Free Demons of the Sun by Cindi Madsen Page A

those wrong time, wrong place things. But he was going to kill a woman, and I couldn’t let him.”
    “I guess that’s something to be glad about—the dagger. And you saving a woman’s life. Now as for your shoulder, I did what I could, but I think you’re going to need stitches.” Jax leapt to his feet. “We better get you to a hospital.”
    Hospitals weren’t exactly equipped with her blood type, not to mention all the questions about where her legal guardian was, so that was the worst idea ever. “No need. I’m telling you, I heal really fast.”
    Jax frowned, looking like he was going to argue, but then seemed to think better of it. He shrugged off his jacket and draped it around her. He walked over to the demon, lifted it like it weighed nothing, and chucked it into the alley where it would decompose overnight.
    His expression was all business when he squatted next to her. “Promise me you won’t do anything like this ever again.”
    “You know I can’t,” she said. Jax opened his mouth, and she put a finger to his lips. “But I promise I’ll give you a break and I’ll keep you updated on where I am. It’s a pretty good deal, so I’d take it if I were you.”
    He sighed. “That’s good enough, I guess. For now.” He helped her to her feet and wrapped an arm around her waist.
    The way he looked down at her sent butterflies through her stomach.
    And then the guilt crashed into her again, mixing in with the throbbing pain in her shoulder.

Chapter Nine
     

    “Stop looking at me like that.” Persephone felt self-conscious trying to eat her cereal with Jax watching her so closely. First thing this morning he’d asked how she was and she said fine. He wanted to check the cuts on her shoulder, but she’d reiterated that she was fine. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her since.
    “Like what?” Jax asked, an innocent expression plastered on his face.
    “Like I’m a fragile girl who’s about to break.”
    “Just let me look at your shoulder. I worry that we should’ve gone to the hospital to get you stitched up. We still might need to.”
    “I heal fast, I checked them out, and for the hundredth time, I’m fine. See…” Persephone lifted her arm to prove how okay she was. Her shoulder was stiff, but if a little movement got him to leave her alone, the momentary twinge was worth it.
    “I know you’ll claim you’re fine even if you’re not, so until I actually see, I’m not dropping it.”
    Milk splashed out of her bowl as she plunked her spoon into it. “Fine. I just want you to know that you’re the most annoying person I’ve ever met.”
    He grinned like she’d given him a compliment, then came around the table. He thought she was hiding because the cuts were bad. In reality, she didn’t want him to see how fast she healed.
    Persephone pulled up her sleeve.
    Jax peeled back her bandage. His brow furrowed and he leaned closer. “I can’t believe how good it looks. You said you heal fast, but I thought…How?”
    Demon blood did have a few advantages. No way she was going to tell him that, though, so she fudged the details. “Athena blessed Sentries with healing powers to help us with our task.”
    “So that’s how you’re able to handle the dagger. I always wondered how she’d done it.”
    Persephone didn’t correct him. Let him think that was all it took.
    “Well, you’re lucky. Those cuts would take most people out for a long time.” He put his hand on the back of her chair. “I’m glad you’re okay, and even though you heal fast, let’s not push it.”
    “Actually, my training’s gotten a little lax, so I was thinking we should do some together.”
    “Before we even think about that, we should work to reinforce the house. I looked into alarm systems and—”
    “An alarm system isn’t going to keep demons out,” Persephone said. “That’s what the wards are for. I keep telling you that if they come near, all they’ll see is the projection of an empty