Page 23 of Demon Touched (The Demon Syndicate #2)

Nova

N ova studied what was left of the tattoo shop from the rooftop across the street. The wards and enchantments were gone and the entire place was gutted. On top of that, Dex had stripped the footage from every business with a vantage point.

The blood she’d spilled had been burned to ash and there was no trace left of anyone.

Zane shifted slightly beside her. The cold didn’t bother him like it did her. For whatever reason the male hunters were more like shifters when it came to the cold.

The University of Morgana was on an island in the northeast and the winters could be brutal, just like Montana., but she’d never gotten used to it. Even now she was shivering, thanks to the wind coming off of the Pacific.

“This wasn’t in the report,” Zane said quietly. “What exactly happened here?”

Was he going to tell on her?

Zane sighed. “Any way it can be traced back to you?”

“Of course not.”

He eyed her, his dark hair falling over his face and making the green of his eyes stand out even more. Zane was beautiful, a decent hunter, and good in bed.

Nova wondered why she hadn’t felt anything for him – not even a fraction of what she did for Dex.

He wasn’t a bad person either. The main reason he had so much attitude with her was because she’d ghosted him. Zane didn’t like being disrespected, and honestly, she’d earned the sass.

But she didn’t understand. He was almost as pretty as Dex and just as big and built. It made no sense to her that she hadn’t fallen for him when they were so compatible. Why Dex and not him?

“So, now what?” Zane asked, crossing his arms over his chest and turning his glare on the crater where the tattoo shop used to be.

“The witch who used to work here tatted enchanted into members of a syndicate called the Black Lotus. I was tracking down the artist and went to meet with her to confirm who she was working for. didn’t expect her to try and kill me when she saw my tattoos.”

“Then I guess we go back to stalking the Black Lotus. They’re the one with all the witches, right?” Zane pulled his hood up over his head and leaned against the edge of the roof. “Unless you have a way to track down whoever this witch was working with.”

How did she want to play this? How much could she trust him with?

Zane was a good hunter and she could have him go places she couldn’t easily go to herself. Nova was well aware that she wasn’t plain. With her hair, her scar, and her tattoos, she was easily describable.

It was easy enough to infiltrate witch groups with her appearance and magic, but unless she came clean about her dual bloodlines, she’d have to stay in the shadows. He could be the forgettable face who smiled too much, flirting with anything and anyone.

“You should go to the coven and have that locator spell done,” she told him. “I’ll try to get a job as a bartender for one of the Black Lotus bars.”

Nova would have to change her hair color again. Thankfully her mom had given her a few of those charms, so it should be easy enough.

“What about your eye?” Zane studied her again, and she could tell that wasn’t what he really wanted to ask her.

“I’ll wear an eye patch.” Nova shrugged and decided blue hair would work. It would fit her style.

“And the tattoos?”

“Zane, are you a fucking idiot? All I have to do is wear a shirt to cover them up. What’s your deal?” she snapped, glaring at him in irritation.

He didn’t even blink, used to her attitude by now.

“Just making sure you’ve thought of everything.

Working undercover can be dangerous. I know you can take on a lot, but working for a syndicate as a civilian is a huge risk.

You’ll need an exit plan. And what if they want you to wear a low-cut T-shirt?

Or someone tries to hit on you? It would be dangerous if they find out you’re a hunter. You shouldn’t go in alone.”

Nova narrowed her eyes, sensing his real concern. “They won’t need two new bartenders in the same bar, and that’s not even your secondary skill.”

“I could be a patron.” Zane smirked, knowing he was getting under her skin.

Why was he always so fucking annoying?

“And then what? How are you going to canvas the city, or hunt the witches down if you’re too busy drooling over me?”

This conversation was going nowhere fast and they both had to get shit done. Nova turned and headed for the other side where he’d parked the car.

Zane followed after her. “I’m also interested in why you don’t think the reports we got have anything to do with Grim Corp.”

“I watched them the first few weeks and there’s nothing out of the ordinary. The shifters who attacked me weren’t theirs. Based on their accounting records, they only have three witches on the payroll.”

“Don’t need to have witches to have magic,” Zane reminded her. “Hunters use magic too, thanks to our connections. I’m sure the Grim Corp can buy it considering how much money they have – not to mention the CEO is a demon.”

She launched herself over the side of the roof and used the wall to slow her descent. She bent her knees as she hit the ground and then continued to the car, not bothering to respond to his thinly veiled accusations.

Zane chuckled as he jumped down from the fire escape. “I always forget how hardcore you are. That was hot.”

Nova rolled her eyes and unlocked the car. “You can redo all the work I’ve done if you really want to, but if the council wants this wrapped up, then you should just trust me.”

Opening the passenger door and sliding into her seat, she focused on keeping her heart beating at a normal rhythm and her breathing even. Zane was definitely trying to rile her up, but why?

“No need to get your panties in a twist.” Zane slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, but he didn’t put it in gear. “I trust you as a hunter, Nova. You know that.”

What did that mean? Did he trust her as a hunter, but not a person?

“I am curious about something though.”

Ah shit.

“You were always straightforward with me,” Zane admitted. He messed with the gear stick and refused to look at her. “You never once said you wanted anything more than sex, but I made the mistake of thinking there was something there since you never spent more than one night with anyone else.”

Nova sighed and wished they didn’t have to have this conversation. “Do you need me to drive?”

“No, I need you to tell me why you acted as though I didn’t exist the moment we graduated.”

What the fuck was she supposed to say to that? Nova took her beanie off and awkwardly ruffled her hair.

“I didn’t think you even cared,” she told him. “I would have said goodbye if I’d known you wanted me to.”

Zane leaned toward her and she had a knife at his throat before he could blink. “Try to kiss me and I’ll stab you,” she warned.

His smile shouldn’t have been as attractive as it was.

“I never thought I’d want to be with anyone until you suddenly disappeared,” Zane admitted as he leaned his head back against the driver’s seat, exposing his throat to her. “Just tell me. Did I ever have a chance?”

She removed the knife and wished she didn’t feel bad about hurting him.

Zane could be an ass, but he wasn’t lying to her about this and he’d always been caring with her. He’d been a very giving partner and Nova had been surprised by that more than anything, considering his general attitude the rest of the time.

But there was nothing more between them. Nova didn’t care for him like that – just like she didn’t care for anyone really. Zane was a close acquaintance. She’d be upset if he died, but that was about it.

It made her feel like a monster.

“We had a chance, but it never would have worked out in the long term.” She sighed and turned to look out the window. “Now drop me off at home and then go to the coven. We need to get this shit done with.”

“What’s the plan?” he asked, putting the car in reverse. Zane smoothly navigated out of the alley and turned back towards the apartment building.

“I’m going to apply for a job later tonight, but I want to change my appearance first. Once you get the info on the witches, we can spend the rest of the night patrolling.”

“Sounds good.”

Zane was quiet the rest of the ride back.

It made her nervous. He wasn’t the quiet type.

“I know you’re a better hunter than I am,” Zane told her as he parked. “But please, just be careful. There are a lot of opposing groups in this city. If it gets too dangerous, I’m not opposed to labeling the situation as handled.”

It was already too dangerous.

“Just meet me at the bar,” she told him. “I’ll keep you safe, pretty boy.”

He grinned at her then. “My hero.”

Nova rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help her smile.

Zane was the closest thing she’d had to a friend at the university.

For whatever reason, her attitude had never bothered him and he’d never been defensive about his skills or lack thereof, unlike a lot of the other male hunters.

“Try not to give too much away to the coven,” she warned him. “I don’t trust them.”

“Got it, now get going already.”

She climbed out and closed the door, watching as he drove off.

Having him here would actually be a huge help. Twice as much work would get done every day now that Zane was here.

But she wasn’t going to go straight to the bar. No, Nova was going to see what she could find on the laptop from the tattoo parlor, and then go to the bar in that grey area near Dex’s territory.

That location should give her the most insight on the current situation between the two syndicates.

Her phone vibrated and Nova slipped it out of her pocket as she took the stairs. She was surprised to see the message was from Dex, but all it said was,

We need to talk.