“Should I be worried that you seem to think your sword is a living creature with a mind of its own?”

“As long as it makes you worried enough to stay the hell away from it, then yes. Very much so.” He stalked further into the alley where the silent attacker was eyeing him like he was a platter of juicy meat. Asmodeus growled, his entire body trembling with anger. “Get the hell away from her.”

“You’ve finally come out to play,” the attacker said with the hint of a smile in his voice. “Thought you were too cowardly to leave your little club to face me in the streets.”

I whipped my head toward Az, who lifted his glittering sword before him. “I’ve had better things to do than engage with someone as spineless as you.”

“Spineless?” The attacker barked out a laugh. “I’m the one out here taking care of things while you and your Legion are lost in your fancy drinks with your fancy friends.”

“Who are you?” Az asked in a low, dangerous voice. “Why are you killing innocent girls?”

“Innocent?” He laughed again. “They are anything but.”

“Mia has done nothing wrong.” Az took another step toward the attacker just as police sirens blared through the air. I whipped toward the sound, surprised. There were more of them? Were they coming here?

My stomach flipped. Had they heard my screams?

Logically, I knew this was a good thing. The cops would save me from, you know, getting murdered. Az wouldn’t have to go through with this weird sword fight, and the night would end without bloodshed.

There were two problems with this scenario, however. First, I’d definitely have to give a statement. This serial killer thing was huge news, and I would get wrapped up in the whole thing. It would turn into a circus, and my past would get dragged into it. I’d run from that party, too.

Second, I definitely didn’t think it was legal for people to carry real-ass swords around Manhattan. As much as I hated the guy, Asmodeus had come to my rescue, and I didn’t want to see him locked up because of it.

Could demons escape prison?

While I was distracted by the sirens, the attacker took the opportunity to bolt. One moment he was there, the next he was gone. It was almost like he’d literally vanished into thin air.

My demon let out a growl of rage.

That left me and Az alone in the alley with a sword and zero killers. This would definitely look way worse than it had before. Especially since there’d been two murders nearby already.

“We need to get out of here,” I said at the same moment he did.

He stopped short, arching his brow. “Why do you want to run from the cops?”