I choked on my own spit. “Do you mean Vas?”
The bladesmith shrugged and I pulled up a photo of the demon. He nodded.
Vas had a thing for Meredith? Enough of a thing that he was coming in here and watching her work?
How did I miss that?
“Ah, here she is now.”
I turned toward the door as it opened. Hannah walked in and shot me a wide smile.
“Halfling,” she smiled in greeting. “Now this is interesting.”
“It sure is.”
Trust Hannah to be involved with this.
The bladesmith explained what I needed and Hannah gazed steadily at me. “Are you sure about this? If the spell fails and the demon finds you carrying rowan wood…” her face paled at the thought.
I swallowed “I’m sure. How can we guarantee the spell won’t fail?”
Hannah’s face turned somber and she frowned, the deep lines of her face making it clear I’d disappointed her. “There are no guarantees when dancing with demons, child. If you haven’t yet learned that, it’s about time you did.”
Well.
“Okay. What can we do to give it the highest chance possible?”
She shrugged. “Between the bladesmith’s craft, my knowledge, and your power, if we can’t do it, it can’t be done.”
“Okay. I’m ready if you are.”
Hannah leaned back and laughed. “Oh, this will be interesting.” Her gaze dropped to my wrist. “You’re still wearing the bracelet I gave you.” Her eyes turned distant in a way that told me she was attempting to read my future, and then she shook her head. “All I know is that it will be important one day. Don’t take it off.”
“I won’t.”
“Okay then. We will go to my house and get to work. I hope you’re ready to bleed for your vengeance, Danica.”
I stared at the arrow on the table, my mind conjuring images of the threat in Samael’s eyes as he told me he could make me do anything he wished.
“I am.”
* * *