Page 101 of Infernal Secrets

The jar cracked, and I glanced down to see blood smearing the glass in Ash’s hand.

Ezra distracted me. “Did they see you?”

I looked at him. “No. Before they finished, I did what Mom said. I hid. I didn’t come out until the police arrived. They concluded it was a gang initiation, which is why the murders were so brutal.”

“What did you tell them?” Zeke reached for my hand, but I stepped back from the counter, folding my arms.

“Told them a bunch of men came in and killed Dad, and that Mom hid me in the crawlspace.”

“So you never told them what you saw?”

“Nope. I’d learned better by then.” My shoulders lifted. “If I started talking about demons, they’d say I was traumatized and put me in an institution. Instead, my grandparents took me in.”

Zeke frowned, looking down at the counter.

I put the vodka and cranberry juice away, then pulled the first aid kit from beneath the sink and set it on the counter. After stomping to the closet for a trash bag, I handed it to Ash. He stepped back while I put the broken jar inside and tied it off, throwing it away.

None of them said anything while I cleaned up. I didn’t expect them to.

While we’d reached civil ground, the truce with Ezra and Cyn felt shaky at best. Zeke struggled with heavy stuff, but he made his concerns clear. Ash seemed angrier than I thought him capable. Maybe I’d grown too comfortable with them. They were infernals, after all. I understood Ash wasn’t angry with me, but his reaction reminded me of the difference in power between our species.

Opening the first aid kit, I glanced at Ash. “Come here,” I said, keeping my voice low, not to provoke him. When he didn’t move, I sighed. “Let me help you.”

He came then, but I saw the tension in his body with every step he took. Hearing about my family affected him more than I’d expected. After hearing what happened to his own parents, I supposed it made sense. Not only had we both lost our parents in brutal infernal attacks, but we had witnessed them firsthand.

Instead of being wary of his power, I needed to remember the care he’d shown me. I didn’t understand it, but it felt like we shared a connection. Bonded with each other. His being angry on my behalf shouldn’t stir uncertainty, but it was difficult to trust someone had my back when I always needed to hide the nightmare I lived with daily.

Opening the drawer next to me, I grabbed a clean washcloth and wet it with cold water. I turned to Ash. Cradling his hand, I peered up into his eyes. “Thank you,” I whispered.

His brows lowered. “For what?”

“Caring.” I eased the cloth over his hand, cleaning the excess blood. The wound continued to bleed, but the flow wasn’t heavy enough to require stitches. I watched the blood pool in his hand and remembered the sweet taste in my mouth from earlier. “I have a strange question.”

“You can ask anything,” Ash said.

“So, infernal blood…” I looked up at him and breathed a soft laugh, and he squinted. I guess it seemed weird to laugh, considering the situation. I shook my head. “No, never mind.”

Zeke leaned forward with his elbows on the counter. “What’s up?”

I glanced at Ezra and then back at Ash’s hand. The wound appeared smaller than before.

Here goes nothing.

“Does infernal blood taste sweet? Like candy?”

25

BLOOD

RAE

Ash’s jaw clenched, and Zeke’s mouth hung open. Even Cyn looked surprised. I dared to look at Ezra, and the intensity of his unwavering stare hit like a physical force.

“What? Did I say something wrong?”

“Hold the fuck up,” Cyn pressed his hands on the counter, rising to his feet. “Are you—are you saying Ezra’s blood tasted like candy to you?”

Heat rushed to my face, making my cheeks burn. “I don’t know,” I mumbled. “I don’t remember much of what happened once he bit me.”