They turned the corner onto Essex Street, and she hugged herself.

Maybe the outfit didn’t matter. There were only two possibilities for Josiah. Either he had faith in her, or he didn’t. If he trusted her integrity, he’d listen to her explanation—even if Randolph Loring and the rest of the Brotherhood wanted her dead.

Just outside a crooked yellow home, a figure prowled through the shadows. While most people wouldn’t have seen anything in the dim light, she was used to spotting movements at night. Josiah. She’d recognize those broad shoulders anywhere.

He’d come for her. A smile brightened her face, and she broke into a run.

Chapter 17

She wrapped her arms around him, but Josiah wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were too busy burning a hole in Caine. Josiah’s fingers wrapped around his flamethrower. “Did this monster hurt you?”

She touched her Guardian’s wrist. “Josiah. Relax. He’s been helping me.”

“He’s been helping you? A mage?” He spat out the last word like a curse.

Caine’s face registered only disinterest. “Not just a mage. I’m an incubus if that makes you feel any better.”

Rosalind flinched. Shut up, Caine.

“An incubus.” Josiah’s face reddened. “I told you about them. Has he touched you?”

“No,” she said. No need to tell him what happened in the woods. “But I’m so happy you found me. How did you know where I was?”

“No one in the Brotherhood will tell me anything. Apparently, they think I might help you. And they’re right, of course. I had to spy on Randolph Loring when he was speaking to one of his associates in the Chambers. They know you’re in Salem, but they don’t know where. I’ve been searching the streets all night.” A deep growl slipped into his voice. “And here I find you, with an incubus. He needs to be put down.”

“You seem cranky.” Caine studied his nails. “I suppose it can’t please you to know that an incubus is protecting your girlfriend when you failed to do so.”

Rosalind glared at Caine. “I’m not his girlfriend anymore. He’s just worried about me.” She glanced at Josiah. A vein pulsed in his forehead. He was about to lose it. “Look. Caine is a demon, and he’s got an ego problem. But I knew him when I was a kid. And he’s going to help us sort all of this out, so I can get my life back.”

Josiah studied her carefully. “You spent your childhood with an incubus? How is that possible?”

She took a shaky breath. This was it. This was the point when she’d learn if her Guardian would stand by her, even with her magic-tainted background. “He explained to me the reason Randolph Loring thinks I’m a witch.”

“What is it?” Josiah asked.

“I’m not from England. I was adopted from Maremount. My parents were… corrupted by magic. They did something to me, but I was only a little kid. I didn’t have a choice. I don’t even remember it. And when they realized what a terrible mistake they’d made, they sent me off to live with the Brotherhood. With Mason.”