Good point, but she wasn’t giving up. The reasons were more complicated than she cared to examine, but nevertheless, she didn’t want him going alone. “I’m going with you, and that’s that.”
Taeg shook his head. “Suit yourself. But if you want to tag along, you’re going to have to do everything I say, and I mean it.”
Argh, he could be so annoying. “Fine.”
“Fine.” His fingers drummed on the steering wheel and he gave her a brief glance. “Are we gonna talk about what happened between us last night, Maya?”
What could she say? She couldn’t tell him the truth: that she was scared to take things any further between them. “I need some time to think about everything. Okay?”
His hand tightened on the wheel, but his voice sounded normal when he replied, “No problem.”
They drove the remainder of the way in silence.
Maya waited until they were back in the city to ask, “Do you think you’ll be able to get the sword’s location from the fae sisters?”
“Oh, I’ll get it,” he said darkly. “One way or another.”
Chapter Fifteen
“You’re taking her to Opiate with you?” Ronin was clearly amused.
“She insisted,” Taeg replied. “And she can be pretty damn insistent.”
Ronin laughed, long and loud. “I never would have believed it. My big brother Taeg, pussy-whipped.”
“Screw you.”
Next to him, Keegan let out a snort. “Yeah, Ronin, give it a rest. He’d have to actually get some in order to be whipped, wouldn’t he?”
“Screw you, too,” Taeg snapped at Keegan. He never should have confessed he hadn’t slept with Maya, but when Keegan had asked him point-blank, he hadn’t been able to deny it.
Taeg downed the remainder of his whiskey before stepping from the terrace back into Keegan’s apartment. He’d brought Maya here so he could fill his brothers in on what he’d learned.
Once Brynn had heard he was taking Maya to Opiate, she’d insisted on taking her out to buy some club-appropriate clothes. Keegan had tried to get her to stay home, but she’d brushed off his objections. Bram and Reiver had looked less than pleased as they’d followed the women out of the apartment.
They’d come back about an hour ago, and from the teasing grin Brynn had given him, he had a feeling the outfit was going to be killer. Not that it mattered. He’d want Maya even if she was covered in day-old goat’s blood.
Keegan and Ronin stepped into the living room behind him.
“Have you thought about this?” Keegan asked. “She damn near freaked out when it was just our group. How do you think she’ll react in a club full of non-humans?”
“Especially the kind of non-humans who go to places like Opiate,” Ronin added. “Devious and shifty, the whole lot of them.”
“We all make the occasional trip to Opiate,” Taeg reminded them.
“Point made,” Keegan said.
Taeg thought about it for a minute. “You know, I think she’ll handle it fine. Maya’s tough. She’s seen shit you wouldn’t believe and come out stronger for it.”
“Sounds like you admire her.” Keegan knocked back his glass of whiskey, then yanked Taeg’s empty glass out of his hand and headed to the bar set up on a side table. He generously refilled both glasses and handed one to Taeg.
Taeg watched him. Why did he look so smug? “You sound like you want me to like her.”
“Why not? She’s tough. She’s beautiful.” Keegan shrugged. “She might be perfect for you.”
“You’re crazy,” Taeg said. But inside he couldn’t help but think Keegan had a point. Maybe, once this was all over they could find out. Aw hell, what was the point in even contemplating this? If he wasn’t careful, he’d get attached to his little slayer without having spent one night in her arms. And that would be fucking insane.
“Don’t mind him.” Ronin smirked. “Now that he’s hitched, he wants everyone to feel his pain.”
“Best thing that ever happened to me.” There was no mistaking the stark honesty in Keegan’s voice.
“Come on, give it up,” Taeg teased him. “The old ball-and-chain isn’t around to hear you.”
But inside, he knew Keegan was right. Brynn was the best thing that had ever happened to him. That was why Taeg had to make sure she’d be safe, no matter what.
There was a moment of steady silence before Ronin spoke. “Have either of you gotten any news about Leviathos?”
Taeg sighed. “Not a freaking thing. He keeps off the radar a damn sight better than our father ever did.”
“Let’s not forget, in many ways he’s smarter than our father was,” Keegan said. “And less conceited, which gives him an advantage over Mammon.”
“Maybe he has no plans to get his hands on the Book,” Ronin ventured.
Although Leviathos hadn’t been heard from since he’d escaped when they captured Mammon, it was the first time any of them had ever suggested he might not want the same thing Mammon did.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Taeg snapped. If there was one thing he knew about Leviathos, it was that his envious nature would lead him on a path straight to the Book. He wanted to rule worlds, like their father had. And more than anything, he wanted his revenge.
“Ronin has a point,” Keegan said. “After all, we haven’t heard a thing from him, and he’s bound to know where we are. All this trouble for the sword may be for nothing.”
Okay, coming from Keegan, that was just stupid. His hand involuntarily tightened around the glass and it gave a crunch as it cracked. “So what, should we leave Brynn unprotected? What about the baby? Your baby? Don’t you even care?”
Keegan’s back went rigid and he set his glass down on the side table. “You better watch what you say, little brother. That’s my fucking family you’re talking about.”
“Then act like it, bro,” Taeg shot back. “You’re living in a dream world. I’m sure it’s great and all, getting to play house with someone who loves you, but you need to get your head out of your ass. Until the Book is destroyed, we’re all in danger.”
“That’s it,” Keegan growled.
He lunged across the room so fast Taeg barely saw his fist before it connected with his jaw. He staggered back, the glass in his hand falling to the floor and shattering on the hard wood.
Damn, that hurt. Keegan always did have ham hocks for hands.
Taeg turned back on his big brother, the coppery taste of blood filling the back of his throat. He and Keegan used to fight all the freaking time, but Keegan had mellowed out big-time since marrying Brynn.
It was a shame. He’d missed this.
The glint in Keegan’s eye said he was game for a brawl, so Taeg grinned at him. “Let’s do it.”
Ronin let out a long-suffering sigh from his spot across the room. “Here we go again.” But at least he didn’t try to use his calming ability on them this time.
Glass crushed under Taeg’s feet when he lunged at Keegan. His fist landed with a glancing blow to his brother’s cheek. Keegan laughed and swung at him with an uppercut that made him take a bite out of his tongue.
“Son of a bitch.” He swallowed the blood pooling in his mouth and closed his arms around Keegan, capturing him in a body lock. They staggered across the room, each trying to get the upper hand.
“Oh my God.” Maya’s muffled gasp stopped them both cold.
Taeg let go of Keegan and turned to see Maya and Brynn standing in the entrance to the living room. Maya stared at the both of them in shock. And yeah, he’d have to be blind to miss what she was wearing.
Well, fuck me three ways from Sunday.
Her outfit was hotter than he could have ever imagined. A poured-on, sleeveless blue dress that pushed her cleavage way up and dropped down to mid-thigh, and her signature knee-high black boots. Her hair had been straightened and hung nearly to her waist, showcasing the sexy hourglass shape of her body. He didn’t notice he was drooling until Keegan gave him a light punch i
n the gut.
“You look... hot,” Taeg managed to choke out.
Maya frowned. “What’s wrong with you two?”
“Uh... just letting off some steam,” he mumbled, wiping the small stream of blood trickling from his mouth.
“Never mind them.” Brynn gave the both of them a dirty look. “This is pretty normal around here.”
Maya turned to Brynn. “They fight like this all the time?”
“Not nearly as much as they used to, which means about once a week,” Brynn said.
Maya looked at him, surprise written all over her face. “I thought you only got off on fighting with me.”
There was a moment of marked silence before everyone else broke into laughter. Maya’s cheeks turned bright red, as if she’d just realized she said those words aloud. Devil’s balls, she was so freaking cute.
As the laughter died out, Brynn directed a pointed glance at Keegan, then at the broken glass littering the floor. “You’re going to clean that up. Now.”
“Sorry,” Keegan mumbled.
Brynn shifted her attention to Taeg, freezing him with a glacial glare until he, too, grumbled an apology. Raising a brow, she said, “You’ve got blood on your shirt.”
He looked down. “Shit.” When Maya looked horrified, he said, “Don’t worry. I’ll be fully healed by the time we make it downstairs.”
“Come on, you can borrow one of my shirts.” Keegan clapped him on the back and headed toward the hallway.
Brynn faced Maya. “See? All is forgiven. Fighting is like breathing to these boneheads.”
Taeg swallowed back his automatic snide comment. He wasn’t about to mess with a pregnant lady. “Be right back.”
He followed Keegan out of the room.
“Men,” he heard Maya mutter.
“Yep,” Brynn agreed. “Demon or human, they’re all the same.”
He barely processed the insult. No, he was too busy thinking about his little slayer and how luscious she looked in that dress. It highlighted every curve of her body, and she had plenty of them. Damn, but she was just about perfect.
Perfect for you.
Keegan’s earlier words echoed in his head, kicking around in there until they were all he could think about. How the hell was he going to keep his hands off Maya tonight?
You’re not.
He looked at his crotch and muttered, “Shut up, dick. I’m in charge here.”
“What did you say?” Keegan called out, looking back at him.
“Uh... nothing.”
Yeah, and just to prove he was wrong, one more thought of Maya and the damned traitor rose to life, right there in the hallway of his brother’s apartment.
It was going to be a helluva long night.
§
Maya sat in the passenger seat of Dagan’s car while Taeg drove them to Opiate. A school of butterflies had taken flight in her stomach. She pressed down hard in an effort to calm her nerves, reminding herself she was the one who’d wanted to go with Taeg. She still did, but the prospect of facing yet another place filled with Others made her nervous as hell. Especially after what Brynn had told her about the club.
“Make sure you stick close to Taeg. Opiate can get a little bit scary.”
“Scary how?”
“It’s hard to explain.” Brynn had hedged, busying herself with helping Maya straighten her hair. “It’s not that I think anyone will try to hurt you. It’s just... well, make sure you stay alert.”
The whole exchange had left her feeling on edge. She turned to study Taeg, who looked hotter than normal tonight, if that was possible. Black slacks took the place of his usual jeans, and he’d borrowed a gray lightweight sweater from Keegan. His hair was casually tousled, as if he’d just hopped out of bed and run his fingers through it. Or maybe someone else had, after spending a long, sleepless night in bed with him.
Just the sight of him made her wet. It was so unfair that he could make her feel this way without even trying.
When he swiveled his head to throw her a questioning look, his red eyes reflected against the light of the streetlamps. “What’s up?”
She wasn’t about to confess her real thoughts. “What can I expect at this club?”
“It’s like Eros, but a little more hardcore. You’ll see all kinds of Otherworlders there—gargoyles, vampires, werewolves. Mostly shady types.”
“What about humans? Will there be any there?”
“The only humans you’re likely to see will be there with Otherworlders. Humans who are attracted to the supernatural. Or Feeders.” His eyes blazed. “Stick by my side the entire time. Follow my lead. Do what I tell you.”
She let out a snort. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”
“Maya,” he said with a note of warning in his voice, “you promised.”
That’s right, she had. Damn it. “Fine.”
He grinned. “That’s a good girl.”
“Fuck you.”
“Love to,” the smartass replied.
Okay, she wasn’t getting anywhere with this verbal exchange. She turned to stare outside the window, memorizing the streets as they passed them by.
After a few minutes he reached out and grasped her hand. “It’ll be fine, Maya. Promise.”
His warm, husky voice melted her worries away.
“All right,” she said softly, stifling a shudder when his thumb started a lazy caress along the back of her hand. The man was like a furnace. The kind that could make any woman want to burn.
They finally pulled up to a relatively quiet street in Harlem. It was pretty dead this time of night. A tall, heavily muscled man in a black suit stood on the sidewalk next to where Taeg had stopped. He opened the passenger-side door.
She gave Taeg a puzzled glance, but he was already stepping out of the car. He tossed the keys to the man. With a shrug, she climbed out of the passenger side.
The man inclined his head in a gesture of respect, all the while giving her an appreciative once-over. “Ma’am.”
“This way.” Taeg casually looped an arm over her shoulder. His touch sparked an involuntary shiver throughout her whole body.
“Cold?” he asked her.
“No.”
She instantly regretted her automatic response when he smiled, as if he’d guessed the real reason for her shiver. He didn’t comment on it, though, but simply examined her with a blatantly sexual perusal. “I like your dress.”
That was no surprise. The thing was so tight it left nothing to the imagination. She’d argued when Brynn had picked it out, but Brynn had reassured her that even with this outfit on, she’d look like a nun compared to most of the other women at the club.
“Thanks. It’s made of jersey, so the fabric will stretch if I need to fight.” It was the only reason she’d finally relented and agree to wear it. Well, that and because she could wear her regular boots, with the daggers tugged inside their compartments.
“How many fights do you think you’re getting into tonight?”
“Never hurts to be prepared.”
Taeg appeared to consider her words, then nodded. “You’re right.”
He led her in between two buildings housing storefronts that were closed and gated for the night. They entered what looked like a normal city alleyway—dark, smelling of piss, and littered with stray bits of garbage that had flown in off the street. Creepy, as alleys tended to be.
“Are you serious? The club is down here?”
“Wait and see.” Several yards in, past a set of Dumpsters, a green metal door cut into the wall. Taeg led her to it and rapped sharply with his knuckle.
The door swung open to reveal another man, almost a clone to the valet in terms of size and manner of dress. He must have recognized Taeg, because he inclined his head and moved aside to allow them entrance.
“What’s up, Vinnie?” Taeg said to him, not bothering to wait for a reply as they walked by.
Directly ahead of them was a small reception area. A short, oily demon sat be
hind the tall, enclosed desk.
“Taeg, pleasure to have you with us, as always,” he said in a high-pitched voice.
Taeg nodded his head in acknowledgment. “Noch.”
Noch turned to look her up and down. His eyes lingered on her cleavage. “What an enchanting guest you have.”
Eww. She’d have to scrub for an hour tonight to rid herself of the dirty feeling of his lecherous gaze on her.
Taeg didn’t respond to Noch. He steered her toward a set of red-carpeted stairs that led to the second floor. The walls of the narrow staircase were painted a deep red, and the banister was covered in a black-and-white zebra pattern.
They reached the top of the stairs and she gasped at what she saw. “This place is insane.”
He shrugged without bothering to reply, and she shifted her focus back to the interior of the club.
Rounded booths were scattered throughout the room, the black round tabletops accented by the zebra pattern covering the seats. On one side of the room, a large bar lined the wall, the backdrop a mixture of dark red wall and metal scrolling. The look might come across as gaudy in some locations, but here, it lent an aura of mystique to the place.
But as interesting as the decor was, that wasn’t what had caught her eye. It was the people. The club was jam-packed with them, mostly Others. One of the booths housed a small group of what she suspected were vampires, deep in heated conversation, their flawless porcelain skin almost glimmering in the dim light. More creatures were scattered throughout the space, some with horns protruding from tough grayish hide, or large talons curling out of monstrous hands.
A man with a goatlike lower body edged closer to her while leering, as if he was purposely trying to brush his privates against her.
Nasty.
Maya stifled a shudder and scooted in toward Taeg. “Where exactly are you meeting this contact of yours?”
Taeg scanned the crowd. “Benny could be anywhere in the club. Might not even be here yet. He’s not the most predictable when it comes to meetings.”
“Great.” Her stomach felt like a lead weight. This place gave her the freaking creeps. She didn’t know how long she’d be able to stand here without trying to kill something. Namely that freaky goat-man. Her fingers itched to close around one of her daggers.
Mark of the Sylph (Demons of Infernum, #2) Page 17
