Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Levi was starting to notice a pattern here. Whenever the studio was closed for the day, leaving Piper free time to spend with him, one of the other girls would propose a group outing that always included Piper—just as Harper had today. During the evenings, Devon would often turn up at Levi’s apartment to ‘chat’ with Piper, saying she simply needed a break from Tanner’s overbearing ways. After the hellcat left, Piper often retreated to her bedroom.

In other words, Levi spent very little time alone with his anchor these days. And it was starting to feel as if that was by design.

And now, despite that he was never far from her side at the Underground’s small amusement park, she rarely addressed him. Rarely met his eyes. Though she did cast him a smile if their gazes clashed, and she did speak to him if he tried striking up a conversation. She wasn’t ignoring his presence or snubbing him. She simply seemed to prefer talking with the others.

Yeah, that stung.

Was it surprising, though? No. Despite his attempts to improve the situation, she no longer had the same ease with Levi that she had with their group.

It wasn’t merely due to the good ole discomfiting vibe. It was also courtesy of the electric sexual tension that now buzzed in the air around them—a consequence, no doubt, of their continued efforts to fight what flared between them. Instead of easing away, their hunger had only intensified until it was a palpable force that taunted them both.

Still, he gave her no distance. On the contrary, he hovered so close she had to feel his body heat—hence the tension in her neck and shoulders.

She hadn’t asked him to stay out of her personal space, though. Probably because she knew he wouldn’t. He didn’t like her being out in the open. Especially in such a public, busy place.

He’d brought along two Force members, Vin and Mason, to play bodyguard, since Enzo and Dez were off duty. But Levi couldn’t relax even a little. She was too exposed here.

It wasn’t so much a theme park as a section of kids’ rides, such as carousels, see-sawing pirate ships, bumper cars, and a small Ferris wheel. Music, screaming, laughing, and the whirr of machinery filled the air. The scents of hot dogs, fries, popcorn, and donuts made his stomach grumble.

Both Asher and Khloë’s little sister, Heidi, were loving the park. The two children were currently climbing into an overly large teacup with Khloë and Keenan.

Harper snapped photos of them. “I’ll have to send some pictures to Raini and Devon.”

“It’s a shame they couldn’t come,” said Piper, cuddling the stuffed animal Heidi had asked her to hold.

“I know, right?” Harper’s mouth curved as Asher giggled at Keenan. “That boy’s laugh melts my heart.”

“Hopefully he and Heidi won’t feel ill when the ride is over,” said Knox.

Harper flicked her mate a look. “They have strong stomachs.”

“Yes, but we all know Khloë’s going to spin that teacup as fast as she physically can.”

Harper’s brow furrowed. She leaned over the bar and called out to Khloë, warning her to take it easy. The imp merely saluted her.

Larkin chuckled. “Don’t know about anyone else, but I’m not feeling reassured.”

“Keenan will take over if need be,” said Knox.

Sure enough, Khloë really put her back into it as she twisted the wheel. Luckily, the ride seemed to have safety measures that ensured the cups couldn’t spin too fast, because it stayed at a sedate pace. Huffing, she passed control of the wheel over to Keenan.

The kids giggled and squealed throughout the duration of the ride. When it was over, they all but staggered out of the teacups and over to the exit gate with the adults close behind them.

Khloë frowned at Harper. “Don’t scowl, it doesn’t become you.”

“I warned you to take it easy,” said the sphinx. “See, this is why I don’t ever let you babysit Asher alone.”

“I know how to cheer you up,” Heidi chirpily announced before slapping a wad of cash into Harper’s hand. “And there’s plenty more where that came from,” the imp added with a wink, clipping her white-blonde air behind her ear.

Levi felt his mouth kick up. The kid was the most talented pickpocket he’d ever met. And she looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.

Harper’s lips parted. “You stole all this?”

Heidi’s brow furrowed. “Stole?” she echoed, looking appropriately confused. “Oh no, I found it.”

Khloë smiled. “Well that’s luck for you.”

Harper shot the adult imp an annoyed glance before refocusing on Heidi. “Where did you ‘find’ it?”

Heidi waved a hand. “Oh, here and there.”

The sphinx wiped a hand down her face and then perched it on her hip. “Did you ‘find’ anything else?”

Heidi shrugged. “Muh,” she said, noncommittal.

“Just how much cash do you have on you?”

Khloë leaned into her sister. “Don’t answer that.”

Flames erupted around the wad of notes. They then disappeared from Harper’s hand … only to reappear in Asher’s hand with another spurt of fire. He offered the wad to Heidi, who took it with a smile … except it was almost as if the notes vanished into thin air. It was like when a magician closed his hand around a coin and made it ‘disappear.’

Harper sighed. “No more ‘finding’ things, okay? Now, I’ve run out of tickets, so we need extra for the other rides.”

“I got it,” declared Khloë.

Harper’s face softened. “Thanks, Khlo.”

The imp crossed to the ticket machine, slammed her fist to the side of it, and at least twenty dollars’ worth of tickets got spat out.

Harper sighed again. “Freaking imps.”

The children wanted to go on the pirate ship next. This time, Khloë, Keenan, and Harper accompanied them.

Standing behind Piper as she leaned against the barrier to watch the others enjoy the ride, Levi put a hand on the metal bar either side of her. “You feeling all right?”

She threw him a breezy smile over her shoulder. “Yeah. Just had a childhood flashback. Celeste once vomited on one of these rides. The puke went everywhere.”

Levi gently turned Piper to face him. “Were you on the ship with her?”

“No, I didn’t want to get on it because we’d only just eaten. I was sure I’d be sick.”

“You laughed, didn’t you?”

“Cackled like a witch,” she admitted, unrepentant.

He chuckled. “I can’t say I blame you.” He swept his gaze over her face. “Now are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

He dipped his face toward hers. “Liar.”

“I’m not lying. I’m fine. Just tired.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Tired? That’s all?”

“That’s all.”

“You promise there’s nothing else?”

She nodded. “I swear it on the life of my mother’s cat.”

“And she truly owns a cat?”

Piper frowned. “Cats own us, Levi. Not the other way around. Jeez, how could you not know that?”

He hummed, skeptical, and her eyes dipped to his mouth. They both tensed, because something spiked in the air—something hot, heady, and entirely sexual.

She cleared her throat. “You should, um … you should step back and—” Her body jerked hard as a dazed look crossed her face. Awareness slipped from her eyes as she slumped, dead weight.

Levi caught her limp form in his arms, panic flaring through him. “Fuck.”

His peripheral vision screamed a warning. He turned his head to see a crackling ball of hellfire zooming their way. He swept out his arm, telekinetically deflecting it. Another came their way almost instantly, pitched by an unseen assailant. Knox whacked it with an orb of his own, sending it off course.

Everyone moved fast.

Larkin fanned out her wings to shield Knox, raised her hands, and sent out a hail of black chips of hell-ice in the direction of their invisible attacker.

Obstructed by her wings, Knox struggled to accurately launch more lethal orbs of hellfire.

Vin and Mason situated themselves in front of Levi and Piper, blindly hurling energy balls and hellfire orbs.

People screamed and ran for safety. Machinery stuttered to a stop. Music abruptly cut off.

Wanting to motherfucking kill someone, Levi carefully lowered Piper to the ground and curved his body over hers. His demon’s roar of fury rattled around his head. A fury Levi could goddamn relate to. The psychic blow she’d received to the head had not only knocked her out, it meant she was utterly defenseless right now.

Before anger could take him over, Levi ground his teeth as he boxed up his every emotion. He couldn’t afford to feel or lose his cool. He had to fight and defend. And he had to do it from that very spot on the ground, because there was no fucking way he was leaving Piper’s side.

Stuck behind the guards, he couldn’t emit a telekinetic wave—he’d knock Vin and Mason down like skittles. Just the same, he couldn’t toss out waves of despair or else they’d collide with the guards.

His blood bubbling with adrenaline, Levi telepathically reached out to Keenan. You and the others taking cover?

Yes, the incubus replied. But Harper and Khloë aren’t happy about sitting out the fight, even though they’d never think of abandoning the kids.

An orb rammed into Levi’s upper arm, jolting his body hard. Hissing at the prickling burn, he was tempted to shoulder his way past the others and try to thrash the invisible bastard with hard blasts of telekinesis. But that could be what the asshole wanted—to draw Levi away from Piper so she’d be vulnerable. He wasn’t taking that chance.

More and more orbs sailed through the air, coming at them from different angles … as if the assailant was darting around unnaturally fast, no doubt taking cover behind various rides. If he meant to find an opening that would give him a direct shot at Piper, he’d fail for sure.

Vin staggered as an orb punched his chest, almost making him topple backwards over Levi and Piper. It galled Levi’s demon that they were being shielded by others. It growled and snarled, conflicted—

Heat blazed along Levi’s ear as an orb narrowly missed his head. Another came at him and slammed into his shoulder. Son of a fucker. Unlike the others, he couldn’t duck or weave—he needed to stay in position to protect Piper. Being stationary made him an easier target than the others. Hence why hellfire was currently blistering and consuming patches of his skin.

Another succession of orbs came at them. Larkin flapped her wings, sending out a gust of wind that extinguished the orbs and hopefully swept their foe off his fucking feet.

Larkin’s mind touched Levi’s as she sent out more chips of hell-ice. He should have given up by now—going against so many of us is stupid, and he’s been hit several times.

He had indeed. They might not be able to see him, but they noticed each time an orb crashed into what appeared to be thin air. They’d heard grunts and curses of pain.

Why hasn’t he tucked tail and run?asked Larkin.

That was a very good question. The man was having to dodge all kinds of shit. He was also outnumbered, and he had no way of getting to Piper. Even his ability to remain unseen couldn’t protect him forever. It made sense to quit and go lick his wounds. Yet, he hadn’t made a run for it.

He could be playing with us, said Levi. But I don’t see why he would. An orb whacked his injured shoulder and fuck that hurt.

“Lower your wings, Larkin!” Knox yelled.

The harpy hesitated for a moment before dropping them.

A stream of hellfire poured out of Knox’s palm and swept outwards in an arc. An agonized male cry rang through the air. Knox appeared to home in on that sound as he struck out again.

Hearing footsteps thundering away, Levi ground his teeth. He wanted to give chase, but he wouldn’t leave Piper. Couldn’t. So he signaled for Vin and Mason to go in his stead.

Levi looked down at her … and his stomach dropped. Blood was trickling out of her ears, nose, and mouth. That wasn’t a normal result of a psychic blow to the head.

He put his fingers to her pulse. It was weak and thready. “No. No, no, no, no, no.”

Without even thinking about it, he telepathically called out to Raini’s mate, Maddox, I need a healer.

Where are you?asked Maddox.

Levi gave him his location. Mere moments later, two male demons materialized at his side—Maddox and his sentinel, Hector. Maddox took in the scene and then, without a word to anyone, teleported Levi and Piper away.

Finding himself on his living room floor, Levi got to his knees so he was no longer curved over her. “Do something,” he said, a sense of urgency beating at him.

Maddox crouched down, lifted Piper’s hand, and pressed his palm to hers. A red light seemed to slick its way up the veins of her arm, shoulder, neck, and then up to her head.

Levi, what happened? asked Harper, frantic. Is Piper okay?

Maddox is healing her, replied Levi.

We’ll come to you once the kids are safe.

The ability to heal generally wasn’t something demons could boast having. But Maddox’s kind were an exception. Descendants possessed angelic blood, since one of their earliest ancestors had been a fallen angel. What many didn’t know about Maddox was that he had archangelic blood—that made him more powerful than the rest of his breed, not to mention far more dangerous.

Finally, the redness faded from Piper’s veins.

“She’ll be fine, though she might sleep a while.” Maddox gently lowered her hand to the floor. “How is it she suffered a brain hemorrhage?”

His stomach sinking, Levi swallowed. He’d suspected that was the case when he saw the blood. “I have no clue,” he said, his voice thick. “I thought she’d been dealt a psychic punch at first. I didn’t notice she was bleeding until just before I called out to you.”

“A hemorrhage like that is typically caused by a direct strike to the brain.”

A strike that would have killed her if Levi had reacted too late. She could have died on the ground beneath him … and he’d been so preoccupied with the assailant’s movements that he wouldn’t have noticed.

The thought was enough to smash open the box containing Levi’s emotions. Anger raged in his blood. Fear of losing her clogged his throat. Resolve to find her attacker beat in his chest like a drum. His demon was unnaturally still and quiet, barely in control while caught up in a fury that clawed at its insides.

Levi scooped her up and stood. “Thank you for healing her.” Nuzzling her hair, he carried her to the sofa and then gently set her down.

“Raini likes her a great deal,” said Maddox. The demon was cold, calculated, and not one to help out of the goodness of his heart, but there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his woman.

“Raini will be pissed when she hears what happened,” said Hector.

Maddox nodded and returned his vacant, vivid blue gaze to Levi. “You should let me heal you.”

Now that the adrenaline was bleeding from his system, each of Levi’s wounds burned, prickled, and throbbed like a bitch. Still, he waved away Maddox’s offer.

“If you won’t allow me to do it for you, at least do it for her. She will be upset when she wakes, because she will know that each person with her at the park got caught up in the crossfire. I expect she’ll feel guilty and believe she has brought her troubles to everyone else’s doorstep. If she wakes and sees you in this state, it will only upset her more.”

Because it would be physical evidence that Levi was caught up in the crossfire and suffered several wounds protecting her. He sighed. “All right. Thank you, though I know you’re mostly offering because Raini will ride your ass if you don’t.”

A smile briefly flickered in Maddox’s eyes. “She is determined that I will get along well with the mates and anchors of her friends so, yes, she will give me grief if I fail to offer aid where it is needed.” Just as he’d done with Piper, he pressed his palm to Levi’s and healed him.

Knox’s mind touched Levi’s. Where are you?

My apartment, he replied.

Knox, Harper, and Larkin appeared a few feet away in a burst of flames. Knox’s ability to travel by fire wasn’t common knowledge—it was one of many secrets he kept.

Levi lifted a brow. “The kids?”

“Both are fine, albeit a little shaken,” said Harper, looking down at Piper. “Khloë and Keenan are watching over them.”

Brushing hair away from Piper’s forehead, Larkin slid her gaze to Levi. “Why did you rush off like that?”

His gut hardened as he revisited the memory. “I realized she was bleeding out of her ears, mouth, and nose.”

Knox looked at Maddox. “Brain hemorrhage?”

“Yes,” replied the descendant. “She’s fine now, but it was a close call.”

Larkin’s face tightened. “So she was dying a few feet away from us, and we had no idea?”

Harper swore. “I’m gonna kill him. Whoever he is, I’m gonna kill him.”

No, she wouldn’t. Levi would get there first. “I couldn’t understand why he seemed to be drawing the scene out. Now, I’m thinking he hoped to distract us so we wouldn’t notice she wasn’t simply unconscious.”

“Here’s what I don’t get,” said Larkin. “He can evidently deliver blows to the brain itself that are strong enough to cause a hemorrhage, yet he didn’t do it when he attacked her at the deli. It would have made the whole thing easier for him. But he didn’t do it, just as he didn’t hit anyone else psychically tonight. He could have taken us all out—or at least tried. Why didn’t he?”

Well now that was an excellent question.

Maddox pursed his lips. “Perhaps it’s not an ability he truly possesses. He could have purchased it.”

Levi felt his brows lift. “That would make sense.” Some demons stole abilities from others and sold them on the black market. The problem was that stolen gifts didn’t integrate themselves into a demon’s psyche unless the aforementioned psyche was built to wield and control the abilities. As such, a gift could only be transferred temporarily. Some demons only got a single use out of it, if they even got any at all.

“It would explain why he didn’t deal her a lethal blow that would kill her immediately,” said Knox. “He would have no idea how to properly use an ability when he hasn’t spent years of his life learning to master and use it to its full potential.”

“I think maybe he might also have purchased the ability to move fast or teleport from spot to spot,” said Larkin. “Because he did too good a job of dodging our hits and coming at us from various angles.”

Knox dipped his chin. “My thoughts exactly.”

“He was ballsy to go after Piper in public like that,” said Harper.

Levi glanced down at Piper. “In protecting her so well, we gave him no other choice but to launch a surprise attack and strike at her from afar.” He paused. “I want to know if Sefton and Jasper have alibis.”

“Tanner and I will question them,” said Knox. “Have you notified Piper’s parents yet?”

“No, but I will,” replied Levi.

Knox raked his gaze over him. “Go do that and then take a shower and change into fresh clothes. We’ll watch over Piper for you.”

Levi hesitated, clenching his fists.

“You’ll have no chance of playing down how bad your injuries were if she sees you in that tee and notices all the smears of blood,” Maddox pointed out.

Harper frowned at the descendant. “He shouldn’t play it down.”

“But he will,” Knox cut in, “because he knows she’s going to pointlessly feel guilty.”

Larkin nodded. “She’s going to claim she shouldn’t go back to work for a while. She’ll probably also claim she shouldn’t stay here with you, Levi. She’ll want to isolate herself somewhere so that no one else can again get caught in any crossfire.”

Yeah, he’d already considered that. “We don’t always get what we want, do we?”