Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

PHOENIX

P hoenix paced back and forth in the small living room of Griff's shotgun cottage, her thoughts tangled in a web of duty and desire. The past few days had been a whirlwind—tracking down leads, uncovering dark magic, and battling her growing feelings for Griff. Every moment they spent together only complicated things further, which was why she had refused his invitation to stay with him.

She stole a glance at him across the room where he sat at the edge of the couch, his brow furrowed as he studied a document. His steady presence grounded her in a way she hadn't expected. It made her want to reach out to him, to let him in. But that wasn't how she operated. She was an enforcer, a fae trained to keep the magical balance, to deal with threats, not indulge in personal distractions.

Especially not with someone like Griff.

She stopped in front of the window, her gaze unfocused as she stared out at the quiet street. Her mind kept returning to the night they'd spent together, to the intensity of his touch, the way his lips claimed hers like she was something he'd waited a lifetime for. She hated how much she wanted it to happen again, how her mind wandered to him when she needed to stay focused on the threat that loomed over New Orleans.

The cult was growing bolder, their summoning rituals increasing in frequency. Fontaine wasn't just dabbling in demon magic—he was neck-deep in it. The city was teetering on the edge of something catastrophic, and she needed every ounce of focus to stop it.

Still, the feelings for Griff lingered, unresolved and dangerous. Every glance, every touch, reminded her that there was more between them than just an alliance. It was undeniable, but it was also a liability. One she couldn't afford.

"You okay over there?" Griff's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Phoenix turned, crossing her arms to shield herself from the vulnerability she knew was creeping into her expression. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

He gave her a skeptical look but didn't press. She appreciated that about him. He always seemed to know when to push and when to back off.

"We need more help," she said, forcing her voice to steady. "We can't do this alone, not with Fontaine's influence spreading the way it is."

Griff nodded, tossing the papers onto the coffee table. "Agreed. Got anyone in mind?"

Phoenix hesitated, weighing her next move. It wasn't just about bringing in more allies—it was about letting Griff deeper into her world, the one she kept closely guarded. But there was no avoiding it now. The stakes were too high.

"I know someone," she said, finally. "He's… unconventional, but he's good. He's a demon hunter, knows the underground better than anyone."

Griff raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's his name?"

"Ash Shadowbane."

Griff's face twisted into a wry smile. "Shadowbane? You can't be serious?"

Phoenix sighed. "I know, it sounds ridiculous, but trust me, he's legit. He's saved my ass more than once."

Griff leaned back on the couch, arms crossed. "All right. I trust your judgment. When do we meet him?"

Phoenix checked her phone. "He'll be here soon. I called him earlier."

"You called him earlier? You don't think we should have talked about that?"

Phoenix shrugged. "I figured we'd need the extra hands."

Griff suppressed the need to growl at her. He didn't like the idea of her calling random men—especially someone like Shadowbane. Standing up, he stretched his arms above his head before walking toward the kitchen. "I'll make some coffee then. Might as well be caffeinated when we're talking about demons."

The casualness of his tone made Phoenix's heart flutter for a brief moment, but she pushed it aside. There wasn't room for distractions, not right now.

A sh arrived not long after, sauntering into Griff's home like he owned the place. Phoenix always marveled at how effortlessly cocky he was. Tall, lean, with a perpetual smirk that could either charm or irritate depending on the situation, Ash had the kind of roguish charisma that made him both infuriating and invaluable. His dark hair fell into his eyes, and the dual knife sheaths at his back, revealed when he removed his jacket, gave him an air of someone always ready for battle—which, in his case, was often true.

"So, this is the famous Detective Broussard," Ash said, flashing Griff a grin as he dropped into an armchair. "Phoenix talks about you all the time."

Griff's eyes narrowed, but he didn't take the bait. "We've got a lot to cover, Shadowbane. You up for it?"

Ash chuckled, tossing a casual glance at Phoenix. "Always. But I'm more interested in how you two are holding up. Geneva seems to think there's something going on between you two."

"Geneva is demented," said Phoenix.

"Demons are nasty business," said Ash, "but what really eats at people is all the tension." He winked at Phoenix, clearly enjoying himself.

"Focus, Ash," Phoenix said sharply, though she couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. "We need your help with something serious."

"Right, right," Ash said, shifting in his seat, his expression sobering. "What's the latest?"

Phoenix and Griff filled him in on what they'd uncovered—Fontaine's involvement in demon summonings, the residue they'd found at multiple crime scenes, and their suspicions of something larger at play.

"Geneva can't identify it?" asked Ash.

"Not so far," replied Griff.

Ash listened as they continued to bring him up to speed, his easygoing demeanor giving way to the sharp hunter instincts Phoenix knew him for.

"So, you've got a lead on another summoning," Ash said, leaning forward. "That's good. Bad for us, but good for finding these bastards. We can intercept it."

"That's the plan," Griff said, standing. "We're tracking down where it's going to happen, but we'll need help shutting it down. Whatever they're summoning, it's not going to be small."

Ash's smirk returned. "No worries. I live for this shit."

Phoenix rolled her eyes. "Before we head out, we need to stop by Geneva's office. I want her to analyze the residue we found at the last scene, see if she can confirm at least that it's the same as the others. That'll help us tie everything together."

Ash stood, adjusting the straps of his holsters. "Geneva, huh? I could do that. Smart girl, your sister, and she's got all that long, dark hair. Gives a man all kinds of notions."

"You keep your notions about my sister to yourself," snarled Phoenix.

Ash chuckled. "Probably not really my type. She seems a little uptight—although those glasses..."

Phoenix shot him a warning glance. "Behave yourself."

"Me? Always." Ash chuckled.

W hen they arrived at the morgue where Geneva worked, Phoenix immediately noticed the familiar scent of antiseptic and magic mingling in the air. Geneva had set up a small, private lab for her own work—usually connected to supernatural cases like this one. As they entered, Geneva was already bent over a microscope, examining a sample.

She didn't look up when she spoke. "You're late."

Time for a little payback. "We brought company."

At that, Geneva straightened and turned to face them. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Ash, but there was a flicker of amusement in her expression.

"Well, well," she said, crossing her arms. "If it isn't Ash Shadowbane. Haven't seen you in a while. Still causing trouble?"

"Geneva." Ash flashed her his signature grin. "You wound me. I'm a reformed man these days."

Geneva scoffed. "Yeah, right. What do you need?"

Phoenix stepped forward, handing Geneva the sample they'd brought. "Can you run this through your equipment? We think it's the same residue we've found at multiple demon-summoning sites. If it matches, it'll give us a solid connection."

Geneva nodded, taking the vial. "I'll get started right away."

Ash leaned against the table; eyes gleaming with mischief as he watched her work. "You know, Geneva, you've always had this… serious thing going on. Ever thought of loosening up a bit?"

Geneva didn't even look up from her equipment as she replied. "Ever thought of not being such a complete and utter douchebag?"

Phoenix stifled a laugh while Griff, over in the corner, wasn't as successful and tried coughing to cover his chuckle.

Ash, undeterred, just grinned wider. "Hey, I'm just saying. Life's short."

"Life would be shorter if I had to put up with you," Geneva muttered under her breath, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

A few minutes later, Geneva straightened, her expression more serious. "It's a match. Same residue, same demonic energy signature. This is the link you've been looking for. I can scientifically connect all of these back to Fontaine. You have what you need to fry the bastard."

"Oooh, beautiful, sexy, smart, and vicious—I like it," said Ash with a leer.

"Shut up, Ash," said Phoenix and Geneva in unison.

Phoenix felt a mixture of relief and dread. They had what they needed to move forward, but it also meant the threat was even more widespread than they'd feared.

"We need to move," Griff said, his voice hard. "If there's another summoning happening, we can't waste time."

A fter leaving the lab, the trio was able to track the summoning by using Phoenix's honed senses and Griff's police scanner which chattered about various sightings that were being called in. They finally arrived at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, the air was thick with dark energy as they approached. The smell of sulfur and decay hit Phoenix's senses long before they reached the building, and she could feel the familiar pull of magic in the air.

"This is it," Ash said, his voice low as they crouched behind a row of rusted-out cars. "You ready?"

Phoenix nodded, her hand already reaching for the blade sheathed at her side. "Let's go."

The warehouse was dimly lit, the eerie glow of candles flickering in the distance. A group of hooded figures stood in a circle, chanting in a guttural, ancient language that sent shivers down Phoenix's spine. In the center of the circle, a glowing pentagram pulsed with dark energy, and the air vibrated with the promise of something malevolent.

"Now," Griff whispered, and the three of them surged forward.

The battle was swift and brutal. Phoenix's magic flared, golden light slicing through the darkness as she fought. Griff moved beside her, his strength and precision a steadying force in the chaos. Ash darted through the fray, his twin blades flashing in the dim light as he cut down one hooded figure after another.

But the summoning was already in motion.

The ground shook as the pentagram flared with violent energy, and a deafening roar filled the air. From the center of the circle, a massive, horned demon began to rise, its crimson eyes gleaming with malevolent hunger.

Phoenix gritted her teeth, pushing her magic to the limit as she unleashed a blast of energy toward the demon, but it barely flinched. Griff was beside her in an instant, his body pressed close as they faced the demon together.

"This is bad," she muttered, her breath ragged.

"We've faced worse," Griff replied, his voice steady despite the danger.

Together, they pressed forward, their magic and strength combining as they fought the demon with everything they had. Ash darted around them, keeping the other cultists at bay, but Phoenix could feel the strain of the battle weighing on her. The demon was too powerful, its magic ancient and dark.

As they fought, the tension between them shifted, the heat of the battle intensifying everything. Every brush of Griff's hand against hers, every glance they exchanged, felt like a spark igniting something deeper.

And then, in the middle of the chaos, it happened. Griff grabbed her arm, pulling her close as they dodged a blast of demonic fire. His eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, the world fell away. Without thinking, without hesitation, their lips met in a fierce, desperate kiss—one fueled by the intensity of the moment and the unspoken emotions that had been simmering for so long.

When they broke apart, breathless, Phoenix's mind was spinning. The kiss had been everything she'd tried to avoid, everything she couldn't deny. But now, in the middle of the fight, it felt like both a mistake and the most natural thing in the world.

"Later," Griff said, his voice rough as he turned back to the fight. "We'll deal with that later."

Phoenix nodded, swallowing hard as she refocused on the demon before them. But even as they fought, the weight of that kiss lingered between them, complicating and yet simplifying everything.

For now, they had a battle to win. But once the dust settled, Phoenix knew she'd have to confront the truth she'd been running from.

She was falling for Griff, and it was going to change everything.