Page 97 of Bloodhunter

A few seconds later the supernats appeared. Angus led them,and silently, despite his usual roaring, stomping, unavoidably loud self.

His stare found me, then went to the vampire on the ground.“You got him,” he said, a gleam in his eyes. “If you were wearing nothing butlacy panties and high heels right now, my happiness would be complete.”

“Neanderthal,” Miriam said. “If I didn’t think he’d be outof commission for a week afterward, I would order Clayton to kick your ballsinto your throat.”

Clayton didn’t look at anyone. He stood with stiffblankness, his gun and blades holstered.

Rhys grinned but said nothing as he cleaned his blade on thehem of his shirt, then slid it into its sheath.

They were all a bit bloodier and a lot more unkempt than thelast time I’d seen them, but no one appeared to be dying.

I went back to questioning my capture. “Continue, Gray.”

“You need an exorcist,” he said.

I looked at Clayton. “You said you know a man?”

“An exorcist,” he said. “I do.”

I gave him a nod. “Good. So you’re saying,” I asked Gray,“that we can have a priest exorcize the demon? That’s all we need to do?”

He laughed, despite his pain, despite his circumstances, andit was genuine amusement. “Not quiteall.”

Shane ripped off his silver crucifix and dropped it onGray’s face, where it sizzled and sank into his flesh even as Gray screamed.

“Damn,” Angus said. “That’s heartless.” He patted me on theshoulder. “You should be more like him, sweetheart.”

I shrugged away his hand, then yanked the chain off Gray’sburnt flesh. I glared at Shane. “Let him talk.”

“He needs to talk faster,” Shane said, and though I agreedwith him, I’d had my fill of torturing vampires for the week.

“The silver on his wrists is enough to control him,” I said,calmly. “And it burns like a motherfucker. There’s no need to torture him.”

But Gray had been convinced. He didn’t need furtherprodding. “The priest will trap the demon, but the trap will hold the incubusfor only seven minutes. You must work quickly. Once the priest has trapped thedemon, he will enter the circle, and he will cause the demon to possess him.Then, Silverlight must go into the priest’s heart.”

I stared at him, my mouth dry. “I have to kill the exorcistto kill the demon?”

“Likely,” he replied, “the man will die. Or perhaps his Godwill save him.” His shrug was tiny. “We can’t know for sure.”

“No.” I shook my head, resolute. “There has to be anotherway.”

“There is no other way,” he told me. “It must be your handthat wields Silverlight, and it must be you who flings her into the circle topierce the demon.”

“No.”

“Trinity,” Miriam said, “the demon is killing many. You’llhave to destroy him or he’ll continue killing humans. Kill the exorcist.”

I looked at her. “Kill one to save many?”

“Exactly.” She smiled. “That’s exactly right.”

“It’s not,” I murmured. “I can’t do that.”

Angus hunkered down beside me. “Trin, this demon willcontinue killing if he’s not stopped. He’s taking innocent human lives everyday to feed. Many women will die. And remember what he did to you. What he willdo to you again if he’s not stopped.”

I lifted my gaze to his. “I want to stop him. But I can’tkill the exorcist to do it.”

Angus looked up at Clayton. “Convince her.”