Lost Wages of Sin by Rosalie Stanton

Author:Rosalie Stanton
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Demon, Vampires
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Published: 2011-04-10T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

No words were exchanged over the long walk back, though every few seconds Dante felt the slow sizzle of Ava’s gaze as she alternated from staring at him to staring at the road. He never glanced back. He couldn’t. He was too shaken, too afraid, and he knew if he looked at her, she would recognize it.

Human. She was human now. Whatever greater end toward which they’d labored had failed. Gone were the late night scuffles, the demons they often picked off just to alleviate boredom. Gone were the few times he’d foolishly asked to spar only to find his ass on the ground in seconds, her cocky, sexy smirk hovering over his face. Her body had softened into a mortal vessel, and though she was still stronger than any human he’d ever met, it meant her lifeline now carried an expiration date.

Ava hadn’t said much, but he knew she felt it. When she patted her body in search of injury, her hand had lingered over her chest a beat too long to dismiss. Her eyes had darkened, then relaxed with grim acceptance. Dante hadn’t done much more than watch and help her to her feet.

The walk back was strained and awkward. Perhaps that was it then. They simply weren’t going to talk about it.

Once the hotel was in sight, though, his resolve to leave her be wavered. Something huge had just taken place--something with repercussions that had yet to reveal themselves. All he knew was he needed to take care of her. It didn’t matter Ava was stronger than anyone he knew, and he had no idea how to start caring for someone who never showed weakness. He just knew he needed to try.

“You want me to find a vending machine?” he asked. “Are you hungry, at all?” He’d never noticed how strange his voice sounded after a lengthy period of inactivity.

Ava favored him with a grateful smile. Her expression was bright and awake, and after the silence it nearly brought him to his knees. She was so strong--a tower of fortitude. He’d never known any other woman who could go through something like what had happened at Avonlea without wilting, not one who possessed any softness about her, anyway. But then Ava was the only strong woman in his life. The only one who wanted without needing.

Ava didn’t need him. She wanted him. Dante had never before appreciated the difference. Not like he did now--looking at her wonderful, bright face, which wished for nothing more than his presence. His company. His being at her side.

“I’m not hungry,” she said at last. “Is that strange?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I thought being human would make me hungry. All they seem to do is eat.”

He tossed her a cautious glance, his throat tightening. So they would discuss it after all. “Human?”

Ava nodded and shuddered, crossing her arms. “I guess I should be happy,” she said softly. “At least this means Lucifer’s not going to kill me. Or you.”

“Me?”

“I thought there was a chance he’d make me kill you for knowing what you do.

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