Over the past several weeks, I’d gotten pretty good at masking my pain. At least, I liked to think so.

  The knowing look Arrow wore made me feel as see-through as leaded glass. I told myself it was because he was close to Rowen, to the situation, and not because I was transparent as fuck.

  “So… Do you want to take off?” he asked, pulling keys from the pocket of his black jeans. “I can take you home, or we can grab a drink somewhere else. Your call.”

  The thought of sitting at home, alone, pondering the events of the evening sucked. “Yeah. I don’t care where we go, just get me out of here.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “So where are we headed? Ready to call it a night?” Arrow slid a curious side eye my way, thinking I wouldn’t notice.

  “Nope.” I shook my head, tousled black locks slapping me in the face. “I’m on a mission. Koda and Dash will rue the day they ever met me.”

  Arrow tapped his fingers on the steering wheel in time to the heavy metal song blasting from the BMW’s speakers. Whenever I thought he wasn’t paying attention, I turned it down a notch. I’m all about the rock, but the growling metal isn’t quite my style.

  He slapped my hand away as I reached for the volume again. “You’re drunk, Spike. So whatever you’re thinking is probably stupid and dangerous. I think you should go home and sleep it off.”

  “Well, Arrow, I don’t care what you think. And I’m not drunk. Just a little tipsy.” I had to focus extra hard, or the lines on the road blurred into a dizzying image that made my head spin, but he didn’t need to know that.

  “Bullshit.” He eased the car to a stop at a red light. “You can’t beat Dash, and you know it. You’ve got to let this go.”

  I didn’t like how his tone had softened, the way it does when one speaks to someone they deem fragile. Broken. “I don’t have to beat him. I just have to find something he wants more than he wants Rowen.” Doubt crept into my voice.

  My gaze dropped to my hand, to the ring I still wore. Rowen had given it to me as a symbol of his promise to love me no matter how shitty things got. White gold angel wings nestled diagonally side by side caught the light, shining in the streetlight before the car launched into motion, casting Rowen’s mother’s ring in darkness.

  I twisted it on my finger, as I did when contemplating how far I was willing to go to stick it to Dash. Sometimes I thought about taking the ring off, putting it away somewhere safe. But almost every time I saw Rowen at The Spirit Room, I caught him looking for it.

  “There’s nothing he wants more than Rowen. All Dash cares about is his fucking triad and whatever it is they do together.” Arrow cast a glance my way, his hazel eyes appearing dark in the dim light. The smudge of black liner added to the effect. “I can’t think of anything that would make him change his mind about that.”

  “No, there’s got to be something,” I insisted, racking my brain. “The world is crawling with gems and amulets and weaponry that the demons want to get their hands on.”

  Nova, the incubus demon from the Black Market, had come to me seeking help finding a gem. Not that I would help him, of course. But they were creatures of power, always seeking more. Dash was no different. I just had to find the right object, the one that appealed to him above all else.

  “And you could do that?” Arrow asked, a brow raised. “Hand over some magical object to a demon? Even though they’d only use it to spread evil and corruption. Doesn’t quite fit the description of a white lighter, Spike.”

  It wasn’t what I wanted to hear. Not from him, a dark nephilim. Not from anyone. “I didn’t think discouraging me from bad choices was in your job description,” I muttered.

  “It’s not, but you’re talking crazy. Bargaining with demons isn’t your style. Leave that shit to dirtbags like me.” His upper lip curled in a hint of a smirk.

  I watched the city streets fly by until my head spun. We were getting closer to my apartment. “I can’t. Not this time. Take me to the Black Market.”

  Heavy metal music filled the space between us as we drove ever closer to my neighborhood. If Arrow thought he could force me to go home, he didn’t know who he was messing with. My hand gripped the door, as if I might just bail out any moment. Who knew? Maybe I could pull off a stunt roll if he slowed down for a corner or something. Yeah right, like Arrow would slow for a corner.

  “I’m gonna have to say no. That’s a shit idea, angel girl. I’m taking you home just like I told Rowen I would.” The BMW smoothly sailed through the night under Arrow’s precise guidance, nearing my street.

  “Whatever then. I don’t need you. I’ll find my own way out there. I’ll take a cab or something.” Irritated with his good guy act, I slumped in my seat and muttered obscenities beneath my breath.

  Arrow hit the brakes and jerked the car to the side of the road. We were just a few blocks from my building. “Are you seriously going to pull this crap on me? I’m supposed to get you home safe. If anything happens to you, Rowen will fucking kill me.”

  I turned in my seat to face him, a challenge in my expression. “Then come with me to the Black Market. Have my back and bring me home safe after. I just want to browse. We won’t stay long.”

  He stared at me with a mix of exasperation and uncertainty. Running a hand through his shoulder-length black hair, Arrow let his head fall back against the headrest. Without his trademark beanie cap, even in the dim light I could see that his hair was shinier than mine. That was all kinds of wrong.

  “You’re going to get us killed,” he stated, and I knew I’d won.

  “Don’t be so dramatic.” I playfully punched his shoulder, hiding my satisfied smile. “We’ll be fine.”

  Arrow rolled his head my way and scoffed. “You’ll be fine. You have Cinder’s mark for protection.”

  “That doesn’t mean shit to most demons. If anything, it encourages them. I’m pretty much walking in there with a target on my back.” Cinder’s protection was a double-edged sword. For every demon it fended off, it tempted another.

  With a grumble and a squeal of tires, Arrow swung the car in a U-turn and headed back the way we’d come. Since Rowen had given himself over to the dark in order to save his brother as well, Arrow had changed. Not much. He was still the coke-sniffing, drug-dealing ego-maniac he’d always been. But in some ways he’d mellowed. His worry for Rowen formed something he’d never confide in me. We didn’t have that kind of friendship. We were acquaintances by force really. However, I saw it there within him, that fear for his brother, and it had softened him.

  Shooting me a glare, Arrow reached to turn the music up to a deafening level. Seeing as I’d gotten what I wanted from him, I sat back and put up with it.

  The Black Market was a demon bazaar of magical wares. An old abandoned church outside the city hosted the market. Inside the church demons bartered, traded, and sold items that probably should never have existed. Out back, in the churchyard, they conducted rituals, orgies, and other debauchery.

  I harbored no doubt that it was a dangerous place. As we drew closer my stomach began to knot. For just a moment I thought I might throw up. The taste of vodka in my mouth had me wishing we’d stopped for a coffee or something.

  Arrow turned the music down as we entered the parking lot. It was dar
k. The only light came from the fire that burned in the back churchyard.

  “Last chance to change your mind.” He turned the engine off, knowing already I wouldn’t be deterred.

  To show I wasn’t a total bitch, I said, “You can wait here if you want. It’s cool. I can just run in alone.”

  Offended, Arrow hit me with a flower-wilting scowl. “What kind of absolute pussy do you think I am?”

  “Why do people always use pussy like it’s a bad thing?” I countered. “And I didn’t say any such thing. Just trying to be accommodating since you drove me out here and all.”

  He stuffed the keys into his jeans pocket and leaned into the backseat to grab the black beanie hat he often wore. The musky scent of his cologne wafted my way. It smelled like the pricey stuff.

  “Good point. Pussies can take a pounding.” Arrow tugged the hat on and reached for the door. “There’s no way in hell you’re going in there alone. Come on. Let’s try to make this fast.”

  Ascending the old, worn front steps of the church got my pulse pounding. I sobered by the second as fear ruled in my brain. Though I told myself to keep it together, I swallowed hard a few times. We were just here as potential customers. No need to be afraid.

  Voices reached me as we hauled open the heavy front door. I got the feeling this place stayed busy. Right away Mallie spotted me and began waving me over. The fox-headed demon was persistent, and so I angled over to his table, hoping to blend in with the crowd.

  “Have you changed your mind about the ring, white lighter?” Mallie asked, reaching for a particular trinket on his table of magical crazy.

  “No,” I said quickly, holding up a hand to ward off the offending ring. “Thank you. I’m not here for that.”

  The ring in question supposedly gave its user the ability to cross between worlds, ours and the spirit realm, at will. Although Mallie had tried previously to sell it to Jett and me, it was not something I had any interest in.

  The demon’s observant fox gaze drifted to Arrow who stood beside me, scanning the vicinity. “How about you, dark one? What can Mallie interest you in today?”

  Arrow met Mallie’s curious gaze with a semblance of scorn on his face. “Not a damn thing. I’m just keeping her company.”

  That creepy fox stare moved between us, assessing. Scrutinizing. He wasn’t the only one. A glance over my shoulder revealed several others looking us over. I imagined it seemed strange that Arrow and I would be there together, dark and light as we were.

  “It is strange company you keep, dark one,” Mallie observed, perusing his many items for something we might like. “Although it is no business of mine. Ah, how about this?” He held up a gold chain with a triangular talisman hanging from it.

  When he swung it toward us, I leaned away, sensitive to the strange, static-like energy it gave off.

  “What does that do?” Arrow asked, reaching to touch the talisman.

  A surge of adrenaline drove me, and I grabbed his hand to stop him. Immediately I let go, feeling like I’d crossed a line but certain that he shouldn’t touch the wares.

  With a slight smirk, Mallie dropped the necklace back to the table’s surface. “It opens a door. A door not of this world. But I don’t think that’s what you came here for. Why don’t you enlighten me?” Mallie’s gaze found the sword strapped to my back. Despite Cinder’s cloak, demons could always see it, and Mallie had once tried to convince me to trade it to him.

  I struggled to swallow, finding my throat dry. Nerves made my palms sweat. “I’m looking for something. I’m not sure what just yet. Something that might persuade a demon to give up his claim to someone I care about. Something he might want more.”

  Mallie eyed me without blinking for so long I thought surely I’d said too much. My knees trembled, and I felt like a little girl who’d stupidly dared to confront the monster under the bed.

  “Well, my dear,” he said after what felt like forever, “I understand your plight, and though I sympathize, I cannot help you. Of course that does not mean another will not. Best of luck in your endeavor.”

  Just like that he dismissed us. It figured that some of them would refuse to go against another. However, I knew for an absolute fact unrest plagued demons, and they’d quickly sell each other out for the right price. Someone here would help me. I just had to find them.

  Feeling eyes upon me, I turned to scour the place and found red eyes belonging to a certain incubus demon. Nova. Craptastic.

  Arrow tugged my elbow. “They don’t want to help, Spike. Let’s just go.”

  “Mallie didn’t want to help. I think I know who will.” Steeling myself for what would be an uncomfortable encounter, I weaved my way through the throngs of tables and demons, headed for Nova’s table near the back door.

  As we went voices followed us. They spoke clear, loud observations in English rather than the old inhuman language they tended to use with one another so that we might understand.

  “Does Cinder know she’s here?”

  “And with a dark one of all things. Interesting.”

  “Is that not Dash’s outcast nephilim?”

  I refused to make eye contact with any of them, knowing they sought just to get under our skin. Although I couldn’t speak for Arrow, it worked. A shiver crawled along my spine with each step that brought me closer to Nova.

  He watched me with a gleeful grin, like he’d known I’d come. And he most likely had. He had approached me after all, offering me help with Dash. At the time I’d refused. Now, here I was, ready to bargain after all. At least that was how he would see it.

  “Ember, so lovely to see you again. I see you’ve brought another friend. Not quite as fetching as the wolf. Have you changed your mind about what we discussed?” Nova’s grin grew to reveal both upper and lower fangs. A snake-like tail flicked around behind him, as if moving of its own accord. Black horns adorned either side of his head of dark hair. Jett found the incubus to be sexy, but I knew it to be an illusion.

  I stopped two feet from his table, but it did nothing to keep his unwelcome power from caressing me with a warm, unseen hand. My head began to fog, and heat spread through my limbs to pool in my groin.

  “Cut it out, Nova. Drop the incubus shit, or I’m leaving, and we won’t be discussing a damn thing.” It didn’t sound so convincing as my breath hitched and my cheeks grew flushed.

  Arrow regarded the demon with haughty derision. “That’s kind of cheating, isn’t it? I mean, handy skill I guess, but it’s kind of lame to force someone to want you.”

  The demon gave Arrow a once over, his grin twisting into a sneer. “And I suppose she wants you, dark one, and you don’t even need to try.”

  “What? No, that’s not what I meant.” Arrow appeared offended at the insinuation. “Me and Spike, we’re not a thing. I just meant—”

  “But you want to be a thing, correct? Your aura glows with the heat of your attraction to her.” The demon chuckled, feigning surprise. “Oh, did I give something away that you’d prefer I didn’t? My apologies.”

  Arrow stood there stiff, his expression stone cold. I felt embarrassed for both of us. Not because I believed Nova told the truth about Arrow, but because his goal had been to make us uncomfortable and already he’d succeeded.

  “Can we get to the point?” I broke in, drawing the demon’s attention back to me. “I’m here for a reason, and I don’t have time to waste on trivial bullshit.”

  Nova held Arrow’s gaze a moment longer before fixing red eyes on me. “Of course, little thief, your wish is my command. What brings you to me tonight? Have you come to accept my offer?”

  Careful not to make eye contact with any of the nearby demons, I kept my voice low. “Not exactly. I’m still not going to work for you in any way. I’m seeking something myself, however. Maybe you can steer me in the right direction?”

  No demon would do anything without getting something in return. Nova was no exception. “Now why would I want to help you if you have no intent to gi
ve me what I want?”

  Knowing I was doing a shit job of bargaining with a master negotiator, I mumbled, “Can you want something else?”

  Nova snickered. “I want many things, little thief. What exactly are you willing to give me?” Like the lech he was, Nova gave me an appraising once over. Even though I wore an oversized hoodie, his appraisal made me feel naked.

  “I’m not making any deals or offers until I get what I want.” Perhaps Nova wasn’t the right demon to haggle with. “And I don’t have to get it from you. There’s a shit ton of other demons here.” To prove that I wasn’t above walking away, I turned to peruse the table next to his.

  Perhaps Nova could wheel and deal with the best of them, but he had little patience. “No need for that.” He waved me back. “Tell me what you want, and I’ll see what I can do.”

  Beside me Arrow crossed his arms and kept a watchful eye on our surroundings. Having him there brought me more comfort than I’d ever let him know. He could’ve left me to fend for myself back at The Spirit Room. And maybe he was only here out of loyalty to Rowen, but I’d try to remember it next time he acted like a supreme asshole. Which probably would be sooner rather than later.

  “What I want is something that a particular demon would want.” I hesitated, glancing about. Dash could have allies anywhere. Word of my hunt could potentially reach him in mere moments. “Something they would value more than they might value… a person. A nephilim.” Already I’d said too much if the wrong demon were listening. Hushed tones didn’t keep supernatural ears from hearing. I stared at Nova, willing him to understand. He knew about Rowen, so I shouldn’t have to spell this out for him.

  Nova perused his wares. “I’m sorry, Ember. I have nothing. But my previous offer stands. Help me out, and I can make all of your problems disappear.”

  Anger burned through me. My palms tingled. Taking deep breaths, I counted to ten before speaking. “You wouldn’t help me if you could,” I accused. “You could have something here that’s exactly what I need, and you’d never tell me.”