Page 12 of Monster Inside (Shadow Pact 1)

“We’ll take care of the sword by then,”Mrak said.“Or we can say we failed. But you cannot make that weapon, Aisling. Even if I were to aid you, the danger is too great.”

“Why does he want it, then?”

For a long few moments, Mrak didn’t reply. So long that I thought he might’ve gone away for a while. He sometimes did that. He wasn’t around all the time. Then, finally, he said,“I think he might be demon hunting. You do not want to be involved in that.”

Except I had a feeling I already was. Mrak wasn’t human. He was monstrous. And in a world with werewolves and vampires and witches,monstrousmeant near-otherworldly.

Mrak might have been a demon. Not that he’d tell me if I was right.

“Okay,” I said. “We’ll figure it out. Will you let me go on finishing this dagger for Willa now?”

Mrak’s embrace retreated. “Of course.”

My heart squeezed at the feel of him pulling away. I hated arguing with him. It hadn’t happened more than a few times right when I was still getting used to this whole possession-not-possession pact. But I’d had to speak up about this.

“Will you stay?” I didn’t want him to go far.

I felt ethereal lips kiss my cheek. “Of course, Aisling. I love watching you work.”

I smiled in the mirror before grabbing Willa’s unfinished dagger. “Then let’s get to it.”