CHAPTER TEN: SONGBIRD
1318 Words
Lila POV
“Derek, if that’s you back without my f*****g demon—”
Caleb pauses mid-sentence, his deep caramel eyes slowly dropping onto me.
I didn’t think the tip I got from a man outside the large fenced-off area for the demon-hunting trials was right when he said Caleb lived here. Mostly because the man appeared drunk, and it was too lucky that the first person I asked actually knew him.
Turns out the long shot was bang on.
Caleb’s six-foot, built-as-hell frame towers over me. I forgot how intimidating his stare is.
“Who the f**k are you, and what do you want?”
I’m speechless for a second too long. With unseeable speed, he whips a silver dagger out from his back and places the tip under my chin. Fury burns in his eyes, and two black marks running from his forehead, around his eyes, to his cheeks glow a vibrant red.
“You might be f*****g drop-dead beautiful, but you won’t trick me into whatever you’re selling. Get the f**k out of here before you regret it.”
He lowers the dagger and walks back into his house.
“I’m Leo’s sister!” I shout seconds before the door shuts in my face.
But then it swiftly swings open again, and Caleb rests his shoulder against the doorframe. This time, he looks me up and down, and I do the same to him.
Caleb Hardling has changed since he was eighteen.
He’s still as breathtakingly handsome as he was then, but he is more now. So much more.
Beefy shoulders fill out his white button-down shirt, tucked into black leather trousers with laces at the front of his narrow but toned waist. The trousers showcase his thick thighs and other areas. His soft, silky blond hair is tipped white and falls just below his ears. His ears are spiked at the top, a reminder of his demon blood, and I’ve always thought they suit him. All demons have tipped ears in human form, but it’s more complicated for half-demon, half-wolves like Caleb.
He is rare. Few half-borns survive childhood.
“You grew up, songbird.”
I narrow my eyes at his stupid nickname. The memory hits like a hammer. How did I have a crush on this guy? Oh, right—wine, teenage hormones, and one sexy-ass half-wolf.
“Clearly you haven’t,” I say, crossing my arms.
“Did you come all the way to Hell to insult me, or did you miss my pretty face?”
Swallowing what’s left of my pride, I tell him the truth.
“Neither. I need your help because I’m in danger.”
Something shifts in his expression, the playfulness disappearing as he straightens.
“I can’t help you. You need to go.”
“Wait!” I stopped the door from closing in my face this time.
He sighs.
“My brother said you owed him. A life debt, if I’m not mistaken.”
He arches a pierced brow. “And?”
“This will make you even. Help me—for my brother, for the debt if nothing else,” I reply, hoping it works.
Caleb stares down at me once more. Slowly, he steps back and waves me inside.
“Get the f**k in, songbird.”
“My name is Lila, in case you’ve forgotten,” I responded.
I walk into the spacious yet empty room. There’s a generic kitchen with four counters, a fridge, and a small bathroom hidden behind a screen. A double bed sits in the middle, with a couch at the end and a big orange rug in front of it. A wardrobe stands nearby, with hooks holding countless weapons.
Other than that, nothing. Nothing personal.
Caleb slams the door shut behind me and walks to the fridge.
“Do you drink yet? How old are you again?”
I drop onto his leather sofa. “Old enough.”
“Good, because we need vodka for this conversation where you blackmail me into saving you from whatever the f**k you’ve done.”
He brings over a half-drunk bottle of vodka and two shot glasses, tossing one at me. I catch it, and he pours. I did it, keeping my eyes on him. He raises an eyebrow before taking his own shot.
He pours another. Then another.
“Talk.”
“My mum and dad were killed by the Stormfire alpha. He wants me dead, and I need to hide,” I blurt out in one breath.
Caleb coughs mid-shot, smacking his chest, staring at me wide-eyed.
“Then you’re dead already. I can’t help you fight him.”
I get the impression not much surprises this guy.
Rolling my eyes, I glance away. “I know that. I need somewhere to hide in the city. Permanently.”
“Does the alpha know you’re here?”
“Maybe,” I admit, clasping my hands together. “I don’t know for sure. So can I hide here?”
“Minor problem—I’m leaving tomorrow.” He rubs the back of his neck. “The demon hunter trials start, and I’m joining.”
“Shit.”
“Do you know anyone who could hide me? Someone you trust?”
He scoffs. “I don’t trust anyone in Hell, and you shouldn’t either, songbird.”
He sits beside me, only inches away. I try not to look at him.
“I’m sorry about your parents. Really, I am,” he says after a moment. “More your mum though. Your dad was a dick.”
“Technically, he wasn’t my dad,” I reply, forcing dark humour into my voice.
Caleb chuckles. “Lucky you.”
Silence settles again before he sighs deeply.
“I’m going f*****g mad because I have an idea. It’s crazy, but it might work—if you don’t f**k it up.”
My heart pounds. “I’m willing to try crazy.”
His gaze drags over me, the marks on his cheeks faintly glowing red.
“I could get you into the demon hunter trials under a fake name,” he says slowly. “The alpha wouldn’t look for you there. Contestants’ identities are hidden. If you win—unlikely—you’d gain the alpha’s protection. He wouldn’t be able to kill you without breaking his vow.”
“Which means death for an alpha,” I whisper. “You’re right… that’s insane.”
“Told you. Now—can you fight? Do you know anything about demons?”
“Well… I know you.”
He smirks, lifting the bottle. “That you do, songbird.”
“I don’t think your plan will work, but it might buy me time,” I say, standing. I snatch the bottle and take a sip.
He grins when I grimace. “There are no demons on the moon.”
Rolling my eyes, I hand it back. “I’ve always wanted to be a demon hunter.”
His gaze slowly drifts up my body until it locks with mine.
“You’re going to make an interesting partner, songbird.”
“Thank you for helping me,” I replied shakily.
He stands, stretching. “Don’t thank me yet. The trial leader might take one look at you and say f**k no.”
“Then I’ll have to be charming,” I say with a wink.
Caleb smirks. “If you can charm the alpha’s only son, then I’m a f*****g virgin.”
He laughs, walking away. My cheeks burn as red as my hair. I have to get into these trials—alpha’s son or not.
“By the way, we need to dye that white streak,” he calls. “It makes you stand out. Don’t go anywhere, songbird.”
“Like I can!” I shout as he leaves.
What the hell—pun intended—have I gotten myself into?
- Writer
