"Clean your face, Thane," she said.
Then he heard the sound of her peeing. A smile claimed his lips, but he wasn't dumb enough to laugh. "Yes, dear."
After all, he had to get his clavum anyway, but when he looked in the mirror, he knew he wouldn't be able to explain this away. There was a dark mark on his cheek that was going to bruise. His chin had split when he'd cracked it on the floor. His shirt was filthy, and he no longer looked like he was trying to impress anyone.
"Yep, this date's a bust," he grumbled.
"Blame me," she said.
"And tell her what?" he asked as he turned on the sink and wiped the blood from his chin.
Thankfully, it wasn't bad. Just a scrape. Reaching over for a few of the brown paper towels, he soaked those and tried to clean the side of his face. It didn't really work. Just as he gave up and tossed them in the trash, Dahlia walked into the reflection, standing behind him.
"I honestly thought you'd finally decided to kill me," she admitted.
He picked up his clavum and tucked them back inside the waistband of his jeans. "So far as the Church knows, we haven't seen each other. I'd kinda like to keep it that way."
"Because of your brother?" she asked.
"Yeah," he admitted. "And because those things aren't sharp. I can't imagine they'd feel good when a priest shoves one into my heart." He turned around to face her. "They will kill me. They will kill Laird. We either play by their rules, or we forfeit our lives. So, if I ever see you on a hunt, I won't have a choice." He swallowed. "I'd prefer you kill me fast."
"I promise," she said softly, "if you'll do the same?"
He crossed the distance to press his fingers against the spot right over her heart. "I don't usually miss."
"I don't want to kill you," she breathed.
"Kinda starting to feel like friends," he admitted. "I mean, Mei probably hates me..."
"She doesn't," Dahlia assured him. "She thinks you're sexy. She told me I should give you a chance."
"Yeah?" Because he liked the way that sounded.
"Yeah," she agreed, "but I think we both know that can't happen. You won't risk your brother, and I won't risk Mei. I've been protecting her for six hundred years, and I'm not about to stop now. I'm sorry."
Then she turned and unlocked the bathroom door, walking out without another word. Thane just stared after her.
Six.
Hundred.
Years.
He'd thought she was a hundred, maybe a hundred and fifty years old. Six hundred? He couldn't even imagine the things she'd seen. The Bishop thought she was a new construct. The man was convinced that she was something they hadn't seen before, and he was right, in a way. She was the oldest demon he'd ever heard of.
Somehow, she'd survived for six hundred years, and the Church didn't have a clue. She wasn't unique because she was new. She was that way because she was very, very old. She'd probably mastered all the tricks by now. That was why she wasn't a vampire or a succubus. She was all of them combined.
Chapter Seventeen
DAHLIA
Dahlia marched out of the bathroom and back to the bar. The bartender ducked his head to hide his smirk, but it didn't actually work. He still came over to her when she leaned over the counter top. The guy cleared his throat once, then shoved a hand across his mouth before he could manage to get a word out.
"So, sounds do carry from the bathrooms," he let her know.
Dahlia chuckled once. "Good to know. Hey, if an Asian girl comes in here asking for me, can you let her know I went home?"
"Sure can," he agreed, then his eyes jumped over her shoulder. "And I'd suggest leaving sooner rather than later. I really don't want to break up a fight today."