Demon Fire (Angel Fire #3) - Marie Johnston Page 0,38

Sandeen’s bag was small but heavy. “I’m fallen and he’ll be targeted because he helped me. Unless you want to march up to the senate and ask for permission to expend personnel to watch him, he had to be told. Go ahead. I’m sure you’ll get a lot of volunteers when they learn they might see me.”

Urban crossed his arms. The warriors blocked the path, and Sierra was ready to charge through the snow on the lawn to get to Boone’s pickup. Would he follow?

A roar came from inside the house. Either Jim was pissed, or Gerzon had taken hold of Jim once again—and was pissed.

Sandeen lifted the luggage in her fingers. “That’s our signal. Time to go.”

“Got it,” Urban said and slipped around them.

Sirens sounded in the distance.

Shit. They had a minute, maybe two, before they were busted at the scene by the police. “Are the others coming?” The rest of her team. They had believed her. Harlowe and Urban had used the Mist to get to Alma’s house faster. They might despise her, but they’d believed her.

Harlowe’s lips pursed. “You don’t seem to mind putting our wings at risk.” Her eyes flared as she realized she’d said too much around Boone. Sandeen chortled.

Sierra shouldn’t have expected any less, but Harlowe’s accusation stung. “Those laws are stupid and probably protect the senate more than anyone in the realm. More demons are coming. I can take care of myself. You don’t have to deal with me. But if this Andy can get demons to do his bidding, then you need more than Urban.”

“We have yet to confirm your message.”

The door banged open and Urban stormed out. “Damn thing got away. The human is fine but will need medical attention.”

A furrow formed in Boone’s forehead, as if working out why, exactly, Urban was also delusional enough to believe Jim was possessed.

“The police are coming. We have to go,” Sierra said.

Harlowe and Urban exchanged glances. “We’re coming with.”

“Ask Boone. It’s his vehicle.” She pushed past Harlowe and ignored all the memories that surfaced. Her and Harlowe watching movies during long stakeouts. Talking about the other guys on the team and their more annoying, but endearing traits. Training together and then rejoicing when they got on the same team. An ache yawned open in her chest. She was never going to have that again with Harlowe.

By the time Sierra made it to the pickup, Boone was by the driver’s side. “We need to pick up Alma. She can’t walk that fast.”

Sierra didn’t argue that the woman wasn’t Alma right now. She climbed in. Boone pulled up to the driveway opening and Urban helped Alma inside. His lips twisted in disgust at helping a demon, but even he could tell Sandeen wasn’t pushing the host beyond her capabilities. The bag got tossed in the box and Harlowe and Urban bookended Sandeen in the back seat.

“You didn’t have to frisk me,” Sandeen grumbled.

“Yes, I did,” Urban replied.

“I’d rather she did it.”

Did he have to antagonize Harlowe?

Boone pulled away and drove calmly past Alma’s house. He turned the corner, and Sierra checked the mirrors. A police car tore around the other end of the block where Boone had been parked. They’d made it out in time.

Boone turned toward the highway that led out of town and south toward Wyoming.

“Where are we going?”

Boone navigated around the curve of the highway, and the city stretched out in front of them. Darkness had descended hours ago and the lights of Las Vegas brightened the horizon.

He couldn’t escape the feeling that they were driving into the lion’s den. The day after he’d rescued Sierra, she had mentioned that she’d lived in Vegas. Harlowe and Urban claimed they had orders to go to Vegas. Alma—Sandeen—had the “I’m with you boys” attitude. For three of the four, Las Vegas was relevant. Sierra hadn’t lied about that, at least.

The entire time they were on the road, he learned all about Sierra’s world. Her explanations of a realm of angels called Numen—both the realm and the angels. Daemon, a realm of demons. The three levels of demons—sylphs, symasters, and archmasters. Or were there four? He’d never look at a gargoyle the same again.

Sandeen was called an archmaster, and Harlowe had grilled him about why he wasn’t monstrous and leathery. Which had led to Sandeen pestering her about how sexy she thought he was. So demons were normally ugly. Got it. Apparently, the others were able to see what Sandeen really looked like when all