The following night was even worse. Cao strapped on his swords while Ling fumed at him from the bottom of the stairs. The entire day, she’d attempted to thieve various objects from him.

While he’d been brushing his teeth, his toothbrush.

At his desk, his mouse.

During dinner, his fork.

He’d tsked at each of her endeavors, but admired her spirit. After closing the closet, he tucked his ninja mask into his leather pants pocket. “If you’re going to steal something from under my nose, you have to be quick, with a light touch, and if all else fails, distract me.”

She perched her hands on her hips. “How am I supposed to steal from you when you know I’m going to do it? That’s not fair.”

“Who said anything about fair?” He stalked toward her, halting inches away. “If you want to win, you have to be willing to get dirty.”

Or was it play dirty? With Ling, both sounded tempting.

“What if I don’t care about winning? I’d just like some fresh air.” She tipped her face to his, her sweetly-scented breath warming his skin and her lips looking so damned luscious his cock throbbed, getting stiff.

He squeezed his fist; his semi-hard dick made his pants too tight. There had to be a better way to control these primal urges around her. “Fine,” he muttered, stormed up the staircase to the loft, grabbed a sword and mask for her, then loped back down the stairs. “If you want to act like a wolf, you’d better dress like—”

Fuck me.

Wearing his ninja mask, she twirled toward him. “Guess I do like winning.”

His throat suddenly dry, he swallowed hard, but managed to grunt, “Nice.”

“Is this mask why they call you Cao the Wolf?” Her lips curved on the name, barely concealing her chuckle. “Wait, you’re not a shapeshifter, are you?”

He slanted his gaze to her. “Hey, I don’t call myself that. The name stuck after a heist my brother and I pulled, but it was a long time ago. Don’t worry, I’m no shapeshifter,” he puffed, hoping to end her inquiry. It was better if those things in his past stayed put there. “You can tag along, but you’d better not do anything stupid.”

“I won’t.” She bounced on her heels. “So, where are we going?”

“Hunting.” He stepped outside, jerked on his mask, and waited for her to follow.

“What are we hunting?” she whispered at his side while they rode the elevator to the ground level.

“Stop asking questions and I’ll show you.” Stalking outside, he scoured the dark streets and trekked southward. Dim lamplight illuminated the road and cast shadows everywhere.

He was scanning for the ones that moved.

There.

On the corner, a dusky outline shifted. Cao stole forward, unsheathed his swords, and met the yāoguài head on, slashing his blade through it.

Its buddy, a few feet over, opened its reptilian mouth to screech, but Ling was on the sucker, slamming her blade down hard across its head. The demon spawn went down with a hiss, but the edge of her sword got stuck in bone and flesh. She yanked, pulling the sword free and stumbling backward.

Grimacing, Cao came to her aid and sliced his sword through the creature’s neck, beheading it. “Next time,” he droned, “aim for the neck.”

“Sorry,” she huffed. “I don’t do this much.”

True, he could tell by the awkward hold she had on the handle of her sword. “You were raised by a dragon and no one taught you how to hold a blade?”

She stiffened and glanced at her hands. “You would think, right. My family consisted of a dragon and a shapeshifter, but I thought we were the most normal clan in the world.”

Sadness permeated her tone. Maybe she missed her old life.

He hadn’t exactly provided her with a better one. Holed up, hiding from vicious monsters who sought her death. With only a criminal for company.

“Hold it like this.” He sheathed one of his swords and demonstrated with the other. “Nice, firm grip. Two hands near the guard will give you a strong grasp.”

She studied his hand positions, mimicking them on her own sword.

“Good. Now, stand like this.” He slipped into a boxed stance, straight back, wide, squared legs, and sword braced across his shoulder, pointing at his imaginary target.

Ling copied him as another yāoguài hobbled toward them. “That one’s yours.” He jerked his chin toward the chimp-like demon.

She thrust her sword through the air, this time aiming for the neck and slashing it through the creature, spraying its inky blood everywhere.

“This is what immortals do for fun?” she panted, smirking at him, her face sprayed with black tar. “I like it.”

Cao tossed his head and pointed into the distance. “C’mon, protégé. There’s an abundance of these fuckers lately and they’re not going to slaughter themselves.”

Her beaming grin stabbed him straight in the heart. He enjoyed her company way too much.

Ling braced her sword. “No, they’re not. But we sure as hell are going to.”

* * *

Killing yāoguài with Cao had been far more fun than she’d anticipated. Ling picked up quite a few techniques. Some from copying him, some from his instructions. He didn’t have to explain to her his purpose, though.

They’d spent the past four nights hunting and tonight was no different. Except, Ling had a few questions for these demon spawn. Who’d sent them? Why?

Why are they trying to kill me?

She shook herself and focused on the shadows ahead. Cao gave her a nod, indicating those were hers.

Steadying her nerves, she advanced. Two yāoguài snuffled, shoulders hunched as though occupied with something on the ground.

“Hey you.” She whistled, drawing their pig-faced attentions onto her. “Wanna play?”

The one on the left squealed, scuffling toward her, while the other seemed more intent on whatever it was clawing at.

“Ling.” Cao’s voice buzzed with an ominous warning behind her.

Gotcha. If something was more exciting than her, she’d better be on guard.

Ling slashed her blade through the charging demon. “Sorry, no time to play.”

She swung her sword full circle and directed it toward the second demon. It prodded a dark bundle with its hoof. As she approached, a soft wailing crossed her ears. Oh, gods. Yāoguài fed on human souls. She peeked back for Cao, but he was already at her side, a determined glower on his face. He engaged the demon, bringing his sword down across the foul creature’s shoulder. It shrieked and staggered backward, where Ling was ready to jam her sword clean through it.

This was her chance. While she waited for Cao to check the bundle, Ling pulled the skewered demon closer. “Who sent you? Why did you attack me?”

The ugly thing snarled and struggled against her grasp.

“Shit.” Cao reared from the bundle on the ground, casting furtive glances around. “It’s a doll, Ling. This is a fucking trap.”

“Argh!” She shoved the demon to the ground, freed her sword, and slammed the blade into its head. “A trap?”

Panic flooded her vision and she fought to control her rapidly racing heart.

“Get out of here,” Cao growled, bracing his sword, his survey on the street ahead that suddenly grew dim, clustered with shadows. Hundreds of them.

She swallowed hard. “No, I’m not leaving you to fight them alone. I’m not scared.” Gripping her sword, she steeled her shoulders.

Cao scoffed. “You need to run. I can handle them long enough for you to get away. Please listen, for once. You ought to be fucking terrified. I sure as hell am.”

“Why would you be…” She frowned at Cao’s back, at the tense stance he’d taken, placing his body between her and a horde of demons. Oh. Cao was immortal; he couldn’t die. He had no reason to be scared of dying.

Except, he fears I can.

Now might be a good time to share her Chosen identity with him. Sheep would get them out of this. Yet, the Matchmaker hadn’t given Ling the go-ahead to disclose her secret. She bit her bottom lip, indecision slugging through her.

“Run, Ling,” Cao ground again, the first wave of demons a few feet from him.

Run. Hide. Stay safe. That was what she’d done her entire life. Looked to others to protect her. Cao couldn’t die, no, but he might suffer a ton.

No way would she let him do that alone.

Ling swung her sword and marched to Cao’s side, her fury targeted on those demons who’d ruined her life. “No, for once, I’m not running anymore.”

* * *

Bloody hell. Cao almost snapped at Ling, but a demon charged him and he had to dispose of that one first. Then the next. Soon, there wasn’t time for words, but at least, Ling matched his pace.

It didn’t take long for the yāoguài to flood the street around them. Ling whirled to face her back to his, fighting as his partner.

He grunted and slashed his sword through demon flesh, black ooze flinging everywhere, but he’d never been so light. Fighting in a darkened street. He was so accustomed to going it alone, it took him a few minutes to get his bearings having someone covering his back.

Just as he shielded hers.

He bounced on his heels, energy rippling through him. They cut a path through the spawn, which puffed into nonexistence after they’d been killed.

Through the rhythm of it, he lost count of how many they’d dispatched. Dozens, for sure. Behind him, Ling huffed, slicing her blade like a pro. Though he wouldn’t admit it to her, he was glad she’d stayed. Especially after his blurted confession. Though he ought to chalk it up to being her guardian, the truth was, he couldn’t bear the notion of any harm coming to Ling.

He’d die a thousand deaths to protect her.

From the corner of his eye, he caught a filthy reptilian creature charging them from the side, and he whirled to snag it, but as he did so, a stinging slice slashed down his unprotected side. “Argh!” He dropped to his knees, wincing.

“Cao?” Ling plunged her sword into the one which had attacked him and, after, tucked her hand under his arm, helping him to his feet.

“I’ll be okay.” He pressed a hand to the wound and grimaced through the burn radiating along his torso.

“Are you sure?” She fended off another one, the path growing wider. Thank fuck those things were almost gone.

“Yeah.” He continued wielding his sword, the movements like pulling a needle through his flesh. Pausing to catch his breath, he assessed the enemy. Half a dozen stalked them, but several had retreated. “Come on, shitface.” He crooked his fingers at a nearby one.

The creature rushed him and Cao plunged his sword clean through it, easy peasy. Demons sure were morons.

The others on his side slunk into the shadows, so he spun and admired Ling stabbing the last of her opponents.

Sweet fuck, she was something else, so skillful with that blade. Even through the pain in his side, he managed a grin. “C’mon. Let’s go before they regroup.” He sheathed his sword across his back and surveyed the area to get his bearings, then headed west.

Ling’s footsteps tapped lightly as she kept pace behind him.

They jogged in silence to his apartment. Cao held open the rear door for her, scanning the alley to ensure they hadn’t been followed. He’d been careful, cutting diagonally through the city, on a path yāoguài couldn’t follow. They traveled in straight lines, east-west and north-south.

Assured it was clear, he gave Ling a thumbs-up. She passed him and shut the door, heading to the elevator.

They crammed in together, and he checked her over. “Are you okay? Any cuts?”

“I’m fine.” She pivoted toward him, her entire body splashed with inky tar, and pulled off her ninja mask. “How are you?” Her scrutiny dropped to his side.

The gash had split him open pretty good, but it was knitting together. “I’ll live,” he murmured.

Her gaze flicked to his and the corners of her lips curved. “I’m glad.”

The elevator dinged before he finished processing her comment, but he marched into the flat, the pain far from his mind. “You clean up first.” He jerked his head toward the shower.

“Thanks. I’ll be quick.” She dashed into the bathroom, and soon the trill of water droned from within.

Cao sank onto a stool and peeled the layers of his clothing, wincing. Blood dribbled down his side, the wound splitting him from ribs to hipbone.

No point in treating it, though. An injury like this would be healed in an hour or less.

He’d have to endure the pain until then.

If Ling kept him company, it just might be worth it.

* * *

As quickly as possible, Ling rushed through her shower, dashed into the bedroom, and yanked on clean clothes. Poor Cao. She raced into the living space and stopped dead at the sight of Cao, shirt raised, a nasty gash splitting his side.

Ling clamped a hand across her mouth. His wound might have killed an ordinary person. Cao’s immortality no longer seemed like such a bad thing. “Oh, ouch.” She padded forward, pausing in front of him. “Should I help you clean it?”

“Nah.” He lowered his shirt. “No point.”

“Right.” She nodded, though it must hurt. The guy was crazy tough. “Can I get you anything for the pain?”

“Really, Ling. I’ll be fine.” He held up a hand to block her from grabbing his medical bag. “You’ll see. After I shower, you’ll barely even notice it.” He strode to the bathroom and shut the door behind him. Regardless of his healing abilities, the guy was formidable to endure that kind of pain without passing out or even complaining.

Anxious, she paced while he showered. Past the kitchen island, around to the desk. The gag dildo taunted her from atop one of the monitors.

Cao had set it there, just to irk her. She shook her head, but couldn’t help smiling a little.

From his confessions, he was quite comfortable with his sexuality, and very experienced. The exact opposite of me.

She’d be mortified if he ever found out the truth—she was a virgin. A twenty-eight-year-old virgin. She snorted. So pathetic, but not entirely her fault. She’d had boyfriends, but something had always happened to stick a plug in things before they’d ever gotten to the naked intimacy parts.

A sudden death in the family in another country.

A new job that required his attention.

An old flame who decided to get back together.

And lots, and lots, of unreturned phone calls.

She’d heard them all. Was there something wrong with her? Some nights, she’d considered getting drunk, going to a club, and picking a random guy from the crowd. Just to get it over with. The romantic in her had halted those plans. Either that or she was destined to be a spinster. Sighing, she tore her focus off the monitor as Cao emerged from the bathroom.

Almost naked. A white towel wrapped around his waist, low on his hips, below that gorgeous ‘v’ and displaying rows upon rows of perfectly sculpted abs. He tossed his head and beads of water dripped from his hair, running down his damp skin.

She slammed her jaw closed, which she was pretty sure had dropped open, and swallowed hard. Cao was perplexingly sexy. A perfect exhibition of male muscle. He ran his fingers through his wet locks, slicking them back, and glanced at her through intense, hooded eyes.

“Hey.” She cleared her throat and tried to sound casual, as though he weren’t standing almost naked in front of her and she didn’t want to lick every inch of him.

Gods, her cheeks had to be on fire.

“Feeling better?” she rasped, her voice gone low and sultry.

“Much.” He flashed her a devastating grin and stalked toward her, pausing in front of her and snatching her hand. “See?” He twisted to the side, revealing the area that had been sliced open, and now didn’t reveal a hint of the injury, and pressed her fingers to the spot where his wound had been.

“Oooh.” She choked back on a moan and struggled to act professional while her fingers grazed firm, smooth skin, muscles tight and flexed. Sure, she’d kissed guys. She’d even flirted with second base, heavy petting and whatnot. Never had she touched anyone who looked like Cao. Who made her entire body tingle at a single brush of skin.

He eased closer, making her palm press flat against him, cornering her, the desk biting into her ass. She detected the rapid escalation of his heartbeats. Could it be that Cao experienced the same arousal she did? He shifted forward, his muscled torso pressing up against her, and leaned in. Is he going to kiss me? She held her breath, but he reached past her and swiped the dildo from off the monitor.

He bent his face to hers and stuffed the dildo into her hands, a wicked tease in his eyes. “You might be wanting this back.”