Jordyn (A Daemon Hunter 1)

"See, that's my point. If you're in trouble anyway, why rush home?"

"You really are evil," I said, elbowing him in his ribs as I stood up.

"Do you believe that?" he asked, standing also. His teasing was now gone as he studied me intently.

"Does it matter?" I asked.

"To me it does," he said quietly before grasping my hand in his.

The catwalk disappeared beneath our feet and was replaced by the beach. Emrys let go of my hand as soon as my feet sank into the sand. Opening my eyes, I saw I was alone with the waves that crashed against the bluff near my house.

"Emrys?" I said, spinning around, searching for the Trader who had been with me just moments before. "Damn, no reason to go away mad," I said to the empty beach. "You forgot your jacket," I added, hoping to entice him back out.

I waited several more moments to see if he'd return, but finally gave up when I realized he wasn't coming back, at least right now. Trudging through the sand, I headed toward my house with trepidation. This wasn't going to be pretty.

I stepped through the patio doors to an overflowing family room. Seven pairs of eyes pivoted around at my entrance, all staring in dead silence.Shit, nothing like calling in the cavalry, I couldn't help thinking bitterly as my eyes scanned the room.

Any further thoughts were pushed aside as a small dark-haired torpedo hit me at top speed, nearly knocking me over. "Lynn?" I said, shocked to see her as she wrapped her arms around me.

"Jordyn, don't ever do that to me again," Lynn admonished, holding me at arm's length.

Her scolding raised my hackles. "You came all this way because I went on a date?" I asked, putting on an act like my actions were no big deal.

"I thought we saidnobeing alone with the Soul Trader!" Krista said in a raised voice, taking in the leather jacket I was wearing.

I shrugged my shoulders, trying to hide my surprise over Krista's anger. She was usually so even tempered.

"Seriously? I'll be eighteen in two months, guys. When are you going to realize I'm practically an adult?"

"When you don't act like a toddler by going off with a stranger," Mark said in an even tone that was more effective than Krista's shouting.

"Oh god, it was no big deal. We just hung out," I said defensively, sinking down on the couch as all of them eyed me like some alien species.

"Jordyn, you don't justhang outwith Soul Traders. They always have a secret agenda," Krista said, sitting next to me.

"Secret agenda? Come on, you've already told me they're here to collect souls. Obviously, mine is safe, right?" I asked. "Besides, Emrys is different," I said stubbornly.

"If by different, you mean cunning, you're dead on," Sam grumbled across the room. "I watched how he manipulated you, snatching you right in front of Haniel like that."

"He didn't snatch me," I argued. "Haniel can tell you that," I said, looking at him for confirmation.

"Correct. He did not snatch you. You went willingly," Haniel answered, not moving a muscle as he studied me intently.

Haniel's judgmental stare was piercing. I drug my eyes from his and studied the floor instead, debating whether I should answer him. How could I sum up how Emrys made me feel to a bunch of angels? They didn't want to hear it. When I was with him, I felt daring, rebellious, and more importantly, free. I felt alive. My every movement over the last year had been scrutinized by the individuals in this room. At times I felt like nothing more than a lab rat to them. For just the briefest of moments tonight, Emrys helped me forget my status as an Anomaly.

"Jordyn?" Lynn asked, sounding confused. She was used to the more vocal version of me. I didn't shy away from situations. I embraced them.

Not sure how to answer, I finally shrugged again. "I don't know," I finally mumbled.

"He is obviously mind bending you," Robert said trying to pacify the situation.

"Mind bend?"

"You know, compelling you to go with him. Mind bend means the same thing. Your mind is bent so it no longer belongs to you."

For a moment, I debated coming clean. Looking at the expectant faces around me though, I decided to keep the fact that I was immune to Emrys's mind tricks to myself. Of course, it would be all-holy-hell-monkey-asses when they found out the truth.

Everyone nodded their heads at his words. To them, it was obvious that the evil Soul Trader was taking advantage of the poor orphan girl. A slow simmer began to boil up in me. I worked to keep my face neutral. I knew the truth and that was all that mattered at the moment.