“I found the perimeter wards. I don’t know how to break them, but I don’t think we need to.”
“Why not?”
“Rather than breaking the ward, we’ll find a way to get in without setting it off.”
“Is that possible? Wouldn’t it defeat the whole purpose of the ward if it was easy to do that?”
“It’s possible, but not easy. All magic has a loophole.”
“So what’s the loophole in this case?”
Raum leaned onto his hands behind him. “It’s rare and expensive as shit, but we happen to be sitting in a cave full of treasure, and since there’s only two of us, I think we can swing it. It’s not useful in an invasion since it costs so much and wears off after only a couple hours.”
“Dare I ask whatitis?”
“It’s a spell, inscribed on a stone and worn as an amulet. It’s risky to buy because the seller can’t be trusted as far as you can throw her, and as soon as you ask for it, it’s pretty obvious you’re planning a raid. Word spreads fast.”
They hadn’t even made a plan yet and already nerves were chewing a hole in her stomach. “And where do we acquire such a product?”
“The Blood Market.”
A chill raced down Sunshine’s spine, and she stiffened.
Slowly, she forced her muscles to unfreeze, swallowing hard. Raum was looking at the fire and didn’t seem to have noticed her reaction, and she wanted to keep it that way. The last thing she needed was for him to find another excuse to leave her behind. Especially when she would be sorely tempted to stay.
“The Blood Market is busy,” she managed to say. “People will see us.”
Raum nodded. “We’ll wear the cloaks. And we’ll need to do something to cover your scent.”
“My scent?” She raised her arm to her nose and sniffed. “I don’t think I have a scent.”
“It’s more like a psychic scent. Most demons couldn’t detect it, but some can. You don’t smell like anything to me, but if Mist sniffed you, he’d probably know exactly what you are.”
She dug her fingernails into her palms to keep her hands steady. “How do I disguise my scent?”
“You won’t like it.”
“Why not?”
He was looking at her now, golden eyes brighter than anything in the treasure pile. Would she ever get accustomed to the intensity of that stare? “You could stay here.”
“I’m not staying here, Raum.”Despite how badly I want to.“What do I have to do?”
“The easiest way to make you smell like a demon is to kill one and cover you in its ashes.”
Her stomach lurched. “Kill?As in…permanently kill?”
He nodded.
“Can’t you just use the blood?”
“You’d rather be covered in blood than ashes?”
She grimaced. “No.”
The corner of his mouth pulled up briefly. “The ashes are more effective anyway. The scent lasts longer. Trust me, it’s the worst thing you’ll ever smell.”
“Valefor,” Sunshine said before she could stop herself, remembering how Belial had burned the demon to ashes before her eyes. Well, she’d been perched on top of the building across the street watching through the window, but the effect was the same. And she’d certainly been able to smell it once Iris had opened the window.
