His chest still ached with hunger. It was a hollow, gnawing feeling, a relic of his darkest days, when he’d stared up at the Throcknell Fortress, eaten away by agony.
For an incubus like him, the world should be full of pleasure. And it had been, at one time—including the first few years after he’d met Ambrose. As he’d climbed up the ranks of Ambrose’s army, he’d spent all his free time with the Vampire Lord’s human courtesans, trying to forget his past.
But something had been missing. Perhaps he was a born predator, and he felt no thrill when hunting domesticated creatures. Whatever it was, all of his joy always seemed so fleeting.
A hot pulse of magic crackled over his skin, and he jolted to attention, scanning the row of houses before him. He caught a glimpse of a demon in a spotted coat, donning a red hat that glistened with human blood. A redcap—younger than most, which meant he wasn’t as strong. Caine’s eyes trailed further up the hill, and his heart skipped a beat as he caught sight of a perfect feminine form, dressed entirely in black. Rosalind.
There was the girl whose family had nearly ruined him. He should murder her now. He dreaded looking into her eyes, finding what agonizing memories she’d dredge up for him.
He moved closer, his gaze fixed on her. Even if he’d been visible, she might not have noticed him, intent as she was on the redcap. Didn’t she realize how hopelessly outmatched she was hunting demons? Forget the redcap. I could slaughter you from here before you take another step. He had to admit, there was something tempting about that thought. Maybe it was just as Erish had said. Demons like him gloried in complete domination over humans.
Except something about Rosalind’s alluring appearance tempered his bloodlust. Was this the same bratty girl who’d ordered around the servants? Something disturbed him about the feelings she stoked in him now. His gaze took in every inch of her body, strong and supple. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and rain drenched her long, brown hair.
Clearly hesitating, she bit her lower lip and gripped her hawthorn stake.
She looked unnerved—and she should be. Humans like her had no business fighting redcaps.
Still, he could tell she was about to pounce. Furrowing her dark eyebrows, she broke into a sprint, careening down the hill. Her boots echoed off the pavement. So much for stealth.
The redcap spun, and Rosalind flung her stake. Even while sprinting, her aim was precise, but the redcap grabbed the weapon from the air. Rosalind’s cheeks blanched, and she grasped for something in her belt—one of those flamethrowers he’d seen that morning. Before she could pull it out, the demon was upon her. He grabbed her arms, whispering in her ear—no doubt something filthy. A gorgeous girl like Rosalind was pure demon-bait.
Caine could intervene now, but curiosity stayed his hand. He wanted to see exactly how strong she was.
She slammed her knee into the demon’s groin. The redcap groaned, hunching over, and Rosalind hammered his trachea with a hard blow from her palm. Not bad, Hunter. There was something thrilling in watching her fight. Surprise flickered through him. He hadn’t expected her to be much of a warrior.
She yanked another stake from her belt, and when the redcap lunged for her, she rammed it into the demon’s chest. Too bad for her, she missed his heart by at least an inch. Her aim had been so exact before. He had a sense that sympathy for her enemies might be her vulnerability. It was not a mistake Caine would make.
He stalked closer. Even from this distance, he could hear her heart hammering, and the sound of her pulsing blood sent his own heart racing. She pulled the flamethrower from her belt, but something stopped her from unleashing the fire. That was twice now she’d hesitated. She’d have to get over that habit if she wanted to play among the demons.
Her hesitancy cost her. The redcap lunged, knocking her to the ground. Caine heard a crunch as the filthy creature sunk his teeth into her neck.
The show was over. Caine dropped the invisibility and rushed for the redcap, ripping the demon off the girl. Caine wrapped his hands around the redcap’s head, his body coursing with a visceral thrill as he twisted. The redcap’s neck snapped with a loud crack. It was the same move that Erish had used earlier—only this guy had deserved it.
It wasn’t over yet, though; redcaps weren’t slain as easily as humans. Before the body even hit the ground, Caine had drawn his sword. He sliced through the creature’s neck, and the headless corpse thudded against the pavement. Caine thrust his hand inside the demon’s ribcage, snapping bones with his fingers. He slid his fingers around the redcap’s still-beating heart, feeling the hot pulse of blood, then ripped it from the chest cavity.