Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen
Cooper gave him a puzzled smile when he strode onto the narrow street. “I thought we were going for sushi?”
Dominic shrugged. “I had a craving for the convenience store variety.”
A genuine laugh burst out of Cooper. “There’s more than one way to kill me, I suppose.”
He gestured to the RiteMart beside them, still covered in police crime scene tape. “It’s closed, unfortunately.”
“Yeah. What a shame.”
Dominic smashed his fist into Cooper’s jaw.
The other demon stumbled back in surprise. He massaged his face. “I thought we’d worked out a rather harmonious agreement.”
“The only thing I’ll agree is we both can’t exist in the same world together. I owe you three deaths: for my mate, for Max, and for ever believing I’d willingly be your pawn within the Council. Unfortunately, I can only give you one.”
Cooper shook his head with a grin, and lifted his hand. His expression transformed to alarmed dismay when nothing happened.
“I’ll never get tired of seeing that stupid look on your face.”
Dominic grabbed him by the collar, and hurled him into a nearby van on a gust of smoke. Cooper bounced thunderously off the steel door.
He gained his feet and leapt at Dominic, his face a mask of desperate anger as he rained blow after blow of blunt air onto Dominic’s body. Dominic grunted, tucking his arms into his sides to block the worst of it.
He dissolved into smoke, and reappeared on top of the van.
“What’s your plan, Dominic?” Cooper materialized on the van in front of him.
He pointed to the top of the building. “Do you plan to lure me up there, then fling me off as poetic justice?”
Dominic shrugged.
“I saw your little stunt at Le Prestige the other day. I was impressed, I’ll admit. You’re a true master of falling .” Cooper’s mouth worked as though he fought laughter. “But if you want to fight in the air, you’re out of your element. I am air.”
He spread his arms, hovering a few feet over the van. “You’re still trying to master physics, just to keep from going splat. Meanwhile, I can fucking fly.”
“But, can you float?”
Cooper’s face clouded with confusion. “What?”
Dominic rushed him, leaping into the air to dive tackle him. He caught Cooper’s shirt, and they fell over the side of the van together.
Dissolving partially into smoke, Dominic released Cooper right as his skull smacked wetly against the asphalt.
Dominic floated above him for a few seconds, buoyed by his own smoke, before rolling to land on his feet.
Cooper stared up into the night sky as his lips twitched. A shimmering river of demon blood flowed down the road.
Dominic paused at his side, studying him grimly. “The short leaps are the toughest to master.”
The light faded from the air demon’s eyes.