Demons are Forever

by Wynne Hayworth

  “Karl? What is it?”

  “It’s a DNA scrambler.” Karl looked proudly at Lian.

  “Huh?”

  He sighed. “Okay. Bypassing the technical stuff, which only someone as brilliant as me could possibly hope to understand, what this little puppy does is send out a quick flash of subatomic particles that will scramble DNA for a few seconds.”

  She narrowed her eyes as she absorbed Karl’s statement. “You’re kidding, right?”

  He shook his head. “I never joke about my work, babe. You know that.” His handsome face was intense. “It’s not perfect. It doesn’t last much longer than a couple of microseconds. But it interferes with the communication between DNA cells. Particularly those that are about to morph into something else.”

  Lian frowned. “So…let me see if I can understand here…suppose there was a guy in front of me and he was about to shift into a werewolf or something. I flash this and he can’t?”

  Karl nodded. “Yes. And no. He can shift and he will, but you can delay that shift with this for a tiny instant of time. And to judge by the rats, when he does shift it’s going to be a bit disorienting.” A wicked grin followed this mild statement. “They threw up.”

  “Karl?” She lifted an eyebrow. “Rats don’t have the DNA mutation. They’re not AGs.”

  “Er.” Karl’s gaze slid away. “Yeah. That was a bit of a problem. So I sort of altered a couple of ’em.”

  “Eeeek.” She looked disgusted.

  “Yeah, no shit. A fairy rat isn’t exactly sparkles and glitter ya know.”

  “Christ, this is unproven technology, isn’t it?” Lian’s head spun as she considered the variables between a Karl-mutated AG rat and the thing she was trying to lure out into the open.

  His expression was somber, all traces of humor gone as he glanced at her. “Make no mistake, Lian. You’re going up against a critter that’s way beyond anything we’ve run into so far. And whoever’s behind it is even worse. I have no insight at all into what would stop it, kill it, blow it to smithereens or whatever. And even if I did, there’s no clue as to what would reach the controlling mind and stop that in turn.”

  “I know.” She nodded.

  “So this is the best I can do.” He flexed his shoulders. “Can’t let my best gal go into danger without something of mine alongside her.”

  Lian leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I love you too, Karl.” She could sense the worry coming off him in waves. It was unsettling, but warmed her heart nonetheless.

  “Enough to get naked and make me a happy man for an hour?” The wicked gleam was back.

  “In your dreams, honey. Sorry.”

  Karl had shaken his head, looked downcast for a minute or two, then shown her how to touch the pendant and activate the device. It lay in her palm now as she stood outside in the sun, looking just like the innocent piece of jewelry it mostly was.

  But knowing it was there and that Karl had made it out of a combination of love and concern—well, perhaps those were two weapons that shouldn’t be underestimated.

  Lian put the pendant around her neck, feeling it settle comfortably between her breasts. She could certainly keep it on for the coming encounter. Always assuming the thing would answer her summons.

  Too many damn variables, too much that could go wrong.

  She shrugged away the brief thought. There was no one else who stood a chance in hell of stopping this monster.

  It had to be her.

  And Buck.

  She’d fallen in love with him, hook, line and sinker. She’d maybe tell him so at some point if they made it through this night in one piece. Where it would go from there was anyone’s guess.

  But that love, that emotion linking the two of them—well, that was a weapon too. Didn’t someone sing a song years ago about the power of love? She walked to her car, comforted and warmed as she took a moment to appreciate how fortunate she was.

  Love was on her side. Let that killing basilisk shifter try and fight against it. He’d lose, without a doubt. She was confident it would all work out.

  She was less confident about the real monster—the one pulling the strings.

  ———

  They gathered for a final rundown as the sun was setting. Just the three of them, Buck, Cheney and Lian. They’d opted out of meeting at the precinct, preferring to grab whatever relaxation they could over coffee at a nearby café.

  “I’m good to go.” Cheney polished off a pastry. “Gantry is taking the night off and walked me through the process, which is pretty simple. Guy comes in, pays up, comes and goes. They’ve got some appointments already booked, but none that are new or offbeat. I took a quick look at the schedule. All repeaters. So if he’s gonna come to Lian, we’ll know. Anyone new gets vetted real good. Anyone Oriental gets a double dose of surveillance.”

  “’Kay.” Buck stared at his coffee as it cooled. “I’ve got a bug set up in the room and it’s minimal. Mind you the tech who installed it is still smiling. He had to book an appointment, go undercover as an electrician and get his rocks off even as he was telling the girl she had a faulty light bulb over the bed. The things some guys have to do for the job.”

  Lian managed a chuckle. “So there’s a camera over the bed and I’ll be in that room tonight. Good. Audio too?”

  “Of course.” Buck nodded. “They ran a check. It’s all working. And it’s the best and smallest we have, so with luck Mr. Bad Dude won’t sense it.”

  “And I have this.” She pulled the chain from the neck of her blouse and showed the two men her pendant. She gave them a brief idea of what it might be able to do.

  Cheney looked skeptical, but Buck pointed a finger at him. “I’d be thinking the same thing if I hadn’t met Karl. The guy’s the closest thing to a wizard I’ve run across. If he thinks Lian should have it, then by God she’ll have it.”

  “Fine by me.” Cheney tilted his head in acknowledgement. “Just don’t bet your life on it, honey, okay?”

  “I’m not planning on betting my life on a single thing, Cheney. I have electronic surveillance, my pendant and my mental link to Buck. Plus with you monitoring the comings and goings—” She winced. “Pardon the pun there—I reckon we’ve done all we can to set this up as safely as possible.”

  “I’ll be one building over, babe.” Buck reached out and touched her hand absently. “If I pick up one little shiver from you, I’m letting Cheney know and he’ll be in there with you in seconds flat. I’ll be right behind him.”

  “Gotcha.” She nodded, then grinned. “Now all I have to do is go put on something that says do me and pay for the privilege and I guess I’m ready.”

  “Need help?” He looked hopeful.

  “Nope. Thanks all the same.”

  “Wise answer.” Cheney chuckled. “You two need to keep a tight rein on those impulses of yours until the time is right.”

  “Who asked you?” Buck glowered at him. “Shouldn’t you be meditating or something? Gathering your strength for your little act tonight?”

  Lian’s gaze followed Buck’s. “Yeah, Cheney. What exactly are you going to do?”

  “Me?” His face was innocence personified. “Very little. I’m just going to make sure everybody sees what they’re expecting to see.”

  “Oh.” Lian looked blank. “Not sure I know what that means. Exactly.”

  “Good. That’s the way I like it.”

  She met his look straight on. “Maybe I should introduce you to Karl. He likes mysteries.”

  Buck snorted. “Don’t bother, babe. Cheney’s got a lifetime of practice at being a secretive asshole. I doubt even Karl could peg him without a week or two of analysis and maybe dissection.” He took her hand before she could speak. “And that’s the way he likes it so leave him alone, okay?”

  Her gaze flickered from one man to the other. Then she sighed. “Okay.”

  Chapter Ten

  The sun was setting as Lian walked into the Pleasure Pad, a coat firmly belted around her
body, her high heels clicking on the stone steps. They were a nuisance—she avoided them like the plague in her everyday life. But for some weird reason, the thought process that connected spiked shoes with sex had never really left men’s minds. So she put up with them, thankful she wasn’t going to have to hike very far. And she did like the sound they made, all things considered.

  Yeah, her mind was wandering. But better in the direction of designer shoes than what she was clicking her way toward.

  There was a sizzling sort of crackle around the edge of her psychic senses. A mental alert status that had crept up on her as she’d dressed—no, make that undressed— for the evening. The succubus in her had lapped up the sensation of wearing nothing more than a black thong and a lace tank top beneath her coat. And sighed when said coat had been buttoned and belted very securely.

  Forcing down the mixed emotions, Lian stepped inside, glancing at the desk and expecting to see Cheney behind the counter.

  She blinked at the man standing there. It sure as hell wasn’t Cheney.

  “Hey, doll. You got room fourteen tonight, okay?” A stubby hand held out a key and the fingernails showed signs of needing a good scrubbing.

  She blinked. “Uh—sure. Thanks.” She took the key and tried to drag her gaze away from the scruffy middle-aged guy with a definite paunch and a head of hair that was slowly sliding down toward his ears, leaving the top of his head bald and shiny.

  For one second, the man’s eyelid drooped into a wink, then flicked up again.

  Shit. It was Cheney. She swallowed. If he was a shape shifter, then he was extraordinarily good at it. Her senses danced a little and her vision blurred, only to clear and reveal no more than a tired man handing out room keys to Pleasure Pets.

  Wow. There were hidden depths to Buck’s partner, apparently. She’d love to get inside his head and prowl around for a while. But—not tonight.

  She headed down a shadowed hallway and turned right at the end, noting the room numbers as she went. Room fourteen was the last one—conveniently next to an exit which looked like it hadn’t been used since before the Afterglow. Lian snorted to herself. She’d bet any amount of money that Buck had already checked it out and made sure it was in working order. He’d probably come in that way if necessary. Cheney would have to make the walk she’d just made. It wasn’t more than half a minute, but given what they were up against, every second would count.

  The room itself was pretty much what she’d expected. A large bed, a chair, a bureau that had seen better days up against one wall, and a small window, now covered with drawn curtains. A door led to a tiny bathroom, which probably served its purpose, but did so without pretensions to anything other than basic hygiene.

  There were two lamps on the top of the bureau and two more on the wall over the bed. One of which, she knew, hid the surveillance equipment.

  She removed her coat and hung it on a handy peg behind the door. Her bag she kept in her hand, then decided it could probably go under the bed.

  “Well this is extraordinarily lovely.” She spoke aloud, knowing Buck would appreciate the sound check.

  She pulled down the quilt and carefully lay on the bed, plumping the pillows up behind her so they’d be comfortable.

  She crossed her legs at the ankles and leaned her head back, tugging the clip free and letting it spill over her shoulders. She thought it would be a nicely artistic contrast to the skimpy black lace of her tank top which did little to hide the breasts beneath.

  In spite of everything, her succubus purred. This was erotic in some strange way, lying almost naked on a strange bed in sexy high-heeled shoes and knowing she was about to lure a man into her coils.

  She wished it was Buck.

  The mere thought of him sent a frisson of pleasure coursing through her and she shifted a little as her body responded.

  Ah, Buck. His hands, his mouth, his cock plundering deep inside…

  “I hear you, babe.”

  Lian almost jumped as Buck’s thoughts pushed their way into her mind. For a few seconds she allowed herself the luxury of twining around him, stroking him, teasing him until his awareness leveled with hers.

  “Later, sweet thing. I see you. Green lights all around. Put out the call.”

  Buck’s words faded a little as he refocused on whatever it was he was doing. Watching her, most likely.

  It was time. Time to summon her succubus fully, and time to see if the bait would be enough to hook their fish. Or whatever it was they were actually trying to lure.

  Suppressing a shiver of nerves, she closed her eyes and let her mind open—wide, then wider, giving the demon within free rein. Her skin heated with pleasure, her lips parted and she could hear her blood as it pulsed in her veins.

  Her breasts grew tender, almost too tender, the black lace a scrape of arousal against the hard and jutting nipples, the weight of the jade pendant exerting cool pressure against her naked curves.

  Slowly she slid a hand down over the naked curve of her belly, letting her hand drift between her thighs and rubbing in a vain effort to ease the ache of desire.

  Lian needed. She craved. She wanted to be fucked and filled and fucked some more. She wanted the taste of a man’s cock in her mouth and the feel of it in her cunt. She moved again, uneasy now, desperate for something to wrap her thighs around, to grasp with her fingers and gnaw on with teeth that would bite sharply yet bring wild and painful pleasure everywhere they touched.

  She lay on the bed in the room of an anonymous Pleasure Pet and released her demon, uncertain if she could control it sufficiently to stay alert. If she failed—it would all be over.

  And she would never see Buck again.

  ———

  A drop of sweat rolled down Buck’s spine as he sat alone in a small, stuffy office and kept his gaze glued to a tiny laptop monitor. He had all kinds of backup within call, but he wasn’t about to let any of ’em take a look at what he was watching. They could listen to the audio—that was all. And they were doing that from the garage around the corner.

  But this? Lian’s body, Lian’s hand and what Lian was doing with both? Hell, no. That was his and his alone.

  He could certainly sense the vibes she was sending out, as could his cock. But they had a special link between them. God only knew if anyone or anything else was picking up on her message.

  The intercom unit buzzed. “Got a problem.” It was Cheney.

  “What?” Buck stiffened in his chair, never taking his eyes off Lian, still alone in her room.

  “Looks like your lady’s signal is working.”

  “And?”

  “We got a line out the door, most of ’em hard already.” Cheney sounded out of breath, but with an undercurrent of mild amusement.

  “Fucking shit.” Buck ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I never thought of that.”

  “I’m handling it. The girls are thrilled. Grady’s gonna have a coronary when he sees the take.” There was a pause, then Cheney spoke again. “No one that fits the bill yet.”

  “Copy that.” Buck nodded to himself. Then prayed. Prayed it would work and they could nail the bastard, and followed that up by praying it wouldn’t work and he could take Lian home and nail her instead.

  He had no clue how long she could keep up her broadcast. If short bursts would work better or a sustained howl of sexual need would reach him. He also had no idea how long he was going to be able to fight down his own arousal. If his team was sensing the same thing, they’d be going in with guns drawn in more ways than one.

  Shit. This was a plan that had been doomed to disaster from the start, and why the fuck he’d let her talk him into it, he had no clue. Unless it had something to do with the fact she was right, smarter than he was for thinking of it, and he knew she shared his desperation to stop these senseless killings.

  The fact he was head-over-ass crazy about her—well, he’d just have to ignore that at this moment, along with his cripplingly painful erection.

&nbs
p; “Christ above, Shand.” The voice of one of his team came on the line. “You got anything yet? This assignment is gonna leave a lot of us with some real big problems if you get what I’m sayin’…”

  He snorted. “Don’t overestimate yourself, Thomas. It ain’t that big, no matter what the wifey tells you.”

  He heard the soft ripple of male laughter, then there was a click and Cheney’s voice sounded again.

  “Buck. Got a possible. He’s about four guys down in the line. Fits the profile.” The words ended in a quick click.

  “Thomas. You copy that?”

  “Yes. Green light here on your mark.” It was crisp and professional, all business, joking pushed aside as tension of another kind replaced the distinctly sexual buzz they’d all been enjoying up to now.

  Buck watched the screen—Lian was still alone. “Lian, honey. He may be there.”

  “Okay, Buck. I’m okay so far.”

  He’d warned her. It was all he could do until—fuck. He so didn’t want to even think about what might happen next.

  ———

  Part of Lian was drowning in the pleasure of freeing her demon and letting it out to play. The other part was struggling to keep a tenuous hold on her mental link to Buck and a fragile awareness of every sound outside her door.

  She’d taken in the room with one glance, knew where the few items she needed were located and sizzled with tension, waiting for the moment that handle on her door would turn and it would open.

  Her mind felt filled to overflowing with everything she needed to know, to feel, to do. And beneath it all was a chill of fear that even her succubus couldn’t quite eliminate.

  Her body thrummed with sexual excitement. Her demon howled even as her rational thoughts skipped around various scenarios. The waiting was the worst part. Knowing it—as she’d come to think of him—was possibly there, on the premises, heightened every sense she possessed. If anyone had measured her adrenaline levels at that moment, they’d probably blow every single reading off the scale.