A second later a shrill shriek ripped through the storm, a high-pitched scream of mortal terror.

  “Where is it?” she demanded.

  The angel didn’t reply, but let her fumble through the swirling flakes like an idiot. Another shriek rent the air, one that tore through her skull. Panicking now, Riley closed her eyes and trusted those senses Ori was always talking about. Very quickly the strong stench of demon filled her nose, nearly making her gag. Opening her eyes, she hurried forward. Then she saw it, a four-foot-tall lumbering form covered in snow and ice. Chicago’s version of the abominable snowman.

  The Gastro-Fiend had two teens cornered. The terrified boy had positioned himself in front of the girl, trying to hold the demon back with his computer bag. That made her think of Peter. The girl was crying into a cell phone, begging for someone to help them.

  Riley moved closer and let her sword erupt from her hand. She had to admit it looked really badass.

  “Hey, demon!” she called out. “Yeah, you.”

  The fiend whirled, its twin glowing eyes piercing the snow veil. It howled her name.

  Remember what I taught you, Ori whispered in her mind.

  The Three charged immediately, moving with a speed she’d not expected. She slashed at it, wounding its arm as it surged past. In response, it bellowed and swiped at her with one of its razor claws, gashing her cheek. Riley bit back the cry of pain, trying to keep her balance on the slippery pavement. With a roar, the demon launched itself at her again. This time she managed to do exactly as Ori had taught her: Step to the side at the last minute and catch the fiend full on in its chest.

  The blinding blade cut true and the Three went down into the snow, blood steaming like a cauldron. As she struggled to catch her breath, the boy called out his thanks. She waved them off and the pair of them fled into the night.

  “Did they see you?” she asked, straightening up.

  “No. They won’t remember what you look like if anyone asks,” Ori replied.

  He gestured and the corpse burst into flames, a grisly bonfire for a bitterly cold winter night.

  Once her sword had vanished, Riley touched her face where the demon had cut her. It stung and her jaw was sore.

  “Hold still,” her demi-lord instructed. His hand brushed her face, causing the wound to heal. In that instant she remembered that night in the mausoleum, how he’d made love to her.

  “What happened to you, Ori? Why are you different now?”

  “It does not matter,” he said, but the angel’s eyes grew sad, as if he too remembered that night and what they’d once had.

  It does to me. Then she was in her room, but the cold and the feeling of loss were hard to shake.

  † ~ ‡ ~ †

  It was nearly noon and the parking lot outside the old Starbucks was crowded with chattering students, all in their little cliques. Riley stifled a yawn, not quite ready to take on the noise yet. With each one of these nocturnal hunts the guilt within her grew. She had to tell Beck what was going on, but what if he lost it? Decided not to take her to the prom?

  I’ll wait until after the dance and tell him.

  Ahead of her were four hours of class to make up for the time the schools had been closed during the zombie demon crisis. No one wanted to be here, not with the prom tonight. Even those who were blowing off the dance were talking about it.

  That included Riley, whose mind was still racing with all the things she had to complete by the time Beck picked her up at seven. Her hair and nail appointments were at five-thirty, then she had to rush home and begin the process of transforming from a scruffy demon trapper girl to the princess that her date imagined her to be. She had her clothes laid out, but still it was going to be tight.

  To curb her rampaging nerves Riley made her rounds of the parking lot, handing out the collection of autographs, photos, and whatnot from the Demonland cast. When she received the personalized photograph from Jess Storm, Brandy went ballistic with one of her supersonic whoops. As Riley distributed the other goodies to Brandy’s friends, they celebrated their good fortune, comparing photos and signatures.

  “You rock, Riley,” one of the girls said.

  I do. She’d come through as promised.

  “Is Blaze as smoldering in the flesh as on TV?” Peter asked, studying the glossy photograph in his hand. The actress had added a lipstick kiss in the lower left corner next to his name.

  “Sort of. She’s pretty nice. Not a ditzy airhead like I figured.”

  “I’ll ignore that you dissed my fave actress.”

  “Probably best.”

  “Allan’s back,” he said. “The Neanderthal overheard me talking to Brandy, so he knows you’re going to the prom.”

  Before she could reply, her cell rang. It was Beck. “Hey, guy. You getting ready for our night together?”

  “Ah,” he said, his voice strained. “It’s just—”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “We got a pack of Threes in Little Five Points, near Mort’s house. They don’t usually go there so this is somethin’ new. Jackson, Reynolds, and me are to take them down. Tonight.”

  You wouldn’t dare bail on me. “Tonight? Can’t they do it?”

  “Not without backup and no one else is free. I promise, I’ll be there at the dance, but our fancy supper is history.”

  Peter was staring at her now, probably because of her darkening expression.

  “Tell them you have a date,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be there for the dance. I’ll not leave ya hangin’. I gotta go now. See ya soon, girl. I can’t wait.” Then Beck hung up, as if he knew any longer on the phone might be life threatening.

  “Ah, I think I’ll go inside now,” Peter said, edging away.

  “He’s going trapping,” Riley snarled. “The one night we’re supposed to be together.” She jammed her phone into her backpack. “He’s going to meet me at the dance. Won’t that look special?”

  “You need a ride?”

  She nodded, feeling the sting of tears. “I swear I’m going to kill him. I’ll wear my new dress to the trial and no jury would convict me. They’d probably give me a medal or something.”

  Allan came out of nowhere, and she knew what would happen next, just like it was scripted or something.

  “I’ll take you, Riley,” he offered. “I won’t ditch you like that hick did.”

  As she began to walk away, he caught her arm. “Come on, get real,” Allan said. “Stop being an idiot. He’s not your kind of guy.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you? I want nothing to do with you. Leave me alone!”

  “Riley—”

  She got into his face, which was always dangerous. “Back off, Allan. I swear I’ll tear you apart if you keep messing with me.”

  She felt the familiar tingle in her right hand. With little effort her right palm would ignite into a fiery sword and slice this miserable excuse for humanity into sushi. She forced herself to take a deep breath to calm down. Hanging with Ori was starting to affect her in ways she didn’t like.

  Peter gave a low whistle and headed for the door, sensing retreat was the best option. Muttering choice Hellspeak curse words, Riley followed him. Allan held back, her anger having stunned him into silence.

  Her special night was a ship foundering on the rocks in a heavy gale. Why am I surprised?

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  With his romantic dinner plans trashed, Beck fell into a foul mood. He’d planned it so carefully and a damned trio of Gastro-Fiends had screwed it all up. There was no need to check the time on his phone: He was late, and Riley would be furious.

  He’d had no choice. This pack had gone after a couple of senior citizens and only luck had kept them from becoming a meal. Now those same rampaging demons were all lined up in steel bags, howling like the world was coming to an end. One of them was bleeding and Beck took credit for that.

  “Ah, shut the hell up!” he shouted.

  “Man, did you go medieval on that thing or what?” Reynolds asked, pointing at the Three with the busted arm. “Something bothering you, Den?”

  Though he knew it wasn’t the others’ fault, Beck spewed out his frustration at the screwed-up plans, what the evening was supposed to be like.

  Reynolds and Jackson traded looks.

  “The prom? That’s cool,” Reynolds replied.

  “No, it’s not. I’m late and she’s gonna be totally pissed.”

  “Then get your butt out of here,” Jackson said. “We’ll take care of these things.”

  “You sure about that?” Beck asked.

  “Take off!” Reynolds said, giving him a playful shove. “Go have a life, dude. You can buy us a beer down the line for our trouble.”

  “Thanks, guys, I owe you!” Despite his sore foot, he took off at a run.

  † ~ ‡ ~ †

  As she dressed, Riley’s emotions boiled like a pool of lava. It was silly, but she’d dreamed of floating down the long staircase at Stewart’s house as her handsome beau waited for her. She’d even made a test trip down the stairs to judge how much the dress would be a problem with her heels. When no one else was around, of course. Now there was no Beck.

  “Damn!” she swore, tugging her pantyhose into place.

  The dinner would have been so cool, but the dance was the big event. How stupid would she look if he didn’t show up? It was a good bet Allan would certainly notice and he’d be all over her about it. He wouldn’t back off no matter what she said.

  Why did he have to go trapping tonight?

  † ~ ‡ ~ †

  Once home, Beck raced through his shower, did a quick shave, threw on his suit, hastily knotted his new tie, and then fled out the door. It was pure torment not to exceed the speed limit, but with his luck a cop would pull him over and he’d get into an argument and end up in jail.

  I’m like some kid on his first date.

  He felt like it too. Riley made everything seem new and shiny and he wanted that feeling to last, but his first big chance to make a good impression was falling apart before his eyes. He hoped this wasn’t a harbinger of their future together.

  † ~ ‡ ~ †

  Riley had been so caught up in her own misery that she hadn’t noticed the car had come to a stop in the hotel parking lot. Simi and Peter looked over the front seat in unison, concerned.

  She sighed. You have a gorgeous dress and a ticket to the dance. Suck it up. She followed her friends toward the hotel’s entrance, trailing beside them. As Riley drew near, Peter took her hand. Then he ran his arm around Simi’s waist.

  “Hey, look at me. I’ve got two hot girls with me tonight.”

  When Riley didn’t smile, he sighed. “Beck will be here. That guy would walk through fire to spend time with you.”

  “What he said,” Simi added.

  “I hope you’re right,” Riley replied. “I only want to see his face. Know he’s safe. I’m mad at him but . . . ” God, I have it bad.

  She shuffled through the line and checked in, then followed her friends into the hotel’s courtyard. It was a large, open area with skylights that offered a magnificent view of the clear night sky. Real trees sat in huge containers, decorated with miniature white lights. Flagstones paved a trail among the trees with benches interspersed here and there. Couples wandered down the paths, the girls clad in a rainbow of colors, like a flower garden in motion.

  “This is so neat,” she said. “It’s like a fairyland.”

  Come on, Den. Don’t miss this. We both deserve a night just for us.

  Her eyes drifted from couple to couple. Some fit well together and others not so much. When she checked out her friends with the same critical eye, she knew they were right for each other. Simi laughed at something Peter said and it wasn’t forced. They were genuinely enjoying each other’s company. If Peter’s mom had still been in town this night probably wouldn’t have happened.

  As usual, Simi was her own person when it came to clothes, clad in a short harlequin print dress and hot pink tights that made her look like an escapee from a punk rock band. Her hair was a mishmash of black, silver, and pink, but when all put together it looked great. Peter was in a black suit and a tie that matched Simi’s tights. His hair was spiked at the ends, and he looked really sharp, despite the bruising from his encounter with Allan’s fist.

  Suddenly nervous, Riley fussed with the flowers in her hair, delicate pink orchids with baby’s breath, a present from Beck that had arrived earlier this afternoon.

  Stop worrying. He wouldn’t have sent them unless he meant to be here.

  Her friends were watching her now, reluctant to leave her on her own.

  “Go on. I’ll wait here. I’ll be fine,” she said, fibbing.

  “Find us when he shows up, okay?” Simi said.

  “I will.”

  They wandered off, occasionally stopping to talk to other students. Riley spied Brandy and her date, some really tall guy, near the hallway that led to the ballroom. He was way cute, and Riley wondered where she’d found him. Farther down the hall was their class’ resident vampire wannabe, the one Riley had dubbed Vlad. He was in a classy tux and his date was clad in a long black gown. Her blond hair hung in waves down her back and there wasn’t a single tattoo or piercing in sight. When Vlad smiled, his fake vampire teeth were noticeably missing. Maybe his date had given him the word on those.

  When her eyes lit on another guy, her stomach lurched. Allan. He was staring at her. Before she had a chance to escape, her ex was in front of her.

  “Face it, you’ve been dumped. How does it feel?” he chided.

  Now was not the time to get into it with this ass so Riley set off across the atrium. She wasn’t so much afraid of Allan’s fists anymore as what harm he could do to her friends. The more she pushed back the more volatile he would become. One of these days there would be a showdown, and he’d be surprised to find that she wasn’t the same girl he’d assaulted two years before.

  To Riley’s delight, the fairyland theme carried over into the ballroom where gauzy wings hung from the ceiling, shimmering in the muted lights. The tables were laced with silvery ribbons and balloons were tied to the chairs. An iridescent bubble floated by her nose, created by a special machine near the front of the room. Luckily, Simi’s choice of bizarre hair color proved a boon as she and Peter were easy to find in the packed ballroom.

  When Riley joined them, they all traded looks and the message was passed: no Beck.

  “The Neanderthal find you?” Peter asked.

  “He did,” Riley replied. “I’ll leave before I’ll dance with him.” Which would make her evening a total wreck.

  “Did you see Vlad? He looks human tonight. Who’d have thought that?”

  Riley’s eyes wandering over the crowd in search of a particular pair of broad shoulders and enchanting eyes. Still no Beck. She could call him, but what if he was actively trapping? That distraction could get him hurt. Especially when he was trying to capture a pack of Threes.

  He said he’d be here. He lives up to his promises. Just chill.

  Another song started and Peter and Simi headed toward the dance floor. Out of the corner of her eye Riley could see Allan working his way through the crowd, intending to make his move. He never learned. She gave him her back and prepared herself. When a hand touched her elbow, she turned, ready to deliver a tongue lashing.

  The scorching words died in her throat. It was her hero.

  Beck’s face was flushed like he’d been running. “Hey,” he said, taking a deep breath to calm himself. “I made it.” His eyes ran the length of her and then widened in appreciation. “Look at you. That dress is . . . I’ve never seen anything like it before. Yer so beautiful, Riley.”

  He’s in a whole roomful of pretty girls and all he sees is me?

  Riley would replay this scene for the rest of her life. Him. Her. All of it.

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” he added. “We got all three of them and nobody was hurt.”

  That was really good news. “You’re forgiven,” she said, touching the lapel of his jacket. “That’s a new suit. It’s really nice.” It fit better than his old one and accented his muscular build.

  He smiled, pleased by the praise. “Figured the other one had seen too much sorrow. This is a new beginnin’ for us, so I wanted to do it right.”

  Riley carefully straightened his tie. “This matches my dress. How did that happen?”

  “Oh, I might have had some help with that,” Beck said. “So, how’s about we go dance, pretty lady?” He offered his arm and she took it.

  “Yes . . . ” Forever.

  Beck had been so wired it took him some time to unwind. By the end of the first fast dance, he felt better. It’d all worked out, even if it had been insane right from the start. After the dance, they joined Simi and Peter at a table where the females promptly took off to that most mysterious place in the universe, the girls’ restroom.

  “Dude,” Peter said, executing a fist bump. “Good to see you. I kept telling her you’d be here.”

  “Thanks. It was a pain to be late, but I had no choice.”

  “Does she know Simi gave you the prom flyer?”

  “No. Best we leave it that way,” Beck replied. “It worked out perfectly.”

  Peter’s eyes roamed across the dance floor and when he followed his gaze it ended on Allan.

  “He botherin’ her tonight?”

  “A little, but she can handle him now. He tries to nail her, and she’ll bust him one.”

  Beck nodded. “Heard you did the same.”

  “Yeah, I got my hit in right before he flattened me. But I don’t regret it.”

  Beck shot the offender a visual warning that promised serious agony was his for the taking if he kept bothering Riley. Allan scowled, then backed off, no doubt hunting for some other poor girl to thump.