“Wow.” Cary studied Levi’s studio apartment. Floor to ceiling windows with no blinds. Highly polished floorboards and stainless steel shelves. Her whole apartment could fit inside his kitchen. Books everywhere, but no curtains for Mr. BDSM, and in a strange way, that excited her. It was obvious; she’d been hanging out with Levi for too long.

Three rows of shoes near the wall across from his bed caught her attention. “How many shoes does a guy need?” she asked. “Have to be at least twenty-five pairs here.” Levi’s collection far surpassed hers, but he didn’t need to know that yet.

“I didn’t take you for a shoe person. Jealous?” Levi answered back with a grin. “Those must be your favorite black, scuffed boots, because I’ve never seen you wear anything else.”

“Comfy and butt-kicking worthy. I have a back-up pair in the SUV, and a few more at home. Why mess with the best?”

“The bathroom’s just second to the left if you want to freshen up.” Levi pointed to a door slightly ajar.

She made her way to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face, cleaning blood off her nose and cheek. She patted dry her face while pinching her nose to stop it from bleeding all over the place. No tissues. Her reflection in the mirror showed wild hair sticking upward on one side of her head. She patted it down. Her eyes were blood-shot, and a purple bruise marred her forehead. All she was missing was a massive black eye and the picture would be complete—she could be the poster girl for an underground fight club. She removed Levi’s spare lasso from her back pocket and set it down on the bathroom sink.

Back in the main room, Levi was setting his lasso on the marble counter in the kitchen. She looked at him, across the room, and then to his bed. The king-sized wooden frame and mattress sat on a platform encircled by three steps.

“So this is how you woo all the girls back to your pad.” She reached for the tissue box on the coffee table and stanched her nose that refused to stop bleeding.

Levi took a bottle of water from the fridge and strolled toward her, his boots thumping against the floorboards and his jeans hugging strong thighs. Cary pictured him topless, felt heat rising up in her belly and slinking south. She sat down onto the sofa to ease her spinning head.

He placed the bottle on the thick glass coffee table in front of her and headed into the bathroom, his words fading as he walked away. “Believe it or not, I don’t bring girls here.”

Right then, she thought she’d probably be stupid enough to believe him. She gulped down the chilled water, quenching her burning throat.

The framed black and white photographs above Levi’s bed were of abstract shapes and probably cost more than her car. They had that gallery look about them. She wondered what drew someone like Levi into the demon business. Every bounty hunter had a history, a dark story to tell. No sane person would willingly join this suicide mission. It was Russian roulette but with a demon as the bullet… Just a matter of time before a hunter got possessed.

She settled back on the couch and decided a bit of time out wasn’t a bad idea. The antique store she planned to visit wasn’t going anywhere, and she didn’t need Levi following her and suspecting her of anything else. Bad enough he kept asking her if she was okay. Thank goodness the hellhound back in the alley was invisible to Levi and probably most humans. Anyway, the animal had bolted down the street, vanishing into the night, hopefully never to return. What did hellhounds snack on anyway—steaks, rabbits, arms? But the real question was: Who had sent it?

She pulled out her cell phone and typed in Magick Antiques Detroit. Scrolling down the search engine listings, she found the store and clicked open the page. Antique stores didn’t hold onto goods forever, but popular items like scrying mirrors were always in demand, so they got them in as fast as they could. And, she remembered that the last time she was there, the owner said he listed such items on his website when available. Several clicks later, she landed on the relics page. And right at the top was the mirror. Perfect.

Levi reappeared with a towel, antiseptic, and two aspirins. She stashed the phone into her back pocket and pushed herself up. She swallowed the pills and chased them down with the water. “Thanks.”

“Get comfy,” he said.

Toeing her boots off, she lay on her back. No pillows. Must be a guy thing.

“Business must be booming to be able to afford this place.”

“Not really. I inherited my father’s stock investment portfolio. I own this whole block.” He shrugged and knelt alongside her.

Her breath hitched … A whole block? “Well, all my dad left me was a tiny house in Watersmeet needing a complete teardown and rebuild, and—” She stopped.

Shut up, Cary. Why open your mouth? She blamed her nausea and changed the topic. “So why not pay off Argos if you have the money?”

“They’ll only accept hit money from me. It’s Brent’s demented way of teaching me a lesson. Plus, if I cut all ties, what excuse would I have for spending time with you?” One side of his mouth curled upward. Cary wouldn’t be surprised if, at any moment now, she dissolved into a puddle from his delicious grin. Something about his apartment made her relax. Or maybe it was his company, and being off the streets. Gone was the dread and rage. Okay, not that dramatic, but as much as she denied it, her heart insisted he was the guy for her. Completely laughable considering her demon heritage. Even if they had another one-night stand, theirs wasn’t a relationship that would work. Been there, done that, failed at it.

And with that thought, heaviness settled in her chest.

But despite still feeling like her head was squeezed in a vice, she still longed for his kisses just one more time. Yet she reminded herself how easily Levi could discover she was a cambion, then kill her himself. Wanting him was ridiculous and stupid and reckless. A terrible idea.

“Let me see the damage.” Levi folded the towel in his hands.

Cary lowered the tissue from her nose. “I think the bleeding’s stopped.”

Levi studied her. She half expected him to cringe from her bloody nose, but saw only a slightly worrisome crease that marred his brow.

With the damp cloth, Levi stroked her chin. He wiped around her ear and cheek, too.

Cary couldn’t tear her eyes from this gorgeous guy who didn’t owe her anything, but had cleaned her up. Her gaze traced the line of his stubble covered jaw. The dip and rise of his lips, thick eyebrows framing amber-brown eyes…

He sat back on his heels and took the tube of antiseptic from the floor. “Close your eyes.”

A buzz swirled through her belly. The cream was cold, but with Levi gently smoothing it across the wounds, the fire burning through her veins quadrupled.

Sleep with him again, and you’ll spend another two months moping over him.

The voice in her head needed to shut up.

And when he finds out what you are—

“So.” The sudden crispness of his tone snapped her out of her thoughts. “What was that demon talking about? It said something about knowing you or what you are. Have you encountered it before?”

Told you. Cary slid her eyes open slowly, holding back the jittery sensation swarming down her arms. What else had he heard?

Shrugging, she stared at the ceiling, refusing to meet his gaze. Good one, Cary. “It probably knew I was a hunter, though I wasn’t paying attention to be honest. I was too busy trying to breathe.” Time to leave.

He screwed the lid back onto the cream and balled the hand-towel in his fist before standing up. “That’s not a good thing. Hopefully you’re wrong and it doesn’t tell other demons to come looking for you.”

“I’ll be fine.” Taking a deep breath, she caught a whiff of the sulfur stink on her skin. Was she marked? What she needed was concrete evidence, and not some hoax to freak her out. As much as she despised the idea of testing herself, she had no other choice. Otherwise she’d place Levi and Tasha and everyone else she knew into jeopardy. Demons were well aware of hunters. When they got inside one, they went for the jugular: knowledge of their family and friends. And once that happened, those hunters would be forced to murder their loved ones. Then that hunter would end up being killed by their colleagues.

Her pulse thumped beneath her skin, and she instead focused on the current problem at hand. The mark.

“Anyway,” Levi said. “I suggest you stay the night, so I can keep an eye on you and make sure you don’t have a concussion. Besides, I’m curious how you knew where I lived?” Stepping around the couch and out of sight, Levi dimmed the lights.

“Lucky guess.” Liar. She had one of the accounts girls look up Levi’s address on the Argos server… Yeah not one of Cary’s finest moments, but she’d missed him insanely.

She shifted to stand, but the world beneath her feet spun, and she collapsed back down. Her body and head ached, and the couch was super cozy, cradling her in its leathery cocoon.

The light spray of the shower kicked in. She propped herself on her elbows and strained to peek over the back of the sofa. The bathroom door was slightly ajar, and bright light spilled across the wooden floorboards. Sinking into the couch, the sound of gushing water stirred memories of his naked body, his fluid muscles, the V-shape tapering in at his hips, and lower. A tingling wormed its way from her toes, up her inner thighs and into her belly. If she spied on him, she could officially call herself the biggest pervert in the world. Inhaling, she got another noseful of the pungent stench clinging to her skin.

She pulled herself upright, waiting for her spinning head to settle, and the pain across her skull eased off. At times like this, she embraced her demon side. Quick healing wasn’t an ability to balk at, especially in her line of work. She’d be right in no time.

Unable to stand the sulfur smell for another second, Cary quickened her pace toward the bathroom, hoping to sneak in to wash her face, at least.

At the door, she peered through the gap, holding her breath. Spotting only the basin and a towel rack, she huffed. Right, the shower was on the other side of the room. She could use the basin without Levi even noticing her enter.

She vetoed her delusional dreams of ever owning a bathtub with golden antique feet. Where did anyone buy such a thing anyway? Maybe he bathed in his riches. She padded quietly toward the basin. Hot steam folded around her, filling her nostrils. Splashing sounds lured her attention toward the shower that could easily fit two or three people. Through the fogged glass walls, Levi’s silhouette was enveloped by the stream, his head low. Forget him. Look away.

She turned on the faucet. The water felt cool against her face. She scrubbed herself with soap, including her arms up to her elbows and washed it off. A quick towel down and she sniffed her arm. Damn. Still there. It would be best if she called a cab and left with some dignity intact and no more suspicion from Levi. Terrific idea.

A few careful steps, and she stood outside the bathroom. On the opposite wall to Levi’s bed, she spotted a vial of what she guessed was holy water on a nightstand. She hurried over and seized it, stuffing it into her back pocket, along with his lighter. Both would come in handy for her test with the mirror. Dread crawled up to the back of her knees at the idea, but better she found out what was going on with her than unknowingly walking into a demon’s trap.

“Cary.” Levi called out, his tone silky, caressing the length of her arms. “Got a moment?”

She flinched, turning toward the bathroom as heat smothered her cheeks.

“Um… yes?”