Chapter Seventeen.

The drive to Jessica's house was silent except for the low hum of the radio. Sage's grip on the wheel was tight, her knuckles white as she kept her gaze fixed on the road. Harlow sat beside her, tense but resolute.

"Are you sure about this?" Sage finally asked, sparing Harlow a glance.

Harlow inhaled sharply. "Yeah. I need to do this."

Sage nodded, her voice unwavering. "I've got your back. And if she tries anything—" she flexed her fingers, a subtle glow of dark energy flickering at her fingertips, "—I'll handle it."

A thrill ran through Harlow at the sight. She had never actually seen Sage use her demon powers, but the thought of it, of watching her girlfriend unleash something otherworldly, sent a rush of excitement through her.

"I kinda wanna see that," she admitted, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Sage smirked. "Oh, babe. You're gonna."

The tension in the car eased slightly, but as they pulled onto Jessica's street, Harlow's stomach knotted again.

Jessica's house was just as she remembered—run-down, the yard littered with cigarette butts and empty beer cans. And there she was, slouched on the porch steps, a cigarette dangling between her fingers, eyes glazed over as she took a drag. Her limbs twitched slightly, her body restless in that way that only came from being high on something strong.

As soon as Sage and Harlow stepped out of the car, Jessica's bloodshot eyes locked onto them. A slow, lazy smirk stretched across her face.

"Well, well," she drawled, exhaling a stream of smoke. "Look who finally grew a pair." Her gaze flickered to Sage, her expression twisting into something cruel. "And you brought your little bruja with you. Should've known you'd shack up with some demon-looking bitch."

Harlow saw red.

"The fuck did you just say?" she snapped, stepping forward.

Jessica laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "Oh, relax, princess. Didn't mean anything by it. You always did get all worked up over the dumbest shit."

Harlow clenched her fists, her entire body vibrating with rage. "You don't get to talk about her like that. You don't get to talk at all."

Jessica rolled her eyes, taking another slow drag of her cigarette. "And what, you're gonna stop me? Little Miss I-can't-handle-my-own-problems? You always needed me, Harlow. Hell, you still do." She tilted her head, a manic grin spreading across her face. "Bet your new little girlfriend doesn't even know how deep your shit goes, huh?"

Sage crossed her arms, tone deadly. "Try me."

Jessica's eyes gleamed with something wicked. "You really think she's some innocent little victim?" she sneered. "Bitch couldn't even spend time with her dying father because she was too busy getting high with me."

Harlow felt like she had been slapped. The words hit her like a truck, knocking the breath from her lungs.

"You fucking—" Her voice cracked as rage and shame burned through her.

But Jessica wasn't done. She tilted her head, her expression one of pure venom. "And I bet she didn't tell you the best part. How I laced her shit once, just for fun. And she was so strung out she didn't even notice."

Everything in Harlow's world slowed.

She barely registered the way Sage tensed beside her, the way her girlfriend's entire presence shifted.

"What?" Sage's voice was a whisper, but it was filled with a rage so deep it could crack the earth.

Jessica smirked. "Oh, she knows. Nearly fucking died in my bathroom, and she still came back for more. Funny how that works, huh?"

That was it.

Harlow snapped.

Without thinking, she lunged, swinging hard. Her fist connected with Jessica's jaw, the impact sending a shockwave of pain up her arm.

Jessica staggered back, dazed, but the drugs in her system dulled the pain. She let out a shrill, unhinged laugh and threw a sloppy punch in return.

Sage moved before Jessica could make contact.

The air shifted.

A deep, inhuman growl rumbled from Sage's chest as the shadows around them stirred, moving like living things. The temperature dropped. Jessica barely had time to react before Sage lifted a hand, and suddenly—

She was gone.

Vanished.

Harlow's breath hitched. "What—what did you do?"

Sage exhaled, her eyes glowing a deep, burning red. "Sent her to bed."

Harlow blinked. "What?"

Sage shrugged. "She'll wake up in her room, knocked the fuck out."

Harlow stared at her for a moment, then let out a breathless, almost hysterical laugh. "Holy shit."

Sage smirked. "Told you I'd handle it."

Harlow took a shaky breath, pulling out her phone. Without hesitation, she blocked Jessica's number, deleted every contact, every message.

"Done," she whispered.

Sage took her hand. "Good. Now let's get the hell out of here."

They climbed into the car, peeling away from the house and the wreckage of Harlow's past. The tension didn't leave Harlow's shoulders until they were back at the hotel, safe. But as soon as the door shut behind them, all the emotions she had been holding back came crashing down.

Tears welled in her eyes before she could stop them. She sobbed, her body shaking as guilt and relief warred inside her.

"I'm so sorry," she choked out. "For dragging you into this, for—"

Sage cut her off with a kiss. A deep, reassuring, grounding kiss. Then another. And another.

"Stop," Sage murmured against her lips. "I would go through a thousand of those fights for you."

Harlow sniffled, gripping Sage's hoodie tightly. "But—"

Sage cupped her face, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "No buts. You're safe. She's gone. And you? You were fucking amazing tonight."

Harlow swallowed, looking up at her girlfriend with teary eyes. "Really?"

"Really." Sage grinned. "Didn't know my girl had hands like that."

A watery laugh escaped Harlow, and Sage pulled her into another hug, pressing kisses against her temple.

After a long moment, Sage smirked. "So… are we still going to work tomorrow?"

Harlow wrinkled her nose. "Hell no."

Sage grinned. "Good. 'Cause I'm spending the whole day with my badass girlfriend."

Harlow smiled, warmth blooming in her chest as she curled into Sage's arms. For the first time in a long time, she felt free.