Beyond the Veil by Pippa DaCosta Page B

help. ”
    “ What does any of that have to do with whether I love Akil or not? ”
    He moistened his lips and straightened so that my hand fell away from his side. I looked up into his eyes, sensing the cool energy thrumming inside him. A trickle of power rippled inside me. The warmth embraced my weary limbs, but that was as far as it could get. The marks on the walls surrounding us prevented the power from manifesting outside of me. I felt my demon butt up against my skin, unable to break free.
    “ Who do you think sent those hounds? ” Stefan ’ s voice deepened.
    “ It could only be my brother, Val. I don ’ t know much about Hellhounds, but they ’ re difficult to summon. Only pure demons can do it, even then they ’ re virtually impossible to control. Val has wanted me dead for years. Summoning Hellhounds would just be the last in a long list of things he ’ s done to me. ”
    Stefan briefly touched my forehead with his fingertips, probably an instinctive touch, but the dance of power that ignited between us immediately jerked me back. The spark had been so intense that it tugged a great wave of energy from inside, briefly staggering me. I reached for the countertop, steadying myself as Stefan stood firm, his cool gaze heavy with intent. What that intention was, I couldn ’ t be sure.
    “ Akil sent those hounds, Muse. ” Stefan ’ s voice had lost all of its jovial lightness. The arrogance was back, his tone cold.
    It was my turn to laugh. “ You don ’ t know what you ’ re talking about. Akil and I … it ’ s complicated. ”
    “ I don ’ t doubt that. ” He raised an eyebrow, implying a great deal with that one gesture.
    I tossed the glue on the side and snaked my arms crossed, attempting to control the flicker of anger flaring inside me. “ How dare you judge me? You don ’ t even know me. ” He shrugged a dismissive shoulder, further infuriating me. “ You have no idea what I ’ ve been through. You were looked after. Someone cared enough about you to keep you safe, to train you. I had none of that. I was sold, virtually given away to the demons as a plaything. I was raised beyond the veil. Do you even know what that means? ”
    His hard expression softened a little. He rested a hip against the cupboards, his head bowed a little. “ Who told you I was kept safe? ”
    “ It doesn ’ t matter. What matters is, I don ’ t know you, but I do know Akil, and he ’ s done nothing but look after me. ”
    “ He ’ s a demon, Muse. ”
    “ What are we? ”
    “ We ’ re human. ” He ground his teeth, flicking his hair out of his eyes to glare at me. “ And believe or not, we hold more power over them than they ’ ve led you to believe. Why do you think he keeps you so close? ”
      Because he loves me? I didn ’ t speak the words, but they ’ d been there, right on the tip of my tongue. Stefan didn ’ t need to hear it. He saw it in my expression, in the hopelessness on my face. He shook his head. “ I had hoped you ’ d be stronger than this. ”
      “ Oh, screw you. You ’ re impossible. You know that? Like a goddamn force of nature. You waltz into my workshop and ruin my life, and now you pity me? I ’ m sick of it. Sick of you. ” I headed for the door.
      “ You can ’ t leave. Not yet. ”
      With a sigh, I stopped a few feet from the front door, feeling the chill of his gaze on my back. “ If you ’ re not an assassin, and you ’ re not here to hurt me, then what are you? ”
      “ Whatever Akil told you is a lie. I ’ m an Enforcer. This tattoo you so readily admired proves it. I wasn ’ t ‘ kept safe, ’ Muse. I was plucked from my home, stolen from everything I ’ d ever loved, and forced into this way of life, but you know what, I love it. I hunt demons and thrive off it. I kill the bastards who step out of line, the ones who breach the human world and wreak havoc, and I need your help to kill your brother. ”
      “ I don ’ t believe you. ” I