by Krista Walsh
Because of the party, Courtney had pushed back the start time for work today until eleven o’clock. If everything went as well as Allegra hoped, she could return to the Garden in plenty of time to get ready for the next shoot and armed with a solid defense — something that would help her destroy these creatures, or provide some protection against their evil eye.
Confidence wrapped around her mind like a fleece towel, and she stretched her arms over her head before sinking into the mattress to doze until her alarm went off.
***
An hour and a half later, Allegra headed downstairs with the address for Vera’s shop on her phone. It was a three minute drive away from the hotel.
She passed through the lobby, and as she reached the front door, the skin on the back of her neck flushed. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath to settle the quaking in her stomach, then scanned the room with her mind to pick up the location of the murky energy drifting toward her.
Were these undead corpses becoming more daring with her, now that they’d had a taste? She swore she noticed an odor of earth and death — the faintly sweet sourness that came from a soulless body.
She detected the source of the energy behind her, and in her mind she sensed it coming closer. She could almost feel the brush of its fingers on her shoulder.
Jerking forward out of its reach, Allegra wrenched open the front door and stormed into the garden. The moment she left the hotel, the air around her cleared, and she rested her hand on the wall, wanting to steady her legs before she attempted the flagstones in her heels. Her knees trembled. She wished she could drop down on the stone bench behind her, but she didn’t want anyone noticing or coming up to ask if she was all right. Allegra Rossi did not sit on benches in public — especially not after a fright. That kind of behavior suggested weakness, and she was nothing if not indomitable.
If only she could get her hands to stop shaking.
She rubbed her palms together to work the circulation back into her fingers, hating that these creatures held so much sway over her. She wanted to believe that she was beyond them, that she could handle these monsters the way she handled any other threat to her lifestyle.
But they had made it clear they could reach her without trouble. If she hadn’t moved to speak with Courtney yesterday, the monster could have drained her where she stood.
Would anyone have cared if she had dropped dead in the bar? One moment, standing there full of life — the next a beautiful corpse. At the very least, Courtney would regret the asset Grace magazine had lost, and no doubt her fellow models would shed the same crocodile tears for her as they had for Monique. Luckily, Allegra wouldn’t be there to suffer through the production.
Her stomach squeezed as the realization sank in again of how close she had come to being taken by the shadows. How could she not have noticed? How could the part of her that worked on instinct not have sensed the presence behind her? Would she have realized it before the end? More importantly, would she have noticed in time to fight back?
Her inability to answer that question sent acid burning up the back of her throat.
That’s why you’re going to talk to Vera, she told herself. By the time she got back from the bookstore, she would be prepared. Then she would speak with Courtney and return home, only coming back to the hotel for her scheduled sessions.
Straightening her shoulders, she headed through the courtyard, only to find the production manager was standing on the sidewalk ahead of her, deep in conversation with a man. Courtney looked rough after the night’s frivolities, her hair crooked in her usual ponytail, and her shoulders slumped. Clearly, she hadn’t consumed enough caffeine this morning.
For the first time since Allegra had arrived at the hotel, she felt that her timing had lined up. She could speak with Courtney this morning and not have to worry about finding time alone with her when she got back.
She stepped closer, then paused again when she realized the man Courtney was speaking with was Matthew.
Allegra’s stomach flip-flopped, and she braced her hand over her middle to center herself. What was he still doing here? He’d told her he’d come for the party, so she’d assumed he’d gone home when he wasn’t in her bed this morning. Yet here he was, showing no embarrassment at still being here the next day, looking as relaxed and handsome in his black suit as he had the night before.
A flush of heat rose from Allegra’s core to infuse her body, as though tendrils of smoke were wrapping around her veins and squeezing. Her stomach tightened and she licked her lips with a dry tongue, catching a hint of his sweetness rising from her taste buds.
The moment she became aware of her reaction to him, she jerked her gaze away and turned her direction toward the first cab in line, hoping to get into the vehicle before he spotted her. Her conversation with Courtney would have to wait.
Her luck wasn’t with her, however. As she passed by him, he shifted on his shiny black shoes and grinned. “Good morning, Ms. Rossi. Are you abandoning us today?”
She forced a smile, relieved she had an excuse to rush off. “Only for an hour or so. I’m going to visit a friend.”
She noted the shock on Courtney’s face and wondered if it was because she was leaving at the start of a work day or because she’d said she had a friend. Allegra understood how either possibility might take her aback.
The production manager wiped her expression clear. “We begin the next shoot at eleven.” Her tone was deliberately mild.
Allegra flashed her a brighter smile. “And I intend to return well before that. I do hope you enjoyed your time at the party last night.”
Courtney flushed and dropped her narrowed gaze to the ground. Allegra’s smile warmed with triumph, and she offered the pair a finger wave before she turned and hastened her pace toward the cab.
Confusion at her encounter was spinning her thoughts into a knotted mess of cobwebs. She stumbled on the sidewalk and slowed down to keep from falling and drawing attention to herself.
Her desire for Matthew the night before had been understandable. He was an attractive man, and due to her shock over Monique and her close encounter with the unseen creatures, her tension had been elevated. She’d needed to relax. Yes, they’d had a good time, but that wasn’t unusual either. She always enjoyed herself in bed. No matter how unskilled her partner, Allegra knew enough tricks to keep things interesting.
But rarely did her desire carry over so strongly to the next day. Even Monique, who had been quite skilled herself, had only maintained Allegra’s interest for a couple of days before she’d become a convenience more than anything else. Allegra had never had such a visceral response after the first rendezvous.
She’d heard of this sort of reaction in a succubus before, when the flavor of one’s conquest was especially delicious. Surely that’s all this was. Matthew’s energy was a unique combination of sweet and spicy, reminding her of a chai tea latte. It was understandable she felt inclined to partake of him a second time. The craving would pass.
Vaguely, she was aware of someone opening the cab door for her. She didn’t realize it was Cody until he leaned in and whispered, “It’s pretty early in the morning to be so wrapped up in your thoughts.”
She jerked her head toward him at the comment and raised her gaze to his smile. Unlike Matthew’s rugged charm, Cody showed none of the lines around his eyes and mouth that came from years of late nights and tight deadlines. His skin was as smooth as honeyed milk, and under the morning sun, he appeared younger than twenty-four. A face that would stay young and attractive well into his later years, Allegra guessed. She scented the air and picked up his faint aroma of citrus. Delicate, without any rough experiences to add a real tang.
“A lot has happened since I woke up,” she replied, and forced a wink at him.
His eyes widened, and then he laughed, his cheeks pink. “You keep teasing me like that and I might have to get down on my knees and beg.”
Allegra wrinkled her nose. “I assure you, th
at would not increase your chances.”
And yet, she found herself debating whether it would be the worst idea to take this young man to her bed. It would be worth showing Cody a trick or two to use on his future conquests if it replaced the lingering desire to invite Matthew as a lover a second time. Perhaps it would even bring Cody’s ego down a couple of notches, which would benefit more than just her.
She smiled at the thought even as she accepted she would never go through with it. She chose her partners with great care, and Cody was still too young for her to turn his life upside down. No other woman would ever compare. She flicked her finger under his chin and climbed into the cab.
“Where are you headed this morning?” he asked.
“There is that curiosity again. Lee is right — it is a dangerous quality to have.”
He grinned. “I’ve never been the type to say no to a little danger in my life.”
The casual way he said the words cooled Allegra’s blood, and she glanced back at the hotel, the stone walls looming over the sidewalk against the gray sky.
“Do tread carefully, Cody. One of these days, you might get more than you wished for.”
He leaned in close. “A guy can dream.”
After he closed the door behind her, Allegra saw him shake his head and chuckle to himself as the cab drove away.
8
Yggdrasil Books was a quaint little shop in the middle of a side street off the main tourist road. On one side of it sat a bright pink storefront offering souvenirs and locally made knick-knacks, and on the other was a lime green photography shop where tourists could go and get their pictures printed before going home.
While the bookstore offered a more conservative color palette of blue-gray walls with a dark gray trim, it came across as the most comfortable shop on the street. It didn’t need to work hard to be seen — the people who were meant to go in would find it easily enough.
A bell jangled as Allegra opened the door and stepped into the shop. A sharp autumnal wind followed her, billowing her flared trousers around her ankles. She edged the door shut with her foot to block out the cold and glanced over her right shoulder to peer through the large bay window at the dark clouds coming in from the west. She hoped she made it back to the hotel before the rain started.
The interior of the shop matched the color scheme of the exterior, with the added warmth of maple bookshelves greeting patrons along the open reading area set up in front of the window. Comfortable chairs and a plush cottage-style two-seater couch were organized around a large, low coffee table. Books were piled in the center of the table and on the floor between the chairs, as though kept there for the customers who would inevitably show up throughout the day to claim their spots and continue whatever books they’d left unfinished on their last visit. The layout offered a homey feel, and Allegra wondered how much revenue Vera missed out on as a result of the invitation to sit and read in the store instead of paying for the books and taking them home. A foolish business decision, perhaps, and yet the store was going into its fifth year, according to Vera’s website.
As Allegra’s ears adjusted from the hum of traffic to the quiet of the shop, she picked up the voices of two women drifting down from upstairs. The gravitas of their tone suggested they were upset about something.
Allegra edged past the counter. She peered around one of the bookcases at the flight of wooden stairs built into the left-hand wall that led to a half-open door at the top. Usually, she wouldn’t degrade herself with such a lowbrow activity as eavesdropping, but she had come to Vera for her help, and she wanted to know what sort of ally the woman would make. That she was also satisfying her piqued curiosity was just a bonus.
“I checked the alarm before I left and made sure the doors were locked,” a soft voice said. “I don’t know how they got in.”
“I believe you,” a richer voice replied. “Whoever it was, Vidar scared them off this time. We’ll just have to take extra care.”
The floor upstairs creaked with footsteps, and as the door at the top of the steps swung open, Allegra stepped away from the counter.
“Oh! Good morning,” a quiet, friendly woman greeted as she came down the stairs. Allegra recognized the voice as the first woman who had spoken. “Can I help you?”
If Allegra hadn’t known she was there, the woman would have been easy to miss. Although she was beautiful, she stood no more than five-two, her tanned skin soft and her figure lost in a flowing pale blue tunic over an ankle-length brown skirt. Her light brown hair, curled in a way that reminded Allegra of moss, was tied in a heap on her head, pinned in place by a wooden comb carved into ivy leaves. She peered at Allegra through intelligent green eyes, and her soft smile suggested a woman at peace with herself.
Hardly surprising, considering where she works, Allegra thought, looking around the shop. She likely spends most of her time meditating to alleviate the boredom.
Allegra enjoyed a good romance novel to pass the evenings in the winter, but had never understood the appeal of spending hours in a bookstore. The quiet thoughtfulness wasn’t stimulating enough, and the regular patrons were rarely the sort she wanted to take home for dinner.
At the moment, the shop was empty except for her and the fashion-challenged employee. A ceiling fan ticked as it carried out its rotations, the cords dancing with the movement. Instead of cool air, warmth brushed against the back of Allegra’s neck. She doubted Vera felt the weather any more than she did, but they’d already turned on the heat to keep the customers comfortable.
“I would like to speak with Vera,” she said.
The woman moved behind the cash register. “I’m afraid she’s on break at the moment. Is there anything I can help you find?”
“I believe I already told you,” Allegra replied, heat crawling under her skin as her patience wavered. “I would ask that you seek out your employer and inform her that Allegra Rossi is here to see her. I will wait here.”
The woman arched a brow and crossed her arms. Although she was slight, she clearly had courage if she was prepared to stand in Allegra’s way. Too bad for her that Allegra had the stubbornness to stand against her.
“It’s all right, Ara,” the second woman said from upstairs.
Ara offered a slight frown in response, then grabbed a pile of books and disappeared among the stacks.
Allegra leaned sideways to peer around the books to the staircase. A familiar willowy figure with straight red hair flowing down to her waist was coming down from the apartment. She was dressed in a casual blue cotton blouse and black trousers, her hair pinned back on the sides to keep it out of her face.
In the eight months since Allegra had met her, Vera hadn’t changed much. Her striking gray eyes were still solemn, her delicate features neutral, as if she were a being carved from marble.
She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and tilted her head, reminding Allegra of a watchful bird.
“Hello, Allegra,” she said.
“Vera,” Allegra replied. “How are you? Some trouble with a break-in, I hear?”
The corners of Vera’s lips quirked upward, but she didn’t reply — another trait the woman had displayed during their time in Jermaine’s trap. Allegra didn’t think she’d ever met anyone as conservative with her words as Vera.
“I’ve come for your help,” Allegra said, deciding she might as well take advantage of the bookseller’s dislike of small talk and get right to the point. “I have a situation at my place of work, and I believe it’s one you might help me resolve with your area of expertise.”
Vera’s only reply was to blink.
Allegra crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “I know we agreed we would have no further contact, so I’m sure I am not the person you expected or wanted to come walking through your door, but the case calls for your particular touch.”
“I’m surprised you’re still in town,” Vera said.
Allegra grimaced. “It is not by choice, I assure you. As I already told Gabriel, I wo
uld much rather be anywhere in the world but here.”
Vera’s pale eyebrows shot up. “You’ve seen Gabe?”
At the flash of interest in her expression, Allegra smirked. “Has our Gorgon-Fae not stopped in to say hello and share all the gossip with you yet?”
The faint, confused flush that filled Vera’s cheeks was the only response Allegra required.
“Perhaps if he is dragging his feet to come to see you, you should consider paying him a visit. I am sure he would not mind your company.”
When Vera’s gaze returned to its neutral stare, Allegra chuckled, but her amusement faded as her thoughts returned to her situation. “It seems I am trapped in New Haven by some unseen force, or else, I assure you, I would currently be lying on the beaches of Greece or shopping in Vienna. New Haven had enough to interest me for the first hour I was here, but has since neglected to offer anything other than inconveniences and trouble.”
A crease appeared across Vera’s brow, and by the gleam of recognition that drifted across her gray eyes, Allegra suspected this wasn’t the first time the semi-goddess had heard or experienced something of the shifting energy in her city. Allegra felt a bubble of anticipation. Ever since her dreams had begun, she’d believed she was the only one haunted by visions of something coming. Daphne certainly hadn’t been plagued by them, nor had Gabe admitted to experiencing anything strange. To think one of the others shared her premonitions made her hope she wouldn’t be alone in interpreting their meaning. It also made her dread that she’d been right and that they would soon be forced to face a greater threat.
“What have you seen?” Allegra asked.
Vera offered a slight shake of her head. “Nothing specific, just a change in the air and a growing client base for my other line of business.”
