He raised an eyebrow then became thoughtful.
As we left Sanctuary, cool air blew into my face and the speckles of ash that floated by were comforting, familiar. It was tinged with smoke now the fires had been lit in preparation for the night. The days were short so close to winter.
Breandan moved ahead of me and took my hand. Before long I heard a group of Disciples nearby, their high and happy voices floating through the dark coming straight toward us. He turned so we no longer walked on the path to the main gate but out onto the lawn surrounding the Temple, into the darkness. Over my shoulder I saw Devlin followed silently and he didn't look alarmed but rather annoyed. Rather than an all-dark figure, I made out his angular features and the green of his eyes. With a start I realized everything looked lighter, and then I saw why. Breandan's tattooed skin glowed in the dark. It was like he wanted to get caught. Like he really didn't care Devlin could name him as demon.
Said boy pushed between us, and grabbed my hand to pull me forward. My skin crawled. I tried to pull away but he held on firmly. Breandan held on and stopped moving. I was stuck between the two and Devlin was determined to keep going, so I squeaked when my arms nearly yanked out of their sockets. Brendan growled, literally hunched his back and bared his teeth. The sound was a low rumble, but resonated loud enough to be taken as a warning. Despite this display he had to let me go to avoid hurting me, but he was not happy about it.
Devlin barely broke stride as he half turned and smirked. Turning back to my puzzled face, he feigned innocence. "Possessive isn't he?"
I looked over my shoulder and sent Breandan a wobbly smile. The reason known only to the complicated workings of my heart, I wanted to reassure him that I was okay. Jaw working soundlessly, he walked close behind us and kept his eyes locked on Devlin's long fingers wrapped around mine.
Devlin let my hand go and I sighed in relief, we reached the Temple wall and I wondered what was coming next. Breandan seemed quite unconcerned at how this was turning out, and I was curious to see where this adventure was headed next. Seriously, where was it headed? There was no way through the barrier here unless you could jump higher than twenty feet like a vampire, or scale smooth, seamless concrete.
"Rae, place your hands over your eyes" Devlin said.
I planted my feet, ready to fight it out. Whatever these boys were planning would not go down as easy as they thought. "I will not close my eyes. Do you think I'm that stupid?"
He blinked in shock; face dumbly surprised. It was like he'd never been told 'no' before.
The side of Breandan's mouth tugged up. "Please close your eyes," he simplified.
Breandan was asking me to do what Devlin wanted? Why? I looked between them. Something else was going on in front of me, wasn't it? Thoughts swirled in front of my eyes. Devlin had joined the Sect a month ago. The sightings of fairies at the Wall by the Temple had increased in the last month. Breandan had been looking for me and the vampire a month. Devlin had not reacted to Breandan's presence, or his strangeness with shock or fear. The fairy-boy had done some freaky stuff, like strutting around bare foot, glowing and growling. These were not human traits. More than this, Breandan had revealed himself to Devlin, even spoken to him.
"You know each other," I said, the challenge for denial clear in my voice.
"Yes," the boys replied.
I blew out a breath. "May I ask how?"
"Ye-"
"Not yet," Breandan said.
They were both on edge again. I had a feeling this was only remaining peaceful for my benefit.
"I don't like not knowing what you're dragging me into. I don't think I'm so curious anymore."
"I told you, you are safe." Breandan seemed annoyed I had not trusted his word. "There are other things you need to know and see," he explained, "Before I can tell and show you everything."
"And right now you don't want me to see how you got in here," I guessed. After a few moments of stubborn silence, I shrugged and did as Breandan asked. "I don't see how this is going to-"
My eyes flew open and I gasped. Breandan's lips were pressed against mine. His eyes were open, watching me. He leaned away a little and made a low humming noise.
"This would be easier if you trusted me," he murmured. "I'll come back soon. Behave until then." He leaned back in, but paused. "And Rae, do not agree or give anything you don't want to." His eyes flicked to Devlin and his eyes narrowed into slits. His gaze darted back to mine. "Alright?"
Confused, I nodded and closed my eyes as his lips met mine again. When I opened them again he was gone. My first kiss, and it had made my toes curl in my boots and my heart swell. I swallowed thickly and looked to the west. The sun had nearly set. My vampire-boy would rise soon.
Devlin stared at me, considering. "I can almost see the questions tumbling around that head of yours."
"I'll even tell you a few. At best guess you're some kind of demon pet," I said and paused deliberately. "A human spy feeding the fairies information, I mean." I didn't give him a chance to answer. I started to walk away but then I spun around. "You haven't told anyone about the person you saw me with this morning have you?" He said nothing for a long while and I looked up in alarm. At the steady, appraising look he was giving me I felt a tide of stupid rising inside me, and I stared to babble, "You're not double crossing demons are you? By working for the Sect and pretending to be the demons inner eyes and ears, because that would be really dumb."
"As dumb as stashing a vampire in a wardrobe?"
I swear my face must have turned the colour of snow again. Devlin rocked on his heels, sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and chewed it thoughtfully. I caught the smile he tried to hide.
"No," he said finally. "I haven't told anyone. And you've got me all wrong." His eyes became wicked keen, fixed on my face. "You should stay away from him. He could be dangerous."
"The vampire or the fairy?" I asked before slapping myself on the forehead.
He laughed. It was a delicate, carefree sound. "Both."
My fingers curled into claws, and I squeezed them so tight my nails split skin, gouging out a chunk of my palm. My blood trickled down my wrist before my whole hand burned and the skin repaired itself, spreading over the cut. Healed, I froze and slowly raised my gaze. Devlin didn't look shocked or scared. Simply amused. He quirked an eyebrow and motioned with a sweep of his hand 'lead the way', it said.
I stared at him, waiting. He stared at me, waiting.
He broke first and did a good imitation of a long-suffering huff. I could see he was having a good time at my expense.
"Am I to keep what just happened a secret too?"
"What just happened?" I said evenly.
I felt crazy confused. It was like there was this big, obvious thing dangling in front of my face that I was too silly to see.
He stepped forward, and the stare he gave was so intense a tickle at the back of my brain made me shudder. His encroachment on my personal space was uncomfortable.
"I don't like people so close," I told him and stepped away.
Boldly, he stepped forward again and reached for my hand. "Come with me," he said softly and as an afterthought half a beat later added, "Please?"
A warning from my intuition fired in my head, and I yanked my hand away before he clasped it. "I have to get back."
I looked over toward Bayou, conscious a demon was waiting for me, but couldn't help but stay still, and keep trying to find that elusive obvious thing. There was something about Devlin I was missing. I just knew it. Usually, if I didn't want to talk to someone I could ignore or drown them out, but when Devlin asked me a question I felt I had to answer. When he spoke it was like I had to listen.