Free Fire with Fire (Demonblood Series #2) by Penelope King Page B

the window. Tristan pushes a button and the top of the car retracts, noiselessly tucking itself in the trunk. I feel better already. Normally I don’t much like being inside a car. I blame it on Lucky—she hates them with a passion. But riding along with Tristan, the top down, my hair blowing in the breeze…I feel free .
    Once we hit the highway heading out of town, I remember my earlier plan to go to the cemetery and read from Kieron’s poetry book. But now, I brush aside any guilt I had about spending so much time with Tristan. Maybe this is how it’s supposed to be. Maybe I should just be with a nice, normal boy like Tristan, not a demon bounty hunter who had once planned to kill me.
     
    The wind rushes around me as the Jag sails down the open road, and my long hair whips my face. Without thinking, I pull it back in a high ponytail and start twisting it into a makeshift bun.
    Tristan glances over at me and does a double take. He automatically reaches his hand over. “Whoa, that’s a cool tat. Didn’t know you had one—”
    I quickly jerk away before his hand reaches me, frantically letting my hair fall back down and clasping my fingers tight around the back of my neck. What was I thinking? How could I be so stupid? If Tristan had actually touched my Mark…felt how hotly it burned compared to the rest of my skin…
    He laughs at my hostile reaction. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”
    “I hate it.” I grit my teeth and look away.
    “Well, I think it looked pretty cool, from what I saw. I’ve never seen a design like that before. And the color was so bright and fresh looking…did you just get it?”
    I roll my eyes, knowing he can’t see me. The Mark of my sire, branded at my birth. But it’s not like I can just come out and tell him that. “Yeah. I was drunk a few months ago and got it on a dare. Really stupid. I’m hoping to have it removed soon.”
    “Well, I like it. And it’s not very conspicuous, hidden beneath your hair like that. I’d keep it if I were you. ”
    I don’t say anything and stare straight ahead, my hair flying in every direction. With a deep sigh, I pull it back again and twist it up in a high knot on my head. He’s already seen it; the damage has already been done. As long as he never actually touches it, I should be fine.
    I catch his eyes smiling at me, and my stomach does that annoying jumpy thing that until now had only happened when I was with Kieron. I know , more than anything, it’s important that Tristan never touches me on my neck…or anywhere, for that matter. I know it’s important he never gets too close to me, physically or emotionally.
    But I can’t help hoping he will.
     
     

Chapter 8. Liora
     
    Suddenly, Tristan takes a surprising turn.
    “Wait…we’re going back to the mines ?” I exclaim.
    “Yep.”
    I close my eyes, thinking how Tatiana will tear me a new one when I get home. I should tell Tristan to take me back, but I’m a little embarrassed to tell him I’m not allowed to go there. Besides, my curiosity is aroused.
    “Why do you want to go there ?”
    “You’ll see.” His face is stoic as he stares straight ahead. He cuts off the main road to Flintridge and down a narrower, lesser-used path. The sporty convertible bounces over the bumpy road, and dust flies everywhere. I cover my mouth with my hand and try not to cough.
    “What’re you doing? This isn’t the way!”
    Tristan glances over at me and smirks. “I’m sure the main route is still blocked off. This is a service entrance… we can sneak in from the side. It’s a strategy I’m quite fond of…”
    “Huh? ”
    He glances around but doesn’t say anything, just drums his fingers on the steering wheel. Yellow patches of weeds spot the acres of surrounding dirt as the blackened mountain looms closer, but other than a few wooden structures and an abandoned Chevy pick-up truck, the road ahead is clear. Soon we’re climbing up the backside of the mine hill.
    “What do