one. Her grim determination and unwavering focus arrested Alec. When Marks were on a hunt, they were bolstered by the effects of the mark—adrenaline, aggression, increased muscle mass. Fear was held at bay by those things. But Eve wasn’t on a hunt, she was on her own. She managed it beautifully.
Two tengu launched a third one at Alec like a missile. He ducked. Like Eve, he used rapid kicks to keep his immediate perimeter clear, but maintenance wasn’t the goal. Eradication was. A loud crash and high-pitched shouts of dismay on the other side of the roof told him Eve had just smashed one. Tengu were all for having a little evil fun, but not if it meant getting hurt.
Catching a tengu in each hand, he bashed them together. Debris exploded outward and turned to ash before hitting the ground. “Two down. Ten more to go.”
“Cain can’t save pretty Mark,” a tengu sang, flapping its stone wings. “Sammael gets what Sammael wants.”
“Sammael is going to get me,” he barked back, “if he doesn’t keep his minions to himself.”
Laughing, the tengu regrouped and rushed him. He waited until the last minute, then shifted away. The converging tengu collided. Two overzealous ones hit each other with enough force to wipe each other out. A cloud of ash plumed upward and dissipated in the gentle breeze.
The sound of thick metal sheeting bending in ways it shouldn’t turned his head toward Eve. His gaze found little cement feet protruding from a hole in the air-conditioning unit. They’d already repaired the massive and expensive system once before, due to their last altercation with tengu on this roof.
Hang in there, he said, sensing Eve’s strength was strained by the heavy beasts.
Don’t worry about me. Take care of yourself.
Alec wondered if she knew that she was the only person in existence who worried over him. He stepped up his pace. He snatched up any tengu unfortunate enough to get too close and used them to crush their friends. As he worked, he crossed the roof, closing the distance between him and Eve. She was still several tengu deep, but seemed to be holding her own.
I’m winning, he taunted.
In response to his challenge, she became more aggressive, lunging and catching the little demons just like he was. Considering her much smaller size, he was impressed with her ability to keep up.
They should have backed off by now, she grunted. Eve was right. Tengu liked to play, but when the tide turned against them, they ran.
They want you, he explained.
Huh?
I’m thinking the ice bitch wasn’t kidding.
Fucking fabulous, she muttered, hefting a tengu overhead and braining another with it. Both burst into ash.
Alec grabbed two tengu by the backs of their skulls and pounded them together. Then he moved toward Eve.
Back off, hero, she said, kicking another into a ventilation turbine. I’ve got this.
Grinning, he stepped back and crossed his arms. There’s one to your left. Right. Left. Behind you. Ooh, great shot. Kick it again. Duck!
I’m going to kill you next, she bit out, struggling to shake off a tengu clinging to her back.
You’d miss me. He rubbed at his chest and the swelling pride that made it ache.
Not right now. She snatched at the demon and yanked it over her head. She swung it like a golf club into the one wrapped around her leg, knocking both free and sending them flying. With anus splayed, Alec caught them in each hand and launched them discus-
style into the heavy stairwell door. Stumbling from the blow to her leg, Eve faced the last tengu standing.
“Sammael wants you, pretty Mark,” the Infernal said, hopping.
Eve regained her balance and pushed a few stray stands of hair back from her face. “He’ll have to take a number.”
“You can’t run, you can’t hide.”
“You can’t scare me,” she sang back with a humorless smile.
“Sammael will.”
He dashed toward her with a growl. Alec straightened abruptly, prepared to leap in. Eve feinted to the side, catching the demon’s arm as he passed. She swung him up, then hammered him down into the rooftop. Ash mushroomed and hovered for a heartbeat in a pocket of still air, then burst free in a sudden breeze.
Alec applauded. He doubted many novices would have handled multiple opponents with as much aplomb.
It took her a moment to shake off the bloodlust brought on by the lingering effects of the Novium. But when she did, she smiled sheepishly and sketched a quick, exaggerated bow. He loved the bow and the strength of character