Page 42 of Wayward Daughter

“Go back to sleep, Logan. I’m sure Pan will be back in the morning.”

Iwas two for two on kissing priests. Might as well go for all of them. Solomon wasn’t ready for that. The only reason I’d gone for Saul was because he was giving me that look and inching forward like it was going to happen. I decided to snap him out of it by asking to see if that was what he really wanted. Caleb and Saul kissed completely differently, but they were both good at it.

I woke up alone. Saul was gone, and I didn’t know if Pan was back. I needed to shower, but I rushed into the kitchen. I didn’t see him.

“I looked for him when I woke up. He’s not here,” Saul said.

Rainer brought a tray of food to the table and set it down.

“I’d lay odds he went to Delilah’s to question the demon. He probably couldn’t sleep. You slept pretty well, didn’t you, giant? If I hadn’t heard her screaming, I would have had some opinions about you creeping through my house in your panties and slipping into my niece’s bed. Just so you know, I keep two shotguns by the bed in both houses. One has bullets and the other has rock salt. The rock salt won’t kill you, but it’ll burn like fuck and be real embarrassing when someone has to dig it all out your ass.”

“Rainer,” I warned.

“Sir, I would have put pants on, but I heard screaming and thought she was in danger. Pan was gone, so I stayed so she could get some sleep.”

“I know that, boy. That’s why the Padre isn’t doing surgery on your ass. Call Delilah, Logan. Pan is probably there working and you’re going to worry until you hear it for yourself.”

Yes, I was. Logically, I knew that was exactly where Pan was. He’d be getting answers. The Yellow King connected both of us. His followers took my mother and would have hurt me, but they also bought and abused Pan when he was a puppy.

“Hey, kid.”

“Is Pan with you?”

“Fuck. I tried to talk him out of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hellhounds were created by Lucifer. Pan is capable of so many things, but there’s one thing he should be able to do that he hasn’t managed. He wants to show you, so I won’t tell you. I can’t teach him the exact steps because demons aren’t capable of that kind of magic. His dam should have taught him. We questioned the demon for hours, but he’s got it in his head he has to master this now to properly help you. He’s gone back to Hell, and that’s the last place he needs to be.”

“What? Why? He never said there wasn’t a reason he couldn’t go back.”

“Logan, Hellhounds are full citizens of Hell. They aren’t pets. A demon didn’t steal him from his mother and sell him. Hellhound parents can track their pups across any realm. Pan’s parents were the ones who sold him. They could have brought him back to Hell at any time.

“What they did was also highly illegal. It wasn’t adoption, they trafficked Pan. They aren’t going to want him in Hell talking about that. When he starts asking what I know he’s going to ask, people are going to want to know why he can’t do it at his age. People will be furious at his parents, but if anyone actually knows them, they have a reason to silence Pan. Other Hellhounds are the only thing that can hurt a Hellhound.”

“Take me to Hell.”

I knew I couldn’t do a damn thing to Pan’s parents. I didn’t even know who they were. They’d probably tear me apart, but I had enough rage coursing through my veins that I could tell them off before I died.

“Logan, I can’t. The atmosphere in Hell isn’t compatible with human lungs. Only angels and Hellhounds can breathe in that realm and yours. Demons all used to be human. We look how we looked when we died in Hell, but we don’t breathe. I can’t go after Pan either. Hell is an entire realm. I couldn’t begin to know where he is. He told me he was going home to you.”

“Delilah, what is so important that he had to risk his life and lie to you?”

“I can’t say, Logan. Pan needs to tell you.”

“Pan might not come back!” I yelled.

“Pan and I have talked at length about Hell. He’s also smart. He’s in danger, but I’m pretty sure he can handle himself. He might not just be there for you. Pan is owed revenge. I can’t get that for him and neither can you. He can do it himself though and he might need to.”

She was right. Pan had never told me any of that. It was probably too painful. His past wasn’t like whatever trick he was trying to learn that he kept from me. Pan always came back to me. I was worried, but I had to believe that.

“Did you get anything from the demon?”

“Not a lot. It’s some kind of cult that thinks the Yellow King is the rightful ruler of every realm. There are followers in every sect of supernaturals and they are the anarchists who don’t like rules. They think humans are food or prey. The Yellow King is supposed to usher in a new age with that gets rid of the old rules.

“No more secrecy and supernatural supremacy. Vampires can keep blood slaves, blood magic isn’t illegal, if a shifter is into someone and wants to turn them, they can, and demons can come and go and possess anyone as the mood strikes them.”

“Why are they after me?”