Amusement glitters in his eyes as he dips his head toward mine. “If you think that’s going to take my fun away from this, you’re completely and utterly wrong.” Then his lips are on mine.
They are surprisingly warm and soft, and for the weirdest moment, I feel sort of content, calm, at peace with myself. Then his hand finds my waist, and he lets out a growl as his tongue slips out to part my lips.
Holy shit, that might feel too good!
Putting my hand against his chest, I gently push him back.
“There. The deal is sealed.” When my voice comes out even and composed, I give myself a mental high-five. The last thing I want is for a demon to think his kisses made me melt a little.
His nostrils flare as he takes deep breaths and searches my eyes. “That’s it?”
I nod, ignoring the fluttering in my heart. “Yep.”
“Fine.” The one word comes out clipped. Then he springs to his feet, draws the hood of his cloak over his head, and looks down at me. For the briefest moment, he looks baffled, but then a haughty grin spreads across his face as he throws me a wink. “Until we meet again, my little rainbow trout.” He puckers his lips. “Just be ready for me.”
I start to shake my head, but then I remember …
“Wait. How am I supposed to know when you’ve gotten my sister back?” I ask, jumping to my feet. The blood rushes from my head, and I nearly collapse, but somehow, I maintain my balance. “I don’t even know how to contact you.”
“You don’t need to. I know where to find you.” Then, like at the park, he vaporizes in a swirly haze of smoke.
I spin around to where the troll demon was, but he’s vanished, as well.
And just like that, I’m left standing in a cage, alone, with nothing more than the hope that the demon will give me back my sister.
Chapter Two
I don’t know how long I stand there, staring into empty space, but reality eventually crashes over me like a violent wave.
“Oh, my ditzy witches, did I just make a deal with a demon?” I whisper in horror. “And kiss one?”
“You did what?” Hunter’s astounded voice sails from over my shoulder.
I startle, but I don’t turn around, partly out of shame, and partly because he might be a traitor.
“Huh? So you didn’t see that?” I play it off coolly.
“No, I didn’t. Why would you do that?” he chokes, sounding hurt. “That doesn’t sound like you at all.”
“Because I panicked and felt like I had to.” Summoning a deep breath, I twist around to face him.
He’s standing only inches away from me, his posture stiff, his lips set in a thin line. On a positive note, his blue and black hair is tinted with blond and has an inch more length.
“Hey, your hair’s starting to change back.”
He makes no move to reach up and feel the freshly grown strands. “I don’t care about my hair. What I care about is what kind of deal you made with that evil bastard, and why the hell you kissed him.”
I crinkle my nose, pretending the kiss was more revolting that it was. “Yeah, that definitely wasn’t my finest moment, was it?” I shrug. “He said he wouldn’t make the deal if I didn’t give him a little smooch.” I put on a sarcastic smile. “But, hey, at least I got my first kiss out of the way.”
Anger flashes in his eyes, his fingers curling into fists. “Don’t play this off by pretending it wasn’t a big deal.”
“But it’s not,” I insist. “I know some girls get all weird about their first kiss being special, but honestly, I never expected anyone to ever kiss me.”
He frowns. “Evalee, I don’t think—”
I hold up my hand. “Look, I know it’s weird I just swapped spit with a soulless spawn of the devil, but I needed to make the deal, and that was part of it.” I let my arm fall to my side. “I’d appreciate it if we stopped talking about the kiss.” I shudder as if I’m truly disgusted. And I am, but more with myself and the fact that I’m not entirely disgusted by kissing the demon.
What is wrong with me?
Hunter gradually shakes his head, the muscles in his jaw ticking. “Fine. Will you at least tell me why he was even here? And why he willingly entered the cage?”
“Maybe because he knew you guys were about to tear the walls down?” I intentionally avoid his first question, wanting to avoid talking about possibly being a hybrid, and because I’m still confused over whether or not I can trust Hunter. “I really don’t know the answer to that. I honestly didn’t even realize he’d entered it until about five minutes ago—I was so out of it.”
“I know.” His throat muscles work as he swallows hard. “For a minute, I thought you were … you were dead.”
“So did I.” I rub my hands up and down my arms and wiggle my toes around, making sure every speck of my body is free from the petrifying curse. Then my thoughts float to my sister and how, according to the police, she died from petrification. “I probably should be.”
His brows pucker. “Why would you say that?”
“Because I was petrified.” I hug my arms around myself. “That was how Ryleigh died.”
Pity overflows from his eyes. “Oh, Eva.” He reaches for me, but I shuffle back, and he immediately frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to talk. But not here … Some place private.” I peer around at the multiple hallways extended out of the rounded room we’re in. “Where’s Evan?”
“After the cage began to crumble, he ran off to grab a harness.” He shakes his head with his fingertips pressed against his temples. “I don’t even want to know why.”
“To make sure my demon didn’t escape.” Evan whisks back into the room, carrying a leather collar attached to a chain. “With the cage down, he’ll be able to …” He slows to a stop as his gaze sweeps the demon-free space surrounding Hunter and me. “Fuck, he took off already? How the hell did he do that? It should’ve taken him a few minutes after the walls fell before he was completely free.”
“I think the other demon kidnapped him,” I explain. “Or killed him. I’m not sure which.”
Evan drops the collar and chain to the floor then drags his fingers through his hair. “Great, now I’m going to have to capture another one.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I feel like this is all my fault. I never should’ve gotten that close to the cage to begin with.”
“No, it’s not your fault,” Evan insists, resting back against the wall with a heavy sigh. “If anything, it’s my fault for not putting up a better cage. I can’t believe he made the walls ripple like that.”
“You probably didn’t use enough surface energy when you created it,” Hunter tells him, standing so close to my side that our arms touch.
I discreetly inch away from him, not ready to touch him yet. If it turns out he did rat me out, I won’t ever go near him again. Even if he stands in the center of my lawn, blasting a boom box and begging me to forgive him.
Hunter notices my offish behavior and gives me a quizzical glance, mouthing, “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Unsure of what else to do, I give a shrug,
Evan rubs his jawline contemplatively. “You think so?” he asks Hunter.
Hunter tears his gaze off me and distractedly nods. “The next time you create a cage, up the force. Then the walls shouldn’t have so much bend in them.”
“All right, I’ll give that a go.” Evan pushes away from the wall and walks toward us. “How did you learn about surface energy? Last I heard, it wasn’t included in the standard wizard and witches curriculum. “
“It’s not in the standard classes curriculum,” Hunter says. “But a few advanced classes include it.”
“So, you’re one of those smart guys who doesn’t look like it,” Evan questions, looking as though he’s struggling not to grin.
“I guess so,” Hunter replies, sounding somewhat offended.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to come out as rude as it sounded,” Evan apologize
s, stopping in front of us.
“It’s cool,” Hunter replies with an indifferent shrug.
Curiosity creeps into Evan’s expression. “So, what do you know about internal energy?”
A trace of an arrogant smile graces Hunter’s face. “A bit.”
After that, the two of them begin chatting about energy as if they’re old friends, like Evan and I were supposed to be. Meanwhile, the demon’s words echo in my mind.
While I don’t want to be a hybrid, I can’t help being painfully aware of how different I am.
How different exactly, remains undecided.
Chapter Three
“You’ve been awfully quiet since you escaped the cage,” Hunter declares the moment we hop into his truck. “Is this about the kiss?”
I find it odd that he doesn’t bring up the fact that I might be a hybrid demon first. Out of all the things revealed while we were at Evan’s, the kiss seems like the biggest issue at the moment.
But, since he’s not bringing it up, I’m not going to, either. Not until I figure out if Hunter could’ve possible shot me in the back with his wand—metaphorically speaking—and told the hybrids where my sister was hidden.
“No. And I don’t want to talk about that kiss. Ever again,” I grumble, staring at Evan’s warehouse perched in the center of acres of dry, wilting grass. “And maybe I should be asking you why you were so chatty in there.”
“I’m always chatty,” he points out as he twists the keys and the engine rumbles to life. “Why do you sound so jealous?”
“Because I am.” I rest back in the seat and prop my boots up on the dash. “Evan is supposed to be my old friend. Not yours.”
“You do realize how ridiculous you sound right now, right?” He pauses, giving me a somewhat concerned look. “Are you sure this isn’t about the ki—”
“Enough with the kissing thing! It happened, and now it’s over. I did it for a good reason, too.” I hope. “And I do know how ridiculous I sound right now, which probably makes me even more pathetic.”
“Eva …” he starts, his tone laced with pity.
I point a finger at him. “Don’t do that.”
His brows dip. “Don’t do what?”
“Look at me with pity.” I face forward in the seat. “I hate it when you do that. And while we’re at it, you should stop looking at me altogether.”
“Okaaay,” he drags out the word as he shifts the truck into reverse. “I’m just going to keep my mouth shut until you’re ready to tell me what’s really bothering you.”
The fact that he knows my anger isn’t fully stemming from him stealing my old buddy and kissing some demon floors me even more.
Gah! Why does he seem to know me better than I know myself!
“No, you’re going to talk to me,” I declare, reaching over and shoving the shifter into park. Or, well, I try to. Instead, the gears grind.
Hunter spits out a sequence of colorful words as he slams on the brakes. Then he reels around in his seat. “All right, start talking, or I’m going to make you walk home.”
“Of course you will.” My tone oozes sarcasm as I roll my eyes. I know I’m being a brat, but I’m hurting inside. What if he did betray me? What if he was never my best friend? “Newsflash, Hunter, I learned a long time ago that all your threats are empty. At least the ones you make to me.”
He narrows his eyes at me, but his lips threaten to turn upward. “Oh, did you?”
I cross my arms and raise my brows defiantly. “I did.”
His brow curves upward. “So, what you’re saying is that I won’t make you walk home if you don’t start telling me why you suddenly have a stick up your butt?”
I raise my chin. “Yep, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
We stare at each other inside the cab, each stubbornly refusing to look away and lose the staring contest we have silently entered. The longer we stare at each other, the more I start to doubt that Hunter was the one who told the hybrids where my sister’s body was.
This is Hunter, my best friend, who cares about me.
The sun is starting to descend around the steep mountains that encompass the town, casting a pink-orange glow across the sky. Add that to the lingering rainbows still hanging around from the rainbow storm and the hundreds of various colors spilling into the cab, it makes us both appear like we’re in technicolor.
“You look like a disco ball pooping rainbows,” I say stoically, in an attempt to get him to crack.
“Well, you always look like a disco ball pooping rainbows,” he quips with a clever smirk.
I gasp, pressing my fingertips to my lips. “You so did not go there.”
“Yep, I sure did. Don’t worry, though; I think rainbow popping disco balls are pretty.” Before I can even react, he’s opening his door. “But they need to be taught a lesson.” With that, he climbs out of the truck and strides for the passenger side.
I hurry and flip the locks, then stick out my tongue at him. “Ha, ha, you left the keys in the ignition, so the joke’s on you.”
“You really think that can stop me?” His eyes glimmer in technicolor as he reaches into his back pocket and produces his wand.
“Nice try, but the demon’s curse hit, remember?” I remind him, yet still inch my fingers toward the lock, just in case.
He grins self-assuredly, lines the tip of the wand to the window, and begins to chant an unlocking spell.
Sparks shower from the wand and glitter across the glass like tiny flakes of diamonds. The lock unclicks, and I move to tap it back down, but he beats me to punch and flings the door open.
I scramble for the driver’s side, knowing I’m overreacting. There’s no way he’s going to throw me out of his truck and make me walk home.
No way in all the witches in the world—
He snags ahold of my ankle as I’m in the process of head-diving into the driver’s seat and drags me back.
I latch on to the steering wheel. “Seriously? You’re actually going to try to drag me out of your truck?”
“No.” He releases my ankle. “I’m not going to try. I’m going to.” His body is suddenly on top of mine so we’re chest to back to ass to … Well, you know.
My eyes widen in shock. The distraction is enough that he easily pries my fingers from the steering wheel.
“Hunter,” I grunt as he pushes back and flips me over onto my back so I’m sprawled across the bench seat. “This is getting out of hand.”
“I know.” He climbs back on top of me, straddling my hips and pinning my wrists down beside my head. His now chin-length blond hair hangs in his eyes as he stares down at me. “So, why don’t you tell me what’s bugging you so I can win this thing and it can be over?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You won’t win.” Then I writhe my body, trying to kick him off me. Instead, I end up grinding my hips against his in a very, very erotic way.
Great. Talk about embarrassing.
Hunter tenses like he’s in pain, and then he hurriedly shifts his hips away from mine.
“God, Eva, I …”
“I’m sorry,” I sputter, my face feeling fiery hot. “I didn’t mean to do that! I was just trying to get out from under you.”
He chuckles, his muscles remaining wound tight, yet his fingers loosen on my wrists. “Well, for future reference, if you’re ever pinned down beneath a guy, grinding your hips against his might not be the best way to get him off you.”
My face floods with even more heat, but I manage to dazzle him with a wicked grin. “Well, it got you off me, didn’t it?” Then I yank my wrists out from his hold and push against his chest.
Thrown off guard, he tumbles onto the floorboard.
Seizing the opportunity, I sit up and scramble out the door. But the second my feet plant down in the dirt, I realize that I technically let him win this fight by getting out of the truck after all. Now all he has to do is lock me out and drive off.
“Dammit.” I reel around, ready to dive back in, but
he hops out and blocks my path.
“Now what’re you going to do?” he teases with his hands spanned out to his sides.
I take off in a run to the back of the truck, preparing to climb in through the passenger side. However, he sideswipes me near the tailgate, looping his arms around my waist.
I spin around and flatten my palms on his sturdy chest to push him back, but his arms enclose around me as he yanks me against him. I struggle to get away, wiggling around and jumping up and down, when my legs somehow end up wrapped around his midsection.
I move to put my feet back down on the ground, but he backs us up and pins me between him and the side of the truck.
“You’re being super weird right now.” I pretend to be more annoyed than I am.
He leans his weight against me so our bodies are fused in every single way possible.
Seriously, is he trying to kill me?
“You’re the one who’s acting weird,” he retorts. “And I can tell it has something to do with me, so just spit it out, and I’ll fix it.”
“What if you can’t fix it?” I ask, my voice soft and weak. Whether from the worry of his betrayal or his body against mine, I’m not sure.
Holding me against the truck with his hips, he reaches up and sweeps my hair out of my rainbow-colored eyes that I’m sure look so much like the sky right now that it’s probably creepy. “I’ll fix it … No matter what it is. I promise.”
I sigh. “That’s a pretty big promise to make without having any idea what I’m going to say.”
His hand lingers on my cheek. “That’s because I’d do just about anything for you.”
I want to tease him about being a cheesy goof, but I’m too emotionally drained at the moment.
“Fine, you really want to know?” I ask, and he nods. “Okay, but you have to promise not to hate me. And I want a contract promise, not verbal.” Because if it wasn’t him who outed Ryleigh’s body’s location, he might hate me for even thinking it. And I can’t handle him hating me.
Then again, if we do a contract promise, and he does try to lie to me, I’ll probably end up hating him. Not just because he lied and betrayed me, but also because I’ll end up in so much tremendous pain when he breaks the contract promise.
The Secret Life of a Witch 2 Page 2