Manx held up his hand to stop the others from coming to his rescue. “But you won’t, Saint. Because I’m your friend. And you don’t hurt people you care about. Humans or Other. And you wouldn’t hurt Ume. Because you love her.”
The room was filled with tense silence for one minute. Two. Then it happened. Saint could feel the smile blooming on his face. He couldn’t stop it. The same way he couldn’t stop the hope filling his human heart, the wicked plans forming in his demon’s soul.
He did. He loved her. He’d never thought he could. Not really. Not like this. But he loved Ume. Waiting for the life and pain to drain out of him wasn’t working. Leaving her alone wasn’t working. He’d just have to try a different approach. He’d have to do things his way.
Saint could barely hear Thomas and Mac’s banter through the excitement buzzing through his system, bringing him back to life.
“Uh oh. I know that look. Julie, your cousin might be in trouble.”
“You can say that again.”
Manx choked. “I’ll say it if he takes his arm off my windpipe.”
Thomas lifted his hands in the air dramatically. “This demon has been cleansed.”
Saint licked his lips. “Hallelujah.”
Chapter Eight
Ume was walking. A simple act for most, but for her? She would never take it for granted again. Most times she didn’t even need the single cane. She smiled. Soon enough she would be back to her old self. And the first thing she planned to do with this newfound freedom was start running again. Maybe take a kickboxing class.
The idea of punching and kicking something really hard without being arrested was appealing. She’d just been in one of those moods.
For the last few months.
Her cousin Julie had called, but Ume didn’t feel like talking. Especially, and she hated herself for this, to Julie. The woman was so happy lately. Deservedly so, but still. She didn’t want to hear about the latest mating escapade, or how her cousin couldn’t get any work done, or plan the wedding that her big family was insisting on, without Liam distracting her with his wolfy needs.
She was a bad cousin. But, she swore to herself, she would be the best maid of honor anyone had ever seen. Julie had saved her life. Literally.
Too bad no one could do anything about her heart.
It had taken her a long time to beat them into submission, the feelings she had for Sinner/Saint. She’d tried to use logic; she’d never met him in person, she didn’t know who he really was. Though she knew what he was. Namely, a demon. And humans and demons didn’t mix. Not in her world. Hadn’t her mother’s death taught her that?
Her heart didn’t care. It even argued back. She had kitsune blood in her veins, the protection of its spirit around her neck. A spirit she could now feel. One that had given her strength. She wasn’t exactly a normal human.
And Saint was only half demon. Nothing like the one that had tormented her family. They could make their own rules.
That argument had gone on for weeks. Weeks of crying into her pillow at night, of reaching for her laptop only to hurl it across the room. Weeks of waiting for a demon who never came. Never fought for her or asked for a second chance.
Never gave his heart.
In the end logic won by default. The point was moot if the demon didn’t love her back.
She’d almost reached the grocery store when she saw it. One of those computerized billboards that showed advertisements for cologne and car dealerships.
I love you, Ume
Ume bit her tongue in shock and looked around. Surely that couldn’t be…? No, she straightened her shoulders and kept walking. There had to be at least twenty other Ume’s in the San Francisco area alone. Someone was proposing, in a grand scale yes, but not to her.
She passed an idling car full of people and the radio blared, the station changing until she heard the distinct sounds of Blue Oyster Cult’s I’m Burning For You.
She took a deep breath. Nothing to see here. A coincidence. Just keep walking, Ume. When she came upon yet another billboard, she didn’t want to look, but she couldn’t help herself.
I mean you, Ume Wu. I love you. Saint Loves Ume. Clear Enough?
Without a word she turned on her heel and walked home as fast as she could, not looking anywhere, not listening to anything. The cramp in her thigh wouldn’t slow her down. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening.
Not even if she desperately wanted it to be.