Free Demon Hunters 2: Retribution (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) by Avril Sabine Page B

put up with the pain.
    Des ended the call and brought the phone back to her. “At least warn me.”
    “About?”
    “Praying. It’s not like I can disappear.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I can’t go far enough away that I can’t feel the pain.”
    “How far from me can you be?” She spoke clearly, the last few words slowly forced out.
    “About thirty metres. But not for long.”
    “And you didn’t think to mention this earlier?” Each word was almost separate, not part of a sentence.
    It was Des’ turn to shrug. “It isn’t important.”
    “You’re stuck with me, just about joined at my hip. You didn’t think that important to mention?”
    “I guessed you’d figure it out eventually. Or ask about it.”
    Scarlett’s eyes narrowed. “Our Father, who art in heaven.”
    “Now don’t be like that, Scarlett. It’s worse when you pray aloud.” Des took a step back from her, his whole body tense.
    “Hallowed be thy name.”
    Des stumbled, backing up against the car. “Scarlett!”
    Scarlett gasped at the sound of pain in his voice, remorse hitting her. She threw herself at him, her arms wrapping around him. “Des. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
    “I can understand an eye for an eye.” Des’ arms encircled her waist and he pulled her close.
    “Well I shouldn’t be able to understand it. The bible says to love even my enemies, but I don’t seem to be very good at that either.” She relaxed against him.
    “Don’t worry about it. Besides, if you keep turning the other cheek like your gospel says, it’s going to hurt after a while.” His lips brushed her cheek and he leaned back to look at her.
    Scarlett smiled briefly and she shook her head. “I just slip up sometimes.”
    “I’m glad you’re not perfect.”
    “Why?”
    “Because you wouldn’t be half as interesting if you were.”
    Scarlett tore her eyes from his dark gaze and tried to ignore the feelings his words caused. His opinion shouldn’t matter, but she had a terrible feeling it mattered more by the minute. She let him go and took a step back, his arms falling away from her.
    “I’m sorry. I’ll…” her words trailed off. She couldn’t stop praying.
    “Warn me, maybe?”
    “Will that help?”
    Des ran his knuckles across her cheek. “Lady Knight, life is sometimes full of pain. But if you’re braced and ready for it, you can bear it easier.”
    “What about when you’re in the ring?”
    “No. I can still feel the pain. Just don’t send me to the ring any more than you have to. Do you know what it’s like when I’m the ring? And there is no other way to describe it other than I am the ring. I’m wrapped around you, your warmth keeping me warm. Your pulse vibrating through me-”
    Scarlett reached out and pressed her fingers against his mouth to stop his disquieting words. “There must be somewhere you can go, or something we can do to stop or reduce the pain.” She started to move her fingers from his lips but he was quicker and held them there with his hand. Then he tilted her hand and dropped a kiss in her palm. A shiver went through her and she tried to pull away. Instead he tangled his fingers in hers and lowered her hand as he stepped close.
    “Warn me. That’s all you can do. I’ll go the maximum distance from you. It won’t lessen the effect by much, but that’s all I can do.” He smiled when Scarlett opened her mouth again and a frown wrinkled her forehead. “You can’t send me back by prayers. Not now that I’m bound to you, but being bound to you also makes the pain from the prayers worse.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “How did you know what I was going to ask?”
    “Because you’re predictable sometimes, Lady Knight.” He leaned forward so his mouth was near her ear. “If you want me to read your mind again, you’re going to have to invite me in.” This time he let her pull away. He grinned at her.
    She turned from him. “Stop touching me all the time.”
    “Yet you’re allowed to touch