Page 66 of Demon Hunger

He seemed ready to argue further but changed his mind, growing dodgy once again.

“What’s the deal with you?” I asked. “Something the matter?”

“No, no.” He shook his head. “Well, actually, I… wanted to thank you for saving my life today.” At first, he stared at the floor, but slowly his eyes lifted and met mine. His expression was etched with the utmost sincerity.

“You don’t have to thank me. We’re a team. You would do the same for me.”

“True.” He paused. “I also want to apologize.”

I frowned, confused. “Apologize for what? You haven’t done—”

He cut me off. “I’ve been a jerk to you.”

“What? When?”

“I tried to pressure you into a relationship.”

“You didn’t.”

“Yes, I did. I could tell you liked Drevan. I couldn’t understand your attraction to him. I dunno… I guess I didn’t look at him like a person. I grew up thinking Hell dwellers were for slaying only, so it made it easier to think of them as senseless creatures. And I guess some of them are, but I realize now that Drevan is different. I can tell he really cares about you, and I think he’ll do all right by you.”

He’ll do all right by you.I thought that over, and it made me realize that Sage truly cared about me. He didn’t want me to be with a douchebag.

“Thank you, Sage. Your depth surprises me.”

He kicked my foot and shook his head. “Way to ruin a tender moment.”

“I didn’t know you were into those.”

We laughed, and I felt a sense of relief and contentment because I so wanted Sage as a friend, and clearing the air about what had or hadn’t been between us, opened the door for that.

23

“Wherewereyou?”Iasked Jenna when she entered our room ten minutes before curfew.

“Benjamin and I were at the library, studying.”

“Lame. Sage and I thought you all might be in a dark corner, making out.”

“I wish.”

My phone buzzed, and I picked it up.

Meet me outside.

It was a text from Drevan. My heartbeat immediately picked up. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door.

“Don’t wait for me,” I said as I headed out, barely waving goodbye.

Since the incident with Regina, I found myself feeling grateful for being alive. If she had succeeded, I would be in a hospital bed, well on my way to a lifetime of constant terror. Something about that made me want to live. Hard.

Outside, Drevan was reclined against his yellow Ferrari Spider. He wore a dark gray suit and a black shirt, a Cashmere scarf wrapped around his neck. I bounced down the steps, and as he peeled away from the car, I crashed into him. He gave out a littleoomphof surprise, then his arms wrapped around me as he laughed.

“I’m very glad to see you too,” he said.

“Let’s go do something fun.” I rushed to the passenger side and got in the car.

“Where to, my lady?” he asked, once behind the wheel.