Page 43 of Samhain Savior

I choked over the last few words, only now realizing how much his actions had reminded me of Mother Heidi. How she would always put herself between me and whatever danger was headed our way. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and let the sorrow wash over me, the feeling of loneliness not quite as sharp as it had been only days ago.

Because I might not be safe, but I wasn’t alone.

“No,” Mal suddenly spoke, and I opened my eyes to see him standing right before me, his eyebrows low. “No crying.” Reaching up, Mal dragged his fingertips through the tears that I hadn’t even realized were on my cheeks, staring at them in fascination. “Not yet. Strength now. There will be time for tears later.”

I nodded, unsure of what he meant, but understanding that he meant it with conviction.

I opened my mouth to speak, to ask Mal if he had any idea whatlatermight look like, but we were interrupted by the slamming of the door against the brick house as someone stormed their way into the backyard, full of piss and vinegar.

Turning, I locked eyes with Archer, the shadows rolling off him in angry waves as he stared at where Mal and I stood, seemingly too close for casual conversation.

“Archer,” Mal rumbled, making no move to step back.

“Are you staking your claim, brother?” Archer’s words were low, but his tone carried a very clear threat. I didn’t understand it; I thought the guys were supposed to bebrothers. Why were they constantly at each other’s throats?

“Would it matter?” Mal challenged, and I looked at him in shock when he draped one arm around my shoulder.

Archer said nothing, but the shadows increased, the low rolling waves beginning to pool on the brown grass of the backyard, gathering at my feet like an incoming tide.

The staring contest continued for several long moments, and just as I was about to say something, Mal took a step back, and I let out a relieved breath.

I liked Mal, but I didn’t like what he’d been insinuating.

The idea of him and I, likethat, felt wrong, even though I couldn’t have said why.

Lifting the compass, Mal stared at it, frowning, before he looked back to Archer, his face more serious than I’d ever seen it.

“No,” he finally said, dropping the compass again and looking at Archer sternly. “Not claiming her.” Mal turned to me, his grave expression softening slightly before he added, “She’s not for me.”

The surprise on Archer’s face was obvious, but he didn’t say anything as Mal glared at him, before scooping Pandora up from the grass at his feet and going back inside.

Leaving me alone with one very grumpy demon.

Chapter nineteen

Delilah

He came toward me like a charging bull, all flaring nostrils and narrowed eyes. Archer looked like vengeance incarnate but he felt like a dare.

Something inside me seemed to rise as he approached. No longer content with being pushed and pulled by the whims of a broody demon, the long-empty void inside me began to stir, a sense of anticipation filling my veins.

If Archer was looking for a fight, I meant to give him one.

“Is there something I can do for you, Archer?” My tone was bored, almost dismissive, but I could feel myself practically vibrating with eagerness.

I was hoping to push some buttons today.

“Yes,” he snarled, stopping only a few inches away from where I stood, forcing me to have to tilt my head backto maintain eye contact. An intimidation tactic, but one I wasn’t the slightest bit intimidated by. “You can stop throwing yourself at Mal.”

My eyebrows shot up, the surprise I felt at his accusation entirely authentic.

“Throwing myself?” I laughed. “Is that what men are calling friendship these days? How unfortunate.” Shaking my head, I blew out a frustrated breath. “I was simply checking on him. Mal seemed...out of sorts. I just wanted to make sure he was alright.”

“And last night?” Archer’s eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, swaying toward me in a move that seemed almost unconscious, and it took everything I had not to reach out and touch him. To rest my hands on his powerful body and feel for myself just how strong he was. “I supposed you were just checking on him then, too, weren’t you? Half naked in a bedroom, it didn’t look like there was much in the way of friendship happening. Not with the way you were clinging to him.”

He said the words with such vehemence, that for a second, I could only stare, my confusion likely written all over my face.

Then, in a moment of shocking clarity, I understood, and all I could do was laugh.