I gave Tomas a wide grin as I wrapped my arms around Adrians midsection.
Dont mind him, hes in denial over how crazy he is about me, I said glibly. You shouldve seen him rubbing my ass the other night. Its like he was trying to polish it shiny.
Adrian gazed at me in disbelief. Tomas choked back a laugh, and the guy I hadnt been introduced to yet let out a low chuckle.
Looks like you have more on your plate than just demons, Adrian, he drawled, his accent sounding Mediterranean.
Adrians hands flexed on my back, as though he was having trouble deciding whether to push me away or mold me closer. His gaze had changed, too. Disbelief turned to something darker and infinitely more enticing in those silvery sapphire depths.
You have no idea what youre toying with, he said, the growled words barely audible.
What if I want to know? I replied, and shivered as his grip on me began to tighten.
Id started this as a game, but it felt very serious now. His stare burned into my eyes with more than the lust Id called his bluff on. Secrets, promises and lies seemed to swirl together, drawing me in and warning me away at the same time. When he pulled me closer, those warnings collapsed under the explosion of sensation as he pressed against me, and when his hand coiled through my hair, pulling my head back with a strong, possessive grip, I didnt just shiver. I shuddered.
Id started this as a game, but it felt very serious now. His stare burned into my eyes with more than the lust Id called his bluff on. Secrets, promises and lies seemed to swirl together, drawing me in and warning me away at the same time. When he pulled me closer, those warnings collapsed under the explosion of sensation as he pressed against me, and when his hand coiled through my hair, pulling my head back with a strong, possessive grip, I didnt just shiver. I shuddered.
Do you and your friend want to postpone our trip until tomorrow? an amused voice asked.
Adrian released me as suddenly as if Id become scalding. Maybe I had. My whole body felt feverish, and if my heart beat any faster, I might be in danger of a coronary.
Were leaving now, he said in a strained voice. Get in the black Jeep, Ivy. Ill be right there.
I wouldve argued if I didnt feel like I needed a moment to compose myself. I walked toward the black, open-topped Wrangler that had four machine guns in the back. No seats, though, and the front ones must be for Tomas and our as-yet-unnamed companion. Looked like Adrian and I would be standing.
Adrian. The thought of how close hed come to kissing me made that feverishness sweep through me again. Why did he keep pulling away at the last minute? Was it the secret he thought was too terrible to reveal? He wasnt a demon or a minion, and he worked with an angel, so how bad could it be?
Adrians arrival with the two men cut my musings short. He jumped into the back of the Wrangler, grasping the bar that the machine guns were strapped to.
This is Costa, Adrian said, indicating the handsome young man with the wavy black hair and dark brown eyes. Get in, Ivy.
I climbed into the back, accepting Adrians hand up. He held mine a second too long, as if reluctant to let me go. I felt the same way, though I grasped the metal railing between the seats when Adrian did. Was it me, or did something happen when we touched? Something more than lust, although I had that bad, too. Could this be the supernatural bond Demetrius had spoken of? If so, he was right. It was getting stronger.
Hi, Costa, I said, trying to refocus my attention. You mentioned demons, so I take it you know what well be doing?
Costa snorted. Yes, though I wish you didnt have to. No one leaves the dark realms the same way they entered them.
Tomas gunned the Jeep, and bracing to stay upright made me almost miss the look on Adrians face. From the way his features tightened, Costa wasnt referring to different exits. Adrian had told me the demon world was awful, as if I couldnt figure that out for myself. From his expression and Costas words, maybe I hadnt prepared enough. I drew in a deep breath. Think about Jasmine, I reminded myself. If she could survive being trapped in one, I could survive searching however many I needed to in order to save her.
Im tougher than I look was what I said.
Adrians hand brushed my back, the brief caress wordlessly promising that I wasnt doing this alone. Then he nodded at Costa, supporting my statement. I held on to that as tightly as I did the metal bar that kept me from being vaulted out of the car from Tomass crazy driving. Jasmine needed me, and Adrian believed in me. I wouldnt fail either of them.
I couldnt.
chapter twelve
The vortex we were headed to was located in a section of desert called La Zona del Silencio, or the Zone of Silence. I found out why they called it that after Tomas turned off the highway and started driving on the barren terrain. After a hundred yards, the radio station hed been blasting abruptly went silent. Costa held out his cell, showing me the screen going blank as though the phone had powered down on its own.
Technology doesnt work here, he stated. Most people dont know why, but its the vortex. Its one of the bigger ones on the planet, so it drains everything around it.
Our surroundings reminded me of where Demetrius had attacked us. Like that sliver of Oregon desert, the endless landscape of sand was interrupted here and there by cacti and other scrub. It had more mountains, though, sometimes narrowing the path Tomas drove through. Every so often, Adrian would call out directions. He seemed to know exactly where he was despite the lack of roads or signs. I tried to pay attention to our route in case I needed to come back in the future, but after half an hour, I gave up. Turn left at the rock wouldnt work because all the damn rocks looked the same, and once youve seen one cactus, youve seen them all.
Finally, after my muscles ached from hours of the Jeeps rough jostling, Adrian told Tomas to stop. Then he jumped out of the back, unloading his bulky duffel bag with him.
Were here? I looked around, squinting in the bright sunlight. I dont see any older, rotted versions of whats around us. Plus, the only landmark for miles seemed to be an oblong piece of rock sticking out of the ground.
Adrian flashed me a challenging look. You can sense hallowed ground. I can sense gateways to the dark worlds.
I jumped down, too. How can you do that?
His smile was dangerous and beautiful, like the caress of sunshine right before it became a burn. A gift of my lineage, same as your abilities.
Wasnt that a not-so-subtle warning? If sensing demon realm gateways was one of his gifts, he was letting me know that he wasnt the last descendant of Mother Teresas line. Still, why should his family tree weigh so heavily on him? Our previous conversation replayed in my mind. Did my ancestor do something terrible to your ancestor?...No, Ivy, it was the other way around...
Did Adrian keep pushing me away because he felt guilty for what his ancestor had done? If so, could his big, awful secret actually not be about him, but about his long-dead relative?
I dont know who my biological parents were, I said in an even tone. Or who their parents were, and so on. I do know it has no bearing on who I am, beyond genetic leftovers like hair color, eye color, and apparently, an ability to sense hallowed objects and see through supernatural glamour. Same goes for you. Regardless of who your ancestor was, your decisions make you who you are, and aside from being a dick sometimes, you can also be pretty great. Maybe, if you dropped whatever your ancient relatives baggage is, youd like who you were, too.
Adrians expression was as hard as the grayish rock behind him, but Tomas gave me a thumbs-up, and Costa started to smile. Guess I wasnt the only person to think that Adrians biggest issue might be Crap Family syndrome.
I wish I believed you, Ivy, he said roughly. But believing you is part of the fate that I cant allow to happen, for both our sakes.
Without waiting for me to respond, he opened the duffel bag and tossed a ski jacket, thermal pants and gloves at me.
Put these on.
I gestured at the scorched landscape, as if he hadnt realized we were in the middle of a desert with high noon approaching. Are you serious?
These, too, he said, adding a pair of fleece-lined boots to my pile.
I gave him a level look. Either youre trying to kill me, or the realm were about to enter is really cold.
Theyre all cold, Tomas said, accompanied by a grim snort of agreement from Costa.
I was shocked. You two have been in one?
We were trapped and Adrian pulled us out, Tomas said, only to be cut off by Adrians, Nows not the time.
I marched over to Adrian and jabbed my finger in his chest.
You told me there was no way to get Jasmine back without this mysterious weapon, but you got them out of a demon realm?
Ivy, he began.
Dont! You said the only thing I could trust about you was your hatred of demons. If you want me to find that demon-killing weapon, youre going to tell me right now why you could rescue Tomas and Costa, but you cant help me save my sister yet!
I planted my feet, my glare promising that I wasnt moving until I had an answer. Tomas and Costa looked uncomfortable, and Adrian looked angry enough to deck both of them, but all he did was let out a sharp sigh.
I wasnt lying when I said we needed the weapon to save your sister. The only reason I was able to save them without it was because I took them with me when I left.
My scoff was instant. A bunch of demons just let you waltz out of their realm with two of the humans theyd captured?
Yes, he said, his tone now flatter than a polished mirror. I grew up in that realm, so they were used to me doing whatever I wanted in it.
I dont know why the words hit me like a punch. Adrian had told me that Demetrius took him when he was a child. I guess Id just assumed minions had raised him in this world, and Demetrius had...checked in on him frequently.
You were raised in a demon realm, I said, my anger changing into something else. And they trusted you, so you mustve, um