by J. N. Colon
A storm brewed in his eyes, waves of green crashing through his irises. “I want to finish this thing as much as you do. When it’s over, we’ll never have to see each other again, and I can leave this fucking hellhole.”
My head snapped back. “What do you mean leave? You’re the Unseelie prince. Where else would you go?”
Caleb pushed off the wall and all but shoved me out of the way to get to his apartment. “Just go back to your room. I don’t feel like chasing one of your half-assed leads tonight.” He slammed the door behind him so hard the floor rattled beneath my feet.
I stared at the intricate wood grain as if he’d pop out and reveal this was a joke.
That didn’t happen. Caleb had left me in the cold with his unusually icy mood.
My jaw clenched as I whipped around and marched down the hallway, resisting the urge to yank one of the lavish gold sconces off the wall. The spoiled Unseelie prince could spend the rest of the week playing with that stupid blonde pixie for all I cared. I had a killer to find.
And my next stop was demon territory.
I just had to blend in like any other nightworlder. As long as no one discovered my intentions, I’d make it out in one piece.
But if the demons realized I came for the dagger, I’d better be ready to run.
Because a battle with a bunch of Underworld creatures on their own turf wouldn’t end without bloodshed.
Chapter 18
Across the street, blue neon lights spelling Pulse flashed against the onyx exterior of the demon nightclub like a welcoming beacon.
Or a warning.
Was I seriously going to walk into a den of demons alone and dabble with my death raker powers to find out more about this mysterious dagger—the same one whose mere image violently tossed me out of a meditation spell?
Yep. That was the plan.
After our fight last night, Caleb had been MIA all day, not that I was looking for him or anything.
Maybe I did want an apology for his asinine behavior.
He hated witches—a lot of fae did—but, like me, he’d only been a kid during the war. He couldn’t hold me responsible for anything that happened any more than I could blame him for witches being kicked out of our territory.
A light tremor shook my hand as I unzipped the snazzy new leather jacket from the trendy clothing store around the corner. With magic and my five-finger discount, it was practically a steal.
I choked back the lump of guilt trying to rise. If I was going to be immersed in the dark side of Chicago’s supernatural world, I might as well go all out. What was the point in following the rules? Besides, the store would hardly miss the jacket or the low-cut black lace shirt that showcased my vibrant purple bra underneath.
Blue spotlights high above the massive double doors washed over the line stretching all the way around the corner. Piercings, tattoos, vibrant hair, leather, and metal speckled the waiting clubgoers.
The crosswalk light finally turned green, and I headed across the street with a gait that was a lot more confident than I felt. I hadn’t spent much time in demon territory, and even though I could handle myself, I’d be stupid not to be leery. As masters of deception, demons would do or say anything to get what they wanted—and that usually included a taste of your soul.
Cigarette smoke and perfume drifted on the chilly wind as I bypassed the line, heading for the beefy bouncer guarding the entrance. The tight black T-shirt could barely contain the bulging muscles of his upper body. Soon, the material would rip clean off.
I flipped my hair over my shoulder and dazzled him with a flirty smile. “Hi.”
The silver stud piercing his ebony eyebrow glinted as he arched it. “The back of the line is that way, princess.” He ticked his shaved head toward the restless crowd.
My magic rushed forward until the reflection of my glowing violet eyes shined in one of the chrome stanchions connecting the velvet ropes. “Come on, can’t you just let me in?”
“Nope.” The piercing blue irises marking him as a demon sparkled like a frigid ocean under a sunrise. He enjoyed this way too much. “Unless you’re a demon, you get to wait at the back of the line.”
My face fell. Seriously? I peeked over my shoulder at the throng of customers. I’d never make it inside Pulse tonight if I had to wait in the back.
“Hold up, Malik.” Another demon strolled from the shadows of the awning, his gaze slowly roaming over me.
Feeling way too exposed under his scrutiny, I resisted the urge to zip my jacket up to my neck. He looked like he wanted to eat me for dinner.
“There’s something about this witch.” He motioned for my hand, and I reluctantly placed it in his. The blue lights above danced on his lime green mohawk and highlighted the pointy tips of the spikes piercing his earlobes. A slow smile spread over his mouth as he studied my palm like a street psychic doling out free readings. “Very interesting,” he muttered under his breath.
“What’s up, Dirgos?” Malik released a bored sigh. “Are we letting her in or not?”
I pried my hand out of the creepy demon’s grip. “Yeah, what’s the deal? Can I go in now?”
Dirgos nodded and slinked backward to grab the door handle. “Have fun in there, Thorn.”
Ice slithered through my veins, and I nearly tripped on my own boots. “I didn’t tell you my name.”
“No, you didn’t.” He began to close the door, so I had to dart forward before the heavy steel crushed me.
I grabbed my chest as if that could stop the sudden rattle of my heart. What was that about?
“Welcome to Pulse.” The loud voice interrupted my panicked thoughts. A female demon sporting a neon pink crop top perched on the edge of a table, a lollipop dangling from her mouth as she eyed me up and down. “We don’t get a lot of witches in here.”
“I bet.” Thumping techno music radiated beyond the thick curtain obscuring the entrance. “How much is the cover?”
When I reached into my pocket for my wallet, the demon shook her head, tossing platinum ringlets around. “It’s free for witches tonight.” She winked and stamped a blue pulse line on the back of my hand. “Have fun.”
Fun was the farthest thing from my mind tonight.
I dragged the curtain aside and stepped into the smoky club. Unlike Shade, sleek chrome, black, and leather stippled Pulse. Blue lights bounced over the crowd of bodies and reflected in the giant mirrors lining the cathedral room. Lust, hunger, and desperation slithered through the warm, sticky air.
Demons attracted a certain kind of human, weak and easily preyed upon or those looking for danger.
They’d definitely find danger in a place like this.
I trudged through the eager swarm, cringing when fingers ran down my arm. Ugh. Nothing like being felt up by some creep in a club.
Sensual female demons in black leather bikinis and stilettos danced in suspended cages, their spiked collars flashing with each beat of the blue and white strobe lights.
Sexist much? Where were the scantily dressed men?
A demon sauntered by and flashed a sultry smile, the tray of glowing drinks he carried splashing colors on his bare torso. The painted-on leather pants hanging low on his hips left little to the imagination.
Never mind.
I pushed through a group of humans congregating near the mirrored bar, all preening for the bartenders. My nose wrinkled at the mass amounts of perfume, cologne, and lust.
If they only knew the beautiful creatures they drooled after were really monsters hiding in a pretty shell, they’d trample over each other trying to get away.
“Hello, gorgeous. What can I get you?” The demon’s deep, sultry voice sent flutters through my lower stomach. I bet he had his pick of victims.
I smiled and leaned closer, making sure he got a whiff of my witchy essence. “What do you suggest, handsome?”
At the diner, Sheila always spouted something about catching more flies with honey than vinegar.
He nodded appreciativ
ely. “I got just the thing, pretty witch. And it’s on the house.” He began whipping up a colorful cocktail, his movements a blur within the blue lights encircling the bar. The Pulse logo zipped across his black T-shirt like the screen on a heart monitor.
I chewed on my lip and tried to ignore the tingles radiating across my scalp from being surrounded by demons. They wouldn’t attack me like Batista had, not in their own territory and in front of humans.
The bartender passed over a layered purple and pink drink with a blaze of crimson on top. “I call this an underworld sunset.” His white teeth shined within the darkened atmosphere.
I grabbed it, taking a small sip from the straw. Sour flavors melted over my tongue, followed by a lightly sweet tang. “That’s good. Much better than those fae drinks at Shade that tastes like a pound of melted sugar.”
His eyebrows rose toward lustrous strands of navy falling atop his forehead. “You must be brave if you’ve been to Shade. Witches and fae still have some bad blood.”
I gave a noncommittal shrug. In hindsight, I’d call walking into Shade stupid. “I like a little danger every now and then.”
His teeth sank into his bottom lip as he studied me. “The name’s Suric. What’s yours?”
“Thorn.” I took another sip and placed the drink on the bar. “Do you think you can help me?”
“Anything you want, Thorn.” He winked.
Why did this suddenly remind me of flirting with the bartender at Jake’s? I hoped my night didn’t end in a fight. Caleb wasn’t here, so the chances of that happening lowered by more than half. “I’m looking for a demon I met the other night at Shade. I was wondering if you might know him.”
When a group of girls waved to get his attention, he made eye contact with a female bartender, ticking his head toward the enthusiastic customers. She sneered in annoyance, but once he pouted, she gave in.
Even demons weren’t immune to his hotness.
“Does this demon have a name?” he asked.
“Link.”
The edges of his mouth slowly tipped into a crooked smile. “So, the angel-faced demon caught your eye?”
My pulse tapped out a frantic beat. He knew exactly who I was talking about. “More like the darkness behind those golden looks.” My fingers wrapped around the tall glass to mask their sudden excited trembling. “We were interrupted before I could give him my number.”
Suric pulled a phone from his pocket. “Let me see if I can track him down for you. And if he doesn’t fulfill your fantasies, I’ll be more than happy to.”
I bet he would. “Sure thing.”
He strolled down the bar and disappeared into a door between two mirrored shelves. I turned away from the counter to scan the crowd. Humans danced provocatively, having no clue demons were sizing up their souls and devising the best way to get a taste.
Demons only needed a little soul at a time to survive, but some enjoyed the complete surrender of a victim.
And some simply wanted to kill.
I took a shaky breath and peeled back the invisible curtain of glamours to see their true nature. Some demons were born appearing relatively human, while others came straight out of the Underworld like extras from a horror film.
Scales, twisted horns, and claws flashed under the strobing lights. A demon sauntered by, jagged teeth protruding from the tip of his chin all the way to his forehead. If he opened his mouth wide enough, he could devour a human whole.
A shiver rippled down my spine. He was the kind of monster that probably enjoyed human flesh. His slitted eyes met mine, and I glanced away, pretending to find my drink extremely fascinating.
“Not even in my wildest dreams did I expect you to search for me.” Link stepped out of the crowd, golden curls tousled, green button-down shirt lightly disheveled, and expression brimming with mischief.
A breath of relief exited my lungs at his human-like appearance. I wasn’t sure I could do this if his true form turned out to be a beastly, saliva-dripping creature.
“Well, I’m here to make your dreams come true,” I said, flipping my hair over my shoulder.
“Suric told me your name is Thorn.” A broad grin curled his mouth as he eyed me, shortening the distance between us until the warmth of his body collided with mine. “I thought you had a thing going with that fae who interrupted our fun the other night.”
I shook my head to clear my vision, allowing the glamours to fall back into place. “He’s a little tame for my tastes.”
“If you’re interested in a wild time, I know just the thing.” He held his hand out for me.
I choked back the unease and laid my palm in his, letting him pull me off the stool. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
“You’ll see.” Link drew me through the congregating masses surrounding the dance floor, a line of sweat leaking down my nape and beneath my jacket.
What did I get myself into? If his idea of a wild time was some freaky demon orgy, I was going to fry his balls to crispy bits with my magic.
Link stopped in front of a shimmering curtain, nodding at the tall, lanky demon guarding the entrance. His long fingers curled around the glittering fabric and pulled it back to allow us inside.
Dim purple lights grazed black leather couches and chairs currently occupied by demons and a few human guests. Tiny glass vials of iridescent liquid shimmered on mirrored tabletops. My pulse quickened at the hunger and lust penetrating the warm air.
I wiped a bead of sweat off my temple, resisting the urge to remove my jacket. I already felt way too exposed in the lacey camisole that showed my bra.
A human girl laid her head back in a demon’s lap, and he held her mouth open, depositing drops of the shimmering liquid on her tongue. He flashed a twisted smile as she moaned and writhed in ecstasy.
A hard rock plummeted to the bottom of my gut. Shit. I was not trying whatever magic demon drug they were peddling back here.
My fingers dug into Link’s hand. “What is that?”
He winked over his shoulder. “Just something to kick things up a couple of notches.”
This situation needed to be yanked down a couple of notches.
Link halted in front of a demon lounging in an oversized leather chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He had to be well over six feet tall. “How’s it going tonight, Dumont?”
The guy wasn’t even discreet as his gaze slowly roamed my body, paying special attention to my cleavage. “The usual.” His cheekbones and jaw were sharp enough to slice me.
“Let me get two.” Link jerked his chin in my direction. “Something tells me she’s not a lightweight.”
Dumont’s leer made my skin crawl. “I bet not.” The blue lights shined on his slick black hair as he reached into his pocket, drew out two vials, and passed them to Link. “Let me know if you need more, sweetheart.”
Ugh. I just threw up in my mouth.
When Link began to draw us toward a group partying together on a sectional, I dug in my heels. “Let’s go over there.” I flicked my hand to a dark corner and nibbled on my bottom lip. “I’d much rather hang out with you alone.”
White teeth flashed as he grinned like a predator licking his chops before a meal. “That sounds even better.”
The secluded corner shrouded us in shadows, but I still shivered from the watchful glare of Dumont. That guy was a creep.
Link folded onto a couch and pulled me into his lap. “You’re going to love this. I promise.”
I highly doubted that.
When he started unscrewing the cap off a vial, I grabbed his hand. “Just a minute.” I brushed my lips over his, the taste of alcohol and cool mint lingering.
Link let the vials drop onto the cushion beside him, and he gripped my hips, shifting me so I straddled him. His fingers slithered up my back beneath my jacket as his tongue swept into my mouth, tangling with mine.
Hard knots twisted inside my stomach. I didn’t want to kiss him. Part of me kept thinking about Caleb, which was
ridiculous. Was he kissing someone else right now? Zeta? Or maybe a flirty human girl?
Forget about him!
The prince’s image evaporated, and I focused on the task at hand—the other reason my insides began to cramp and churn. The time to unleash the death raker had arrived.
My hand traveled up Link’s arm, splaying on his cheek. As soon as that connection cemented and my touch became deadly, his body shook.
“Show me more about the dagger,” I whispered in his ear, willing his secrets to tumble out.
Link groaned in protest, but his attempt to fight proved futile. Memories began flooding into my mind.
His fingers curled around two silver handles in the shape of snakes, pulling a decorative display cabinet open. Soft light shined on the dagger from its spot gently cradled in plush crimson velvet.
A window appeared, framing Chicago’s downtown skyline.
“Where are you?” I asked.
An opulent room materialized, ancient artifacts lining shelves and artwork hanging on shiny walls.
Link flinched as the memory further developed, revealing a delicate hand on his shoulder.
“You’ll get a chance. I promise.” The feminine voice slowly swirled out like a trail of smoke. A shapely figure moved around him, a sheet of platinum hair framing icy-blue eyes while a disturbing smile tipped a pair of glossy lips.
I shouldn’t be surprised Cyria, the voluptuous queen of demons, had her sharp talons in this.
Hands suddenly clutched my arms and yanked me off of Link, breaking the connection. I was whipped around, coming face to face with the towering creepy demon who sold the vials of drugs.
“What are you doing, witch?” Dumont’s fingers dug into my biceps hard enough to leave bruises as he studied a disheveled Link over my shoulder.
I yanked out of his grasp and tried to keep my legs from collapsing under his scrutiny. “Maybe he took too much.”
Link coughed and shoved the unopened vials onto the floor, the full bottles rolling into the toe of Dumont’s boot.
Or not.
