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temple. Stay focused.
    I folded my fingers into a fist, allowing my nails to elongate enough to break skin. A much needed distraction from the lure of Beka’s beauty. 
    “I confronted him last night. Told him I knew he was demon. He didn’t deny it. Beka, he’s here for a reason. Has to be.”
    “You’re wrong. You probably startled him by calling him a demon. He’s so jumpy. Flinches every time I touch him.”
    “You are not to touch him.” Russell pivoted and pointed his finger at her face. “You hear me?”
    She slapped his hand away. “First of all, remember who you are speaking to. Second, you are wrong about him. You’re just paranoid. This is a new city, we are not sure where our charge is yet, but we’ll figure it out. We always do.”
    “You can’t join with him. It is forbidden. You know you are to be—”
    “There’s something about him. Something special.” She hugged her mid-section and turned her back on her brother. “I cannot explain this feeling. I’ve existed for so long, seen much. But I’ve never felt so drawn to a human.”
    “Drawn?” Russell shot his hands skyward, then buried them in his dark hair.
    My stomach cramped, but he didn’t see me. If I remembered correctly, the Guardians didn’t have stellar night-vision.
    “What do you know about drawn, Beka? You met him only yesterday.” He moved in front of her.
    I glanced up. One flight of stairs down to the window, another to the roof. I stayed frozen, gripping the railing. If they saw me, and figured out what—or who—I was after, I would have to kill them both. I didn’t think myself capable of taking Beka’s head. Russell’s, on the other hand. . .
    “Beka. Think rationally about this. You can’t—”
    The back door flew open and both jumped. “Russ. Better get in here. Some asshole’s starting a fight.”
    Beka and Russell hurried into the club. The door slammed shut, and I relaxed. I might have to try out the whirlpool jets in the hotel tub tonight.
    So. She felt drawn to me. I was honored to earn the attentions of such a fair lady. After only two meetings, she’d already worked her way into what was left of my human heart. If only I wasn’t the antithesis of her existence.
    I finally let my breath out and climbed the last set of stairs. I peered in. Even with my enhanced sight, all I saw was darkness—the panes had been covered with something I couldn’t see through. I shuffled to the side and tried the next window. A living room with two plush, cloth chairs flanking a large, caramel colored leather couch.
    Tinting on one set of windows but not the others might mean something was hiding or being hidden.
    Fingers shoved under the window frame, I tugged. Locked. Same with the tinted window. I couldn’t risk breaking them to enter and alert the Guardians to my presence. Or Gage’s. I sprinted up the last of the stairs and hopped onto the roof. The gravel shifted beneath my weight as I circled, scanning the area.
    The moonlight spilled over the neighboring business establishments and apartments. But they were deserted, save a few chairs. Sunning on rooftops must be something the humans did.
    A door in the middle of the open rooftop was shut. Two plastic chairs sat near the ledge with a little table between and a long blanket spread over the rocky ground.
    A telescope next to the ledge pointed skyward. I neared the picnic setting and squatted. I brought the corner of the blanket to my nose. Beka’s lilac scent tickled my senses, triggering a firestorm in my stomach.
    Her image danced in my mind. Her long, graceful neck. Full lips. Her inviting mouth.
    I bound to my feet, shaking off the memory of her body against mine and moved to the door. One quick twist of the knob and the lock broke.
    Creaking hinges rent the air and I froze, listening. Inside the stairwell an pool of darkness greeted me. No sounds and only the stale scent of cement and dust. Two flights down brought me to another door, more than likely