He stepped closer, casting a scrutinizing gaze at her neck. When he touched her skin with his fingertips, she flinched.

“Did Bileth bite you?” he asked.

“No. He didn’t get that far.”

“Good. If he had, you’d die an agonizing death in the next hour.” He frowned. “But you realize you just got me barred from my favorite drinking hole when you lit the bartender on fire.”

“I was revolted by Bileth’s magic in my mind. It disgusts me that demons want to control humans’ minds. We’re just their toys.”

“You think that’s how I see you?”

The question caught her off guard. “I don’t know yet.”

“It should be obvious that I don’t, or our interactions would be very different. Anyway, Bileth isn’t an ordinary demon. He commands eighty-five legions, and he reports directly to Nyxobas. He’s as ancient as the god himself, a fallen angel from the celestial wars several millennia ago.”

She swallowed hard. “But you held a blade to his throat.”

“That would be difficult to fix diplomatically, yes. But I’ve angered him before, and I could usually make amends by supplying him with expensive vodka and a particularly stunning courtesan or two. Plus, I’ve never actually stabbed him. I don’t think he’ll forgive impalement with a fireplace poker so easily. You should have run.”

“I did tell you that something was coming. But you wanted to finish your drink. Plus, I wouldn’t have made it out fast enough.” She couldn’t tell him the truth—that she’d needed to save him to atone for what she’d done.

“You had a second chance to run.”

Her legs were still trembling, and the memory of Bileth’s complete control still haunted her. “I wanted to hurt him. He deserved it. And anyway, I thought you needed my help.”

“I don’t see how that would be any of your concern. According to you, I’m a monster. And more than that, I told you I’d handle it.” His voice had a razor-sharp edge; his eyes were dark storm clouds. “And I would have. Aurora ran when I told her to.”

Despite the look of primal wrath in his eyes, irritation spurred her on. “I don’t like being bossed around. You need to stop giving me commands. I’m not your soldier. And why couldn’t you just tell people that Ambrose wanted me alive? Surely the Vampire Lord has some clout.”

Caine took a deep breath, and his eyes returned to their normal gray. “It’s not that simple. Ambrose doesn’t want Bileth to know what he’s planning.”

“What’s he planning?”

“You don’t need to know that. Not as long as you still plan on exorcising the spirit.”

Exasperated, she glanced around at the empty lot. “Can you at least tell me what we’re doing in a parking lot?”

“Come with me.” He stopped himself, taking a deep breath. “Please come with me, Rosalind.” Turning abruptly, he marched up the thickly overgrown, rocky hill.

She followed, slipping on the steep, rocky slope as she scrambled to catch up. “Is there some sort of botanical emergency that needs addressing?”