Page 14

Chapter Fourteen

The day blurred by in a whirlwind of coffee orders, clinking mugs, and a constant stream of chatter that never seemed to let up. There were times when I’d felt like I was drowning in a sea of caffeine-deprived customers, each one more frantic than the last. The only break I managed was a quick thirty minutes—just long enough to sneak out, grab some lunch, and then dive right back into the chaos. By the time my coffee shop shift finally ended, I was running on fumes. But, of course, there was no chance to catch my breath. After a quick pit stop at home to swap my outfit for something a bit more bar-appropriate, Rathiel and I were back out the door. No amount of convincing or pleading would shake him from my side, so I didn’t even bother arguing this time.

Saturday nights at the bar were always a circus, and tonight was no exception. The place was packed, every corner filled with rowdy groups clamoring for drinks. While I hustled behind the bar, Rathiel set up camp in one of the darkest corners, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. At some point, I managed to slide a glass of virgin blood his way—booze-free, not the “virginal maiden” kind—and earned a quiet thanks. For now, it would have to do, since my boss wasn’t in tonight. No boss meant I couldn’t take any blood home.

A few of my regulars shot me curious looks, clearly wondering who the new guy was. I just shrugged it off and kept working. There was no time to stop and feed the gossip mill, not with the bar this packed. I did, however, notice Mason watching Rathiel from across the room, his lips pressed together in a way that made me uneasy. Now that I knew about the gargoyle’s ability to see energies, I had a feeling he was reading more than Rathiel’s mood. If I had to guess, his aura likely mirrored mine—and the portal’s. Which likely had Mason asking wondering some pretty uncomfortable questions.

Meanwhile, Eliza tracked my every move with unnerving intensity, as if she was determined to uncover all my secrets. She hadn’t once set foot near the bar, but she was also never without a drink—no doubt thanks to her lovely siren charms. At least Eliza and Mason hadn’t crossed paths long enough to discuss recent events and compare notes, which was the only silver lining to this awkward situation.

Mercifully, the night passed without any major drama—no broken bottles, no bar fights, no shapeshifting—and when closing time finally rolled around, I was more than ready to get out of there. Cleaning up and cashing out took another hour, but soon enough, Rathiel and I were stepping out into the crisp night air and empty streets. A quick glance at my phone had me wincing—we only had one hour left before the bus service stopped running for the night.

Usually, I didn’t love winter. But tonight, the cool air was a welcome relief after the stifling heat inside the bar. Rathiel and I walked in silence, the only sound that of our boots crunching in the snow. The quiet between us felt almost companionable, a stark contrast to the chaotic atmosphere we’d just left behind. I stole a few glances at Rathiel as we walked, his gaze scanning the surroundings with a sharpness that reminded me just how different he was from the humans I’d spent the last decade blending in with.

We turned the corner, and I was just starting to unwind when I collided with something—or rather, someone . I stumbled back, my immediate reaction to apologize dying on my lips as I looked up. The man I’d bumped into was tall, broad-shouldered, and when our eyes met, a cold shiver ran down my spine. An awareness tingled within me, one that suggested he was paranormal. But there was something else off about him, something that had every alarm bell ringing in my head.

“Watch it,” he muttered, his voice low and gravelly as he brushed past me, not bothering to stop or even look back.

Before I could respond, Rathiel took a step toward him, his lip curling in warning as his fangs peeked out. His entire posture screamed danger, his protective instincts flaring up.

I slapped a hand against his chest, stopping him before he could escalate the situation. “Easy, tiger,” I said, forcing a smile toward the retreating man. “It’s fine.”

The man glanced back for the briefest second before continuing down the street, oblivious to the tension he’d stirred.

Rude, much? I rolled my eyes, then continued down the street. I gave Rathiel a side glance. He still watched the guy, muscles tense. It wasn’t until I touched his arm that he let out a slow exhale and followed beside me.

“This place is so different from home,” Rathiel finally commented, his voice a low rumble that barely cut through the quiet night.

I laughed softly, the sound breaking the tension in the air. “Yeah, up here you can’t rip innocents apart because they bump into me,” I teased.

Rathiel huffed, the smallest smirk curling his lips. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” After another minute, he added, “But it’s not just that. It’s louder. Busier. Brighter.”

I glanced up at him, noting the way he scanned everything—the stars, the buildings, the streetlights. It was like he was cataloging every detail, committing it to memory. The way he took it all in reminded me of my first few days on Earth, where everything had felt so overwhelming, so chaotic. Back then, I’d barely managed to keep my head above water. But Rathiel? He was a soldier, through and through, adaptable to everything and anything. The first time I’d seen a car whiz by on the street, I’d jumped back with a scream.

“It’s also a great deal colder,” he noted, his voice laced with a dryness that made me smirk.

I chuckled at that. “Only for about half the year. The other six months can reach temperatures that have me wishing I was back in Hell. It’s the extreme swings that annoy me. In Hell, you know it’s a gazillion degrees, and the fires will burn the hair right off your ass. But here, you never know what to expect. One day, it could be cold as balls and raining cats and dogs—don’t worry, it doesn’t actually rain cats and dogs—and the next, it’s blisteringly hot out. Winter always seems to surprise the humans too, even though they know it’s inevitable. Then they’re so relieved when summer hits, only to gripe about the heat a few weeks later. It’s actually quite comical to listen to.”

Rathiel huffed a short laugh. “I must say, I’m impressed. I don’t know how you do it, Lily.”

“Do what?” I asked, frowning.

“Live here,” he said, his tone carrying a hint of admiration. “You’ve made this place your own. I feel like a stranger in a foreign land, but you…you’ve thrived.”

I certainly wouldn’t say thrived. “Trust me, it didn’t happen quickly or easily.” I lifted my hands to my mouth and blew into them, rubbing them together to ward off the chill. “My first year here, I slept under a bridge. Believe me when I tell you this cold is nothing compared to the cold I experienced while trying to sleep outside in the middle of winter,” I admitted. “My second year, I bounced around a lot of shelters. Humans have a lot of rules, procedures that made things challenging. To get a job, you need a social insurance number and ID. I didn’t have either of those.”

“Then how—?” Rathiel began, but I cut him off with a wry smile.

“I met someone who promised they could help. Not all humans follow the law, and this person assured me they could get me some identification—illegally, of course. To this day, I have no idea how he did it, but he got me what I needed to survive.”

“And that’s how you got your jobs?”

“Well, it didn’t happen right away,” I told him. “It took me a few jobs to get a knack for it. But eventually, I landed the barista position. It didn’t pay much. A part-time job paying minimum wage isn’t enough to survive. But luckily, I stumbled across the bartender position a few years later. The tips keep me afloat and comfortable, but it’s still a struggle. Life here is different. And don’t get me wrong, humans have their problems too. War, racism, discrimination. But hey, there’s no hellspawn and no Lucifer. So that’s a win.”

Rathiel’s steps slowed as he turned to face me, his gaze intense. “You truly are a marvel.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but before I could turn away, something caught my attention. From the corner of my eye, I caught a figure moving toward us. I froze, my breath hitching as I recognized the guy I’d bumped into earlier. He’d walked past us in the opposite direction. So why was he behind us now? And heading toward us.

“What can I say?” I murmured quietly, more to myself than to Rathiel. “I’m a quick learner.”

“He’s been following us since you bumped into him,” Rathiel stated matter-of-factly, as if discussing the weather.

I startled, my gaze snapping to him.

So, he’d noticed too. Because of course he had.

Rathiel still looked completely at ease, his posture deceptively relaxed, like he didn’t have a care in the world. He tucked his hands into his pockets before continuing onward, his stride unhurried, almost lazy. But I knew him too well to be fooled by the facade. There was a subtle tension in the way his eyes continuously scanned our surroundings, in how his jaw tightened ever so slightly, betraying the awareness that thrummed just beneath his calm exterior.

It was a quiet, simmering readiness, a vigilance that lay just beneath the surface of his collected demeanor. To anyone else, he might’ve looked like he was simply out for a late-night stroll, but I could sense the vampire lurking beneath the surface, his instincts sharp and honed. He was playing it cool, but he attuned every fiber of his being to the potential threat behind us.

Rathiel had taught me to always be hyper-aware of my surroundings. A girl never knew when a hellspawn had a blade aimed at her back. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe this guy was just a harmless paranormal who happened to be walking the same way. But since Rathiel had noticed this guy too, I believed my instincts were right. And I wasn’t someone who ignored her instincts.

I kept my pace steady, pretending I hadn’t noticed anything, but my mind raced. There was only one way to find out if he was really following us. I needed to test him. “Let’s cross the street,” I suggested, my voice low. “See if he follows.”

Rathiel nodded once, already anticipating my move. We crossed, and I led us away from the bus stop, taking a less direct route. I stole a quick glance back, just in time to see our tail cross the street after us.

“Persistent,” Rathiel muttered, his tone darkening. “He’s not just some lost soul wandering the night.”

“No,” I agreed, my heart rate picking up. “This isn’t a coincidence.”

Without saying a word, I led Rathiel down the sidewalk. I took a deep breath, trying to act nonchalant as we continued walking. But no matter what direction we took, he followed.

Rathiel remained calm beside me, his gaze sweeping the streets with that same intense focus. He didn’t ask any questions, didn’t demand answers. Instead, he simply fell into step with me, trusting that I knew what I was doing. I had to admit, it was a relief to have him by my side, especially now.

I led us down another side street, which thankfully was deserted this time of night. It wasn’t the most ideal path to take, but I needed to confirm my suspicions. As we rounded the corner, I risked a quick glance over my shoulder. Sure enough, our tail was still there.

What did he want? Why follow us? And why keep such a distance? If he wanted something, wouldn’t he have made his move by now? If he was just looking for an easy mark, he’d certainly chosen the worst two people on Earth. Rathiel and I would obliterate him in a heartbeat.

“Lilith,” Rathiel said, his voice hardening as his eyes flicked to me. “I can take him out now. Just say the word.”

While a part of me wanted to unleash Rathiel and let him handle the situation, the more cautious side of me screamed for patience. We knew nothing about this guy—who he was, what he was capable of, or what he wanted. Yes, he could be one of Lucifer’s spies, despite me not recognizing him. Ten years is a long time for alliances to shift, for new threats to emerge. Or this guy could be some random earthbound paranormal who planned to mug us. We couldn’t afford to act rashly; we needed answers before making a move.

“Not yet,” I said, “We need to figure out who he is and what he wants. And that means questioning him. Which means?—”

“Which means I get to have some fun.” Rathiel flashed me a rare grin, one that showed his fangs, and stopped my heart dead in my chest—but not from fear. From something else . Something exciting.

It took me a few seconds to pull my attention away from Rathiel and glance back at our tail. The guy was still there, trailing behind us at a steady pace. But what struck me as odd was how little he seemed to care that I kept checking on him. He didn’t bother to close the distance, and there was no urgency in his steps, like he wanted us to know he was there but wasn’t in any hurry to catch up. The whole thing was unsettlingly strange.

We continued down the street, and I led us toward a narrow alley just ahead. The dim light from a nearby streetlamp barely penetrated the shadows, making it the perfect spot for a more private conversation. If we were going to confront this guy, I wanted it to be somewhere away from prying eyes. Somewhere we could handle whatever happened next without causing a scene or exposing the paranormal community to humans. Yes, it was two in the morning, but I knew from experience that a fair number of humans were still awake at this hour.

We strode deeper into the alley, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the walls. Once we reached the middle, I stopped and turned, Rathiel at my side. Our pursuer appeared, but he hesitated at the mouth of the alley, as though surprised to find us waiting for him.

“Why are you following us?” I called out, my voice echoing down the alley.

The guy didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled his hands out of his coat pockets and strode closer. Too close for comfort. His gaze flicked between me and Rathiel, assessing, calculating. Then, a slow, almost amused smile spread across his lips, which pulled back to reveal an incredibly sharp set of fangs. A second later, he lifted his hands, and claws sprung from his fingers.

Okay, a vampire. We could handle that. Especially seeing as how Rathiel was literally the progenitor of all vamps.

“Why do you think?” he finally replied, his voice dripping with condescension.

I clenched my fists, suddenly wishing I had Inferno’s Kiss or any of my blades here. “I’m not in the mood for games. What do you want?”

“It’s not what I want,” he said. “It’s what he wants.”

Disappointment had me blowing out a slow breath. Lucifer. Because of course it was about him. Which made this guy a hellspawn vamp.

Before I could answer, the sound of approaching footsteps rose to my ears. I straightened just in time to watch six additional shadows fan out behind the vampire, blocking off the alleyway entrance. The presence of bright, glowing red eyes confirmed my suspicions. Mr. Toothy and his friends were hellspawn vamps. And we’d walked right into their trap. Lucky us.

One vampire, no sweat. Two or three, sure. But eight? Eight was a bit much—even for Rathiel and me.

I silently cursed in my head and inched closer to Rathiel, whose body vibrated with tension.

“So much for a friendly conversation,” he said.

“Yeah, I’m starting to think this might have been a bad idea,” I admitted as I shed my winter jacket and silently gestured for Rathiel to do the same. We’d need our full range of movement.

Without another word, the vamps circled us, their movements synchronized like they’d done this a thousand times before. Maybe they had. But they didn’t know us. They didn’t know what we were capable of.

And they were about to find out.