“Are you alright?” Kane’s voice breaks the silence. He quirks a brow at me and my blood thrums.
“Fine.” I sound raspy and nervous. I clear my throat and smooth the wrinkles in the cheap, satin gown. “Thank you.”
Kane eyes the corpse and the blood seeping in the seams of the cobblestones. “I shouldn’t have killed him. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s alright,” I say softly, confused at his sudden show of remorse. I wonder if Kane has ever felt remorse before in his long life.
“You should have been more careful,” Kane says suddenly. My eyes snap towards him, away from the dead body. He glowers at me, frowning like a concerned parent. “Don’t let something like this happen again. We can’t draw attention to ourselves.”
“I’m not the one who crushed his heart in my bare hands,” I snap, anger sparking at his patronizing tone. “He attacked me, I couldn’t help that.”
“Then perhaps next time we get you something that will be more amenable to self-defense.” Kane scowls, staring as if I’m at fault.
Cheeks flushing angrily, I bend down and rip the dress from the hem to my thigh. I stretch, my pale thighs stark in the darkness. Kane’s eyes rake over my body, making me feel like my skin is on fire. “Here,” I say coldly. “I fixed it.”
Without waiting for his reply, I stomp towards the entrance of the alley. How dare he blame me for what happened? As if I’m the one who caused the stranger’s violent death. As if I forced Kane’s hand. I huff. I can take care of myself. I take a sharp right out of the alley and onto the street, not caring that I’ve left the three men behind. Kane warns me constantly about danger, and I understand – now more than ever – that gods and demi-gods and the minions of the Underworld are much more powerful than me. I’m still afraid. But I won’t be held accountable for something I didn’t do.
Halfway down the next block, I glance over my shoulder. The streets are empty, Kane doesn't trail behind me. An owl calls in the night and I shiver, the cold seeping through the thin gown and against my bare skin. Dawn likely isn't far off now, and it will be the coldest part of the night. I consider going back to the Diamond but change my mind when I remember the various activities displayed in the lounge. For all my bluster, I’m still not brave enough to face the darker side of human nature – the raw side. And Kane knows it.
I pause in the empty street, fingers curling around imaginary locks of dark hair. I wish I could face it. If I could, I might find myself back in our room in the Diamond, naked and tangled with Kane. At least, I could at least allow myself to with it. I shake my head stubbornly. He might be partially right; I should have been more careful. But in the rest, he was not. I must stop ignoring the little cuts he leaves on my soul if I’m ever going to find the strength to do what must be done.
Loose strands of hair brush against my cheek as the wind changes. I glance up at the starless sky, shoulders finally relaxing. By the Gods, I wish it didn’t have to be me. The air shifts again, rushing over me like a kiss. But it isn’t right, the flags hanging over the streets are fluttering in the opposite direction. I inhale sharply, fear lancing through me. I spin, eyes darting from rooftop to rooftop in search of the cause of the strange wind. My hand strays to my dagger and I grip it tightly, palm already slick with sweat. Suddenly, I see a black shape leap from the shadows of one rooftop to a position directly over me.
I freeze, eyes locked on the dark figure. Every cell in my body screams for me to turn and run, but I know if I do, I'm already dead. Red eyes blaze out of the darkness, pinned on me. The Nephilim. I pivot and sprint down the street, back towards Kane and the others. I can hear the Nephilim flying behind him, the powerful beat of his wings is like a soft, rhythmic hum in the air. It only makes me more frightened. My breath rips out of my throat, and I taste blood. I can feel my fingers trembling as I run, and I can hardly control them; the fear is so great.
I know I’m panicking, my teachers never trained me for anything like this. I swallow the scream rising in my throat in favor of pushing myself faster. I’m not far off now from the alley where I left them – but what if they aren’t there? My blood runs cold at the thought. Please be there, I beg silently. The skirts of my cheap dress twist around my ankles, unbalancing me on the rough cobblestones. I manage to catch myself with a whimper.
A figure careens around the corner and my eyes widen. The broad-shouldered man lifts his hands as if to urge me to slow down. I open my mouth to scream at him to run, to escape the Nephilim, but then his face comes into view. Aiden stands in front of me, speaking, but I can’t hear the words. All I can hear is the furious wind of the
