I’m feeling bright and chipper at breakfast after my revelation, especially after I realize Anna has long since forgiven me for my Hulk Smash moment with the lamp. I flirt with her, teasing her, giving her every bit of my attention. I watch her blush and listen to her giggle. I’m determined to win that body over if it’s the last bleedin’ thing I do. I even let her drive.

I don’t expect Anna to have such a lead foot, and naturally her need for speed turns me on. I play game after game on my mobile to distract myself.

“Do you mind if we stop?” she asks.

I look up at the small Native American reservation, which piques my interest. “Not at all.”

New Mexico is hot as hell—a dry heat that reminds me of the western Cape of South Africa. The reservation has an old-world feel that gives me a false sense of ease. Anna is in her element, flitting around like a butterfly and smiling at everyone.

I watch her examine jewelry, spending an especially long time staring at a turquoise necklace. It’s the perfect piece for her, shaped like a heart. She turns it over, holds it up, practically pets it, then looks at the price tag. She quickly sets it down and steps away. Curiosity tugs me to her side. She obviously adores it—why doesn’t she buy it? Then I recall her and her mum’s money problems, which are unheard of for a Neph. I catch sight of the price tag and feel indignant on Anna’s behalf. She should be able to have whatever she wants.

“See anything you like?” I ask.

I think I startle her because she jumps a little and moves even farther away from the necklace.

“Yeah. It’s all beautiful, isn’t it?”

Strange feelings wrestle around inside me. She won’t admit she likes the necklace, as if she feels shameful for coveting it.

“Can I . . . get you something?”

Her neck and cheeks turn bright pink. “Oh. No. I don’t need anything, but thank you.”

It’s baffling. She’d probably rather die than ask me to buy it for her. But I really want her to have it.

Whoa. I blink, desperately needing to examine the reasons behind this feeling.

Girls like gifts.

It will make her think I care.

This little gem could get me laid.

Those are my only reasons. Right? Right.

Sold.

But not in front of her. I don’t think she’ll allow it, and I don’t want a scene. So I send her out to cool off the car while I buy drinks. The old whittling bloke gives me a knowing nod as I present the necklace and drinks.

“For your love,” he says in a dry, crackly voice.

My stomach swoops in an arc. I let out a dry laugh. “No, no. Nothing like that.”

He gives another knowing nod, accompanied by a grin this time. I want to tell the old fool to take back his cursed words. Now I feel jumpy. I pay and get out of there as fast as I can. I hope Anna wasn’t listening.

She’s clueless when I climb in and hand her a drink. My brain is a flurry of blurred activity as Anna drives away, chatting merrily. I feel like smiling for no good reason when I think of the stupid necklace in my pocket. I want to punch myself in the face and remind myself this is all part of the plan. I needn’t have so much fun with it. The fun will come when she’s finally naked.

“Will we be passing the Grand Canyon?” Anna asks. “I’ve always wanted to see it.”

That’d be brilliant. I pull up the map on my mobile, but the search leaves me disappointed. We can’t afford the extra time.

“It’s a bit out of the way. More than an hour.” Her father’s not going anywhere, but the nun she needs to see is apparently on her deathbed. We can’t waste too much time. “But how about this? We can go on the way back, since we won’t have a time crunch.”

That seems to make her very happy, and I’m far too happy at the moment, as well. Probably because it feels like I’m winning her over bit by bit.

But I can’t seem to rid myself of this light feeling, even as we talk about serious things. When it gets quiet for a bit, Anna snorts out a giggle.

“What’s up with you?” I ask.

“Are you sure it’s not possible for a Nephilim to have the influence?”

I narrow my eyes at the strange question. Dukes are powerful enough to influence humans through their words, and even by pushing thoughts to them. They can’t force them to do anything, but they can strongly urge them. It would be amazing to have that ability.

“I’ve never heard of anyone having it except a Duke, and trust me, I’ve tried. It doesn’t work.” Still, my assurance leaves her looking skeptical.

We stop at a convenience shop for the loo, and as I approach the door to leave I get the most bizarre urge to spin around on one foot. So I do.

Wait just a damned second . . . I just did a ballerina move. In public. What the hell?

I look up and see Anna dart into an aisle, nearly falling over herself with laughter.

No way. No fucking way. My mind reels. She cannot possibly influence people like one of the Dukes. Can she? But then I remember she is different. She has two angels as parents, not just one, so who knows what else is possible. I’m overwhelmed with pride on her behalf, and sheer jealousy. Plus a bit of shock that she’d use it on me.

“Oooh, so not funny.” I leave the shop shaking my head. When she climbs into the vehicle trying not to laugh, I have to physically hold myself back from grasping her and giving her payback, Kaidan style.

I’m having more fun than I can ever recall having. It’s a heedless, stupid feeling, and I can’t let it go. She starts making me laugh and I can’t stop. We laugh together over the stupidest shit, and I stop trying to remind myself that it’s all part of my plan. I tell myself I’m just trying to win her over.

But then I just let go of all thought and give in to the mood.

In those moments something happens I can’t explain. All I know is that it feels right, and I can’t hold it back. I don’t want to.

I let myself feel. And it’s good.

CHAPTER EIGHT

A New Craving

“I can feel you watching even when you’re nowhere to be seen,

I can feel you touching even when you’re far away from me.”

—“Voodoo Doll” by 5 Seconds of Summer

We make good time. As we near L.A., I consider going straight to a hotel, but I’m not quite ready to throw us into another awkward situation.

“It’s still early,” I say. “Let’s drive through L.A. or Hollywood.”

Anna agrees, and moments later she squeals, “Oh, my gosh, Kai, look! The Hollywood sign!”

God, her excitement is cute. Every little thing. It’s amazing. And then I replay her words.

“You called me Kai.” It’s the first time, and it feels . . . big. I have no idea where all these pansy-arsed feelings are coming from and how I keep letting them slip in so easily, or why it feels less and less important for me to block them. It’s like I’m rebelling against my own damned self.

“What are your friends like?” Anna asks. She’s turned toward me, practically bouncing in her seat to learn more about me and the people in my life. My vision darkens at the reminder that my friends are Neph. I am Neph, and Anna is Neph. I cannot forget that, no matter how far removed I might feel from that life at this particular moment.

So, I decide to be honest about each of them—Blake, the son of the Duke of Envy, Marna and Ginger, the daughters of the Duke of Adultery—they work, just like me. They understand this life.

I can see from Anna’s frown that my explanations disturb her and her ideas of right and wrong and justice, but she needs to know.

And then there’s Kopano, son of the Duke of Wrath. He is more difficult to explain. My feelings toward him are a tightly wound bundle of admiration and jealousy.