Page 105 of Infernal Secrets

I turned to find them looking at me. “What?”

“Until we can figure out a way home, we need to stay with you,” Ezra said.

“I already know that,” I said, tossing the washcloth into the trash. I owned plenty more. “I’m not kicking you out just because Cyn threw a tantrum.”

“You’re a target now,” Ezra said.

“I’ve always been a target.”

His lips flattened. “You said yourself they’ve not attacked you, or tried to make physical contact until our appearance, correct?”

“Well, yeah.”

Ash approached me, taking my hand in his. “Something about our presence is making you a target. We need to look out for you.”

“This is more than us getting home now,” Zeke said.

I looked at each of them. “But if you go home, won’t it stop?”

“Someone wanted you to have that book,” Ezra said. “Anyone could have summoned us to Earth with the book, but they chose you. The question is why? If we go back, will whoever is behind this continue to come after you? I can’t say.”

I met his icy stare. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t.”

I couldn’t hide my flinch from Ash, not with him holding onto my hand.

He grimaced.

“I want to go home. That’s what I care about.” Ezra tucked his hands into his pockets. “That said, you have been kind enough to allow us to stay in your home, and I don’t like leaving debts unpaid. So until we find a way home, we will protect you. After that, you’re on your own.”

His indifference wasn’t unexpected, but it still stung.

After experiencing the bitter disdain of my aunt and uncle, I thought I’d have thicker skin. But the four of them barreled through every barrier and left me feeling raw whenever they tapped into places I felt insecure about.

Zeke came over and stood in front of me, taking my free hand. “We’re not going to let them hurt you.”

Glancing from Zeke’s hand in mine to Ash’s face, I realized lesser infernals weren’t what I needed to worry about hurting me anymore.

26

CAUTION

ASH

When the front door opened the next morning, I looked up from the sofa. Rae stood drenched in sweat, tan skin glistening. Her bright aqua crop top and matching athletic leggings clung to her, tracing curves I couldn’t look away from.

“You went out alone?” Ezra said, eyes narrowing.

She paused, her water bottle halfway to her mouth. “Yeeeah?”

“It isn’t safe for you to go places on your own anymore.”

She kicked off her shoes and pushed sweaty strands of hair from her face. “I think I’ll survive a morning jog around the neighborhood.”

“You aren’t capable of protecting yourself,” Ezra said.

I winced, knowing his words would anger her.