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won’t have to hurt you. Much. Of course, I can just do this.”
    His power hit me hard and fast, pasting me flat on my back in the bed. Frozen in place with the searing heat of his magic burning me from the inside out, I could only watch as he advanced on me with the dagger in hand.
    It wasn’t a large blade, six inches at best. But even the tiniest blade could do serious damage in the right hands. The worst part was that any blade made or carried by a demon was more powerful metaphysically than it ever could be as a mere physical weapon.
    I struggled to break free of his hold, but it was useless. I couldn’t move. The demon reached for me again, and I cringed. He grabbed hold of my hair and realization settled in.
    “Are you stealing my hair? Goddamn you, Shya. What are you doing?”
    “Nothing more than a lock. You’ll hardly notice it.”
    When he used the blade to separate a chunk on the top I shrieked. “Cut from underneath at least, so I can hide it. What the hell are you thinking?”
    Perhaps my biggest concern then shouldn’t have been a missing chunk of hair. I wasn’t really operating at full capacity. This all felt like an extremely bad dream. I knew the horrible things that could be done with a lock of hair. Hell even a strand of hair was enough to twist some very horrid spells. Whatever he wanted my hair for, it was bad.
    “You women and your vanity,” he tsked. “So ridiculous.” To his credit, Shya went for a piece from underneath, slicing it off in one clean swipe of the blade. He stuffed the long chunk of ash blonde hair into a pouch that disappeared back into his jacket.
    “What are you going to do with that?” I demanded. “I have a right to know.”
    “You and Jez did a good job with that minion. I didn’t expect it to be so easy for you. I’m impressed.” He changed the subject entirely. “And that message you sent to the vampires was long overdue. Good for you.”
    His praise was absolutely bizarre. I stared at him, trying to keep my true feelings from showing in my eyes. “What was that thing we killed? Why was it here?” I needed something better than a litany of questions; that was getting me nowhere.
    Shya perched on the edge of the bed beside me and stroked a hand through my hair that was spread out on the pillow. “That, my dear, is what happens to humans when they sell their soul to my kind. They become a slave, serving in the underworld. Minions. Nothing more, nothing less. It was summoned here. A bit of an accident I’m afraid. Gabriel is still perfecting some of his skills.”
    I went cold inside at that revelation. Gabriel was barely an adult, just nineteen. He was also an incredibly powerful witch, one who had been lured in by Shya. If he continued on the path he was on now, he would become one of those disgusting flesh-eating monsters.
    Shya grabbed my arm and laid it on the bed so my wrist was exposed. It was making me crazy to have to lie there and watch him.
    “Please tell me what you’re doing.” I wasn’t about to beg but was feeling pretty damn close.
    “Just taking some blood, my dear. Nothing to worry about.”
    Oh hell no. I fought so hard to break free of his hold on me. As the dagger came closer to my skin, my panic surged.
    “Shya, don’t. Please. Can we just talk about this? I know you have plans. Maybe I can help you. It doesn’t have to be this way. Whatever you want my blood for, I’m sure there’s another way.” Desperation oozed from me in the grossest way. I hated myself for begging a demon for mercy.
    The dagger bit into my flesh, slicing a clean line across my wrist. Blood welled up immediately, and Shya had a chalice there to catch it. I watched in horror as my blood dripped into the metallic cup.
    “Your desperation is understandable. We are enemies, you and I. Though we share some goals, like the protection of our own personal secrets, ultimately we are not allies.” He massaged my wounded arm, encouraging the blood to keep