Aurora narrowed her dark eyes. “You’re not going to try to hurt him, are you? It won’t go well for you if you do. He’s a bit full of himself, but he also happens to be the most lethal mage I’ve ever seen. As you could probably tell from tonight’s slaughter.”

“I won’t try to hurt him. I just wanted to see another human face. Preferably one that’s attached to a living body.”

“Two doors down, past the portrait of Lord Byron.”

Rosalind shivered. In a world of demons, she was forced to rely on someone as terrifying as Caine for an ally.

Chapter 10

Rosalind walked down the hallway, pausing just after the portrait of Lord Byron dressed in some sort of orange turban. She knocked on the oak door, trying to figure out what she wanted to say to Caine.

She’d have to enlist his help to get the mage out of her body, but she couldn’t ask him about the exorcism here. Even the gargoyles were probably spying for the Vampire Lord.

Was Caine really any better than the vampires, just because he was human?

As his footfalls crossed the floor, she half wanted to turn around and run back to the serial killer suite.

Caine pulled open the door, his hair disheveled and wet, like he’d just stepped out of a bath. Droplets of water beaded on his bare chest, and her eyes lingered on his muscled body. Tattoos covered his flawless skin: constellations, a raven, a moon cycle, and Angelic script.

Washed clean of blood, he now wore only his black jeans. She tried not to stare.

For the first time, she saw a flicker of a smile. “Rosalind. It seems the only thing that can rob you of your formidable powers of inquisition is the sight of me without a shirt on.”

Cocky bastard. Why had she come here? She couldn’t remember anymore. She just needed to keep her eyes on his face. “You’re not my stepbrother, are you?”

Gods. Why had she just said that?

“Why? Is your delicate mind troubled by impure thoughts?” He leaned against the door frame, his gaze slowly trailing over her white gown, like he was memorizing every curve of her body. He smelled amazing—a fresh scent, like the earth after a rainstorm. “Don’t worry. The vampires wouldn’t begrudge a little brotherly love if that’s what you’re looking for. Unlike the Chambers, we don’t judge here.”

“Oh, please. First of all, that’s disgusting. And second of all, you’re not my type.” She clamped her hands on her hips. “Can you just answer the question? Ambrose said something about a familial connection. I don’t like the idea of being related to a man who’s been completely corrupted by magic.”

“I knew your parents, but we’re not related. In fact, they would have been horrified by the thought. I was merely part of their experiment. When it didn’t go as planned, our relationship was over.”

“I see. If we’re not related, why did they imbue you with an extra soul, too?”