“And you were apparently born to make my life hell by recklessly invoking the wrath of every demon you encounter. Including me.” He took a slow, steadying breath, clearly trying to control himself. “You need to stop talking. I’m going to help you calm down, not because I want to control you, but because it’s the only way you’ll get out of here without one of these demons murdering you.” He whispered, and his aura wound around her skin before pulsing through her chest, relaxing her muscles.

Some of the panic ebbed, leaving behind a gnawing emptiness. The world as she’d thought she understood it was gone—the divisions between good and evil, the order of things, her place in it all. None of it had meaning anymore, so what was the point of her life?

Trying to ignore the hollowness in her chest, she rose.

Caine stood, taking her by the hand to lead her from the club. The lights flashed garish shades of red and orange, pulsing over gyrating dancers. The thumping bass rattled her bones, and she tried to push out all thoughts of the evil lurking in her body.

She caught a glimpse of Tammi and Aurora dancing, losing themselves in the music. How was she going to break this news to her friend?

The question didn’t linger in her thoughts long because, in the next moment, the valkyrie stepped into Rosalind’s path, her cold eyes scanning Rosalind’s body. “You’re not a real courtesan. You don’t behave like one.”

Dread rushed up Rosalind’s spine, mixed with an odd sense of relief. Maybe this encounter would end it all.

“I’m a novice courtesan,” she said, her voice hollow.

In a blur of white and copper, the valkyrie lunged, long fingers clamping tighter on Rosalind’s throat. Mists’s aura, cold and furious as storm clouds, flooded Rosalind’s body.

As the aura filled Rosalind, she surged with icy rage, and a deep desire to hurt anyone around her. Kill. She slammed her arms through the valkyrie’s grasp. She ducked to avoid a punch, then brought her fist up hard into the demon’s ribs, hoping to snap something. Caine pulled her back, wrapping his arms around her.

With Caine’s arms around her, her body began to calm again, her pulse slowing. What the fuck had Mist just done to her? The demon wasn’t lunging again, but her gray eyes locked firmly on Rosalind, glowing with a stormy fury. From the growing crowd, Aurora and Tammi looked on, eyes wide.

“Get Tammi out of here,” Caine shouted to them.

The valkyrie’s steely stare had Rosalind rooted to the spot. “I knew you were a fighter.” Her eyes flicked to Caine. “You brought a human warrior in here?”

Caine began whispering a spell. His aura swirled through Rosalind’s chest, stroking her skin. Heat shot through her core, and she could think of nothing but his warm, strong body pressed up against hers. She had a sudden desire to spin around and kiss him hard. What the hell?