Lilu fluttered overhead, squawking, before flying for an open window.

If Caine were fully human, he’d be dead by now. But even so—she’d staked him with iron and hawthorn. Seven hells, what have I done? Both could be lethal to a night demon. Pressing on his chest, her hands shook uncontrollably. “Caine. I’m so sorry.”

Heels clacked over the floor, and she looked up to find Mist, standing over her arms folded. The valkyrie appraised Rosalind with a clinical stare. “I see you’re the stronger fighter. I guess that answers my question. Now get out of here before I slaughter you, too. Take his body with you.”

Rosalind heaved a sob, and tried to lift Caine from the ground, her body shaking. At the sound of his pained gasps, tears stung her eyes. As she wrapped his arm around her neck, Aurora burst through the door, Lilu trailing behind her. Thank the gods, the raven went for help. It only took an instant for Aurora to hurtle through the crowd and snatch up the incubus. Carrying Caine, Aurora rushed for the door in a blur, and slammed it open to the night air. Rosalind ran after, her breath ragged.

By the time Rosalind got outside, Aurora had laid Caine out below a maple. The vamp frantically cleared the dust off Caine’s skin while Tammi looked on.

Caine rested against the trunk, blood pouring through his fingers, and grief pierced Rosalind.

Tammi’s hand flew to her mouth as she took in her friend. “Rosalind, are you okay? You’re covered in blood.”

“It’s not her blood.” Aurora flashed her fangs. “It’s Caine’s. What the bloody hell happened in there? Why is he covered in your dust, and why isn’t he healing?”

Rosalind’s hands shook, and she couldn’t seem to make her voice obey.

She glanced at Caine, whose eyes were fixed on hers. He was still conscious, at least, though his skin had paled.

He took a deep breath. “We had a fight. She won.”

Aurora snarled, “You did this, human?”

“The valkyrie,” Caine said. “She imbued us with battle rage. It wasn’t Rosalind’s fault.”

“A hawthorn stake,” Rosalind managed.

Aurora’s eyes widened. “This human girl won? You must’ve been holding back.”

“I got distracted,” he said, his voice choked. “She looks pretty when she’s twisted by bloodlust.”

Aurora turned her furious gaze on Rosalind. “Fix it, then. He needs a human female.”

“What do you mean?” Rosalind knelt by Caine’s side, holding her hand over his heart, as if her fingers could heal a shredded artery. Her hands shook wildly. She’d done this to him. “I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know how to stop—”

“He’s an incubus,” Aurora cut in. “He heals through sexual contact.”

Rosalind’s mind raced. “You want me to have sex with him?”

“It doesn’t have to be the full thing, but at least kiss him. It’s not that complicated. Just hurry up.”

Tammi raised a hand. “I’ll do it.”

Rosalind met Caine’s eyes, her chest flushing as she thought of his warm, protective arms around her in the club, and his aura pulsing through her body. “No, I’ll do it.”