The Reckoning (Demon Entanglements 9)

The Reckoning (Demon Entanglements)
Torri Heat
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Copyright ©2021 Torri Heat

Joelle

People always told me falling in love was a slow death. That one day, I’d wake up and I wouldn’t know any different. That I’d accept my fate, letting the current of my life drag me where it would. I had disagreed. And it turns out I had been right. When love found me, I fought it. I saw what was happening, and I denied it. I clawed my way out of that rushing river, needing to be in control of my destiny. It didn’t matter. Once I found my way out of those whirlpools and rapids, Luc was still there waiting for me. He’s always been there. Watching.

Even as I watched his chest rise and fall with the easy breaths that came with sleep, I knew he would be aware of my presence. It was a heavy feeling, knowing someone was watching you at all times. Sometimes the need for independence splintered across my heart, pulsing through my body. But I wasn’t trapped. I could run. If I wanted. I could grab the pocketknife I had stashed in my boot before we left the cabin and leave him bleeding in the wake of my freedom. If I wanted. I didn’t. Did that mean I loved him? Probably. But I wasn’t sure how to actually tell Luc.

The thoughts zapped through me, and my chest tightened in response. I rolled over in the lumpy bed, grabbing the prescription pills Luc had filled for me at the pharmacy and swallowing one dry. A fake name, a scribbled signature, and a charming smile from Luc provided me with not only my anxiety pills, but a prescription for a birth control patch as well. I flopped back over, resting my arm gently on Luc’s cool chest. The early grey light of dawn was seeping through the thin, faded curtains, giving his lean physique even more of a marble-like look than normal. Before I could stop myself, I dragged my finger slowly down his chest, enjoying the way his body flexed under my touch.

“I know you’re watching me, love.” Luc’s voice was a deep rasp, still thick with sleep. “It’s early. What are you doing up besides interrupting my sleep?”

I continued my perusal of his body until he snatched my hand with his own. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, but his eyes were still shut. “Couldn’t sleep. This bed is uncomfortable.” I slipped my free hand to his neck, twisting my fingers in his messy blond hair.

We had left the cabin a week ago, when Luc had noticed some signs of scouts around the cabin’s perimeter and deemed our safe house no longer secure. We had been using the cabin as our base while Luc waited for his friend in hell to contact him. But it was no longer safe, so in the dead of night we had fled in Donna, Luc’s car, zigzagging through the quiet towns and backtracking on ourselves. As the dark gave way to the morning light we had found ourselves at a small motel, abandoned with the exception of us.

Luc laughed, the sound echoing in the sparsely furnished room. “I know. I promise it won’t be much longer.” Luc’s connection from the other realm had yet to get into contact with us, and he wouldn’t allow me outside for more than a moment or two of fresh air at a time, and only at night. I was going to lose my damn mind, even more so than my current state of being.

I sighed, tugging on his hair until his dark eyes opened. “I’m bored. Entertain me.”

He raised his eyebrow, releasing my hand. “And what did you have in mind for said entertainment?”

I swung my leg over his hip and gave him an easy smile. “Well, devil dog…”

“No nicknames,” Luc warned, crooking a finger under my chin so that I met his gaze.

I pushed his hand away. “Yeah, yeah.” I tightened my fingers in his hair, drawing the lightest moan from his lips. “Maybe we could…”

“Mmm… love, I don’t think you even need to finish that sentence. I’m in.”