by J. N. Colon
“He is a cute little bugger,” Dianne said, a ghost of a smile curling her lips, diminishing the sour expression she’d been wearing.
“Mmm hmm,” I said out loud, forgetting I was talking to a spirit.
Lana’s hand stalled on Demy, her dark brow lifting curiously until he let out another little meow to catch her attention.
“What’s his name?” Mimi’s head popped up. “It is a boy, right?”
I nodded and watched the Russian shifter roll over on the table so the girls could rub his belly. I rolled my eyes at him. “Romeo.”
“Awe! How cute.” Mimi turned all her attention on the furry kitten, forgetting her deceased grandmother was even in the room.
Hours later after my last appointment left Demy sat at the edge of the table, staring up at me with glistening violet eyes while flicking his tail back and forth. He stayed with me through each séance, sitting on my lap or slinking around the room when the fancy struck him. Even though I was certain he was laughing at my over-the-top antics it was nice having him around—as reluctant as I was.
His tiny mouth opened up, letting out a frustrated meow again because I wouldn’t pet him.
My eyes narrowed. “I think you’ve had enough attention for one day.”
One long, heart wrenching meow echoed between us while his violet eyes watered, threatening real tears.
“Okay, okay.” My hand reached forward, rubbing behind his ear. He was so cute and soft I found myself leaning even closer.
His tiny paws extended and planted on my chest, forcing a laugh out my mouth.
“Of course you went straight for the boobs.” I shook my head and picked him up, nestling my face against his. Loud purring immediately drifted out of him and he rubbed against my forehead.
My throat tightened as I thought about running out on him this morning. When Miranda left I stayed in the bathroom until I heard him leave, unable to face him. “I’m sorry about this morning Demy,” I whispered. “I just…”
He let out a soft meow, stopping me.
“What a sweet little kitty.”
I looked up to see MJ pushing back the curtain to open the room to the rest of the store. She sauntered in, the material on her skirt shimmering in the candle light and her bracelets clanking together.
“Yeah he is sweet—when he wants to be,” I mumbled that last part. Much to his disappointment I deposited him back on the table, allowing her to pet him.
Her eyes looked at me. “Any plans for tomorrow? You’re off.”
I shook my head. “Not really.”
“You could always come by and help me in the store.” Her voice took on a light, whimsical tone, but I could see the hopeful expression beginning to melt across her face.
Demy made a funny sound and swatted her hand away.
MJ’s eyes widened. “Oh, I guess that’s a no.”
My brows narrowed at Demy. “Bad kitty.”
She sighed and started blowing out candles for me. “It’s just as well. You deserve a day off after working so hard.”
I didn’t mind coming into help her with regular customers. It gave me something to do other than think about Mac and all the ways my heart hurt. Apparently the Russian shifter had other ideas for my day off.
“You got a cat?” Madison was suddenly looming over the table, staring at kitten Demy. Her black hair with chunky scarlet highlights framed her deceptive elfin face and brushed her slight shoulders. Her frame was tall and lithe like a dancer, but I knew better. She was stealthy and nimble—like a killer.
The formally deceased hunter tried to kill me and now somehow in death she was helping me in order to atone for her bad behavior in life. I wasn’t certain I bought it. I was still waiting on her to pull a poltergeist and try to murder me with a clown doll or something.
Her dark eyes bored into him with curiosity. “Are you sure you can handle a pet.” She shot me a pointed look. “You are a vampire. What if you eat him?”
“Ewwee. I wouldn’t even. That’s disgusting.” My stomach rolled at the thought of sucking an animal dry. I didn’t glitter and sure as hell didn’t drink animal blood. Eat animals? Yes. Drink? UGH!
MJ raised her brow at me from across the room. This wasn’t the first time she witnessed me speaking to invisible people, i.e., ghosts, but it still threw her sometimes. “Ghost?”
I nodded and turned my attention back to Madison who managed to make her hand corporeal enough to pet Demy’s head.
He suddenly shot up, his back raised and hair sticking straight up like a Halloween cat. His violet eyes were wild and pupils in diamond slits while he hissed in her direction.
Peals of laughter tumbled out my mouth so hard I had to grab my stomach. “Holy fish filet that was hilarious.”
Demy shot me a warning look.
“I guess he doesn’t like me,” Madison mused looking into Demy’s purple eyes, a knowing expression crossing her face. “Wait a minute… is that the sexy Russian shifter?”
A smile curled my lips. “The one and only Madison.”
His head whipped around, staring at her. Ever since she helped save him he’s been more tolerant of her presence. He stuck his little pink tongue out at her before hoping down and disappearing out the door and into the main store.
“What a strange cat,” MJ mused, glancing between where he disappeared and me.
After I removed all my psychic Moon-gem garb I helped MJ count out the register. She’s lost more than a few dollars due to her wondering mind. Hudson has pointed me in the right direction when she sat down her stack of money while distracted.
“Thank you Moon-gem. I do appreciate your help,” she said, closing the antique register with a loud clang. “I forgot to sleep with moonstone beneath my pillow and feared my nightmare about money burning into dust would come true.”
“Good thing I was here.” I flashed a smile.
Demy unexpectedly came around the corner—human sized—looking like he was up to no good as usual. He was also looking good as usual in threadbare jeans and a black Perfect Circle t-shirt that show the lines of his lean muscles. His inky hair was a mess probably from the myriad of female customers petting him. One corner of his mouth twitched, threatening a smile while his expression remained blank except his eyes. Those were filled with mischief.
MJ turned around, spotting him coming from deep in the store, her blue eyes widening. “Oh, hello.” She let her shawl slipped from her shoulders as she began playing with a piece of long, wavy blonde hair. “Who are you?”
My brows knit thinking she should be wondering why someone was still in the store when we were closed.
“I am Demyan Dragoniv.” He did a dramatic bow and then seized MJ’s hand, planting a kiss on the back of it. “But you beautiful lady can call me Demy.”
I rolled my eyes and stuck my finger in my mouth.
MJ giggled like a school girl and grabbed her chest as if her heart might plop out. “Well, hello Demy. I’m Madame Josephine, at your service.”
His laughing gaze flickered over to me. “I’m actually here to see Rubi.”
Her finger went to her lip. “Oh, do you have an appointment? We’re closed…” Her eyes slanted toward me for confirmation. “I think?”
“He’s not a customer,” I answered. “He’s…”
“Definitely not a customer,” he interrupted and sidled up to me, slipping one arm around my waist and tucking me into his body. “I’m much more.” His studded brow lifted in that suggestive way of his.
Oh man, what was he doing?
MJ’s eyes flickered between us, a smile curling her lips. “Oh my.” She literally fanned herself, her collection of bracelets clanking together. “Rubi Moon-gem didn’t tell me she had such a…” She paused, looking Demy up and down as if trying to find the right words. “Lovely boyfriend.”
“He’s not my…”
Demy’s thumb and forefinger unexpectedly pinched my lips closed, preventing the rest of my sentence from flowing out. “Don�
�t be shy pumpkin pie.” He winked at MJ. “Rubi likes to keep me a secret.”
A breathless laugh tumbled out her mouth, shaking her necklaces. “Oh my. I might do the same if I was in her place. I wouldn’t want anyone else snatching you up.”
Freaking fish sticks. I couldn’t believe him. I reached up to remove his fingers. “Yes, well…”
“No one could ever snatch me from my beautiful princess,” he exclaimed and pressed his palm to my chest. “She holds my heart for an eternity.”
MJ clucked her teeth and pressed her fingertips together, slowly drawing her palms to each other. “That is so sweet.”
The twinkled ring of the phone echoed from the back of the store. “MJ, the phone is ringing.” I was well aware she couldn’t hear it.
She blinked a few times as if clearing the lovey dovey pink fog from her brain. “Hmm?”
I pointed down an aisle. “The phone. It’s ringing.”
“Oh.” She jumped and floated out from behind the counter, waving her fingers at Demy before disappearing down the wrong aisle.
I turned toward Demy, smacking his arm. “What the hell was that?”
A low chuckle vibrated through his chest. “Nothing. I was just having fun.” He whirled my body until I was facing him and wrapped his hands around my hips. “Are you almost done? I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since I’ve been here.”
“What about the crackers the sorority sisters were hand feeding you?”
His face remained impassive, but those violet eyes flashed. “Jealous?”
I scoffed. “Yeah right.”
Demy’s hands tugged me closer, his face leaning forward and nuzzling my neck. “Don’t worry princess. They were only a means to an end. A quick massage and a little snack.”
I flattened my palms against his chest, trying to push him away. “Cut that out.”
He held his ground. “Why? You didn’t mind when I was a little kitten.”
“You were cute then.”
He pulled away in fake offense. “What am I now?”
“A big Russian idiot.”
With a mock gasp he suddenly yanked me to him, pressing our bodies together and burying his face in the crook of my neck. “Take it back princess.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. “No way.”
A growl vibrated in his chest. “Take it back or I’ll tickle you.”
My body tensed at his warning. “You better not Demy. I swear you’ll regret it.”
Demy pulled back a few inches. “Okay, I won’t tickle you… for now.” His hand reached up and stroked the length of my jaw, tilting my face up closer toward his.
My heart suddenly fluttered of its own accord and I knew from the flare in his eyes he heard it.
Damn.
My cheeks flamed and I bit my bottom lip, which was stupid because it instantly brought his attention to my mouth. He was going to kiss me.
I thought about Miranda’s words this morning as I cried my heart out and decided I would let him kiss me.
As if he saw the answer in my head he leaned forward, barely brushing his lips against mine. A sigh unexpectedly slipped out my mouth and I felt his lips curve up against mine.
Suddenly the bell over the door jingled, signaling a customer.
Damn it. I thought MJ locked it. “I’m sorry, but we’re closed,” I announced.
“I’ll only be a moment.”
A familiar haughty male voice flooded my ears and I snapped my head around to see Anton Svensson standing in front of the door, wearing a smirk. He looked like the epitome of a pretentious, stick stuck up his ass sob with his platinum hair slicked and billion dollar suit on. If Draco Malfoy was a muggle instead of a wizard he’d look exactly like him.
“Anton.” I couldn’t hide the mixture of surprise and trepidation in my voice at his sudden arrival. He and his wife always seemed to be attempting to discredit me.
“Hello Princess Rubi.” His dramatic bow dripped with insincerity. “It’s nice to see you out and about.”
“Thanks,” I responded dryly, having no doubt there was a reason for his mysterious visit.
“Is there something we can do for you Anton?” Demy moved beside me, his arm brushing up against mine while tension thrummed through his body.
Anton’s lips twitched, wrestling to keep them from curling in derision. “Hello Demyan. How are you?” His wife flat out told me of her dislike for shifters.
“Outstanding. You?” There was no mistaking the loathing in his tone.
Anton absentmindedly picked at a nonexistent piece of lint on his finely threaded suit jacket. “Tremendous. And you’re father?”
“Stellar.” He crossed his arms against his chest, his posture defiant. “Now if you don’t mind we were just leaving.”
A dark, humorless smile curled Anton’s pale lips. “You two seem…” His glacier eyes roamed over us with something akin to loathing. “Cozy together.”
A threatening growl vibrated through Demy’s chest. “That’s none of your business.”
I put my hand on his bicep to halt his advance forward. “Is there something you want Anton because we really were leaving?”
He sauntered to the left, his cold gaze lingering over the shelves of occult products. A long finger reached out and poked a mass of hanging crystals, a crescendo of tinkling echoing. “I honestly wanted to see how you were doing Princess Rubi. You’ve been a little…” He pursed his lips as if searching for the right word. “Less than present in vampire society.”
He struck a chord inside me. “So,” I snapped. “Things are a little complicated right now.”
Anton flashed a smile that was supposed to be sincere. It wasn’t. “I understand you’re grieving for your mate, but as the future monarch you should be focusing on what’s important. Our world is in a crisis right now with the hunters and their new poison.”
Miranda’s words from earlier slammed right into my chest, nearly cracking a rib. This was exactly what she had been cautioning me about. Anton was perceiving me as weak and for all I knew he was spreading his message through vampire society.
“The Davenports have held the throne for some time and you are the last as of now.” His back was turned away, but his duplicitous voice gave me the impression he was smiling smugly. “You wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt their chances of continuing to rule.”
My heart shuddered to a stop at his warning. Was he saying there was a chance the throne could be taken away from the Davenports? Surely not.
Before I could question him Demy stepped forward and threw an arm over me protectively, pulling me slightly behind him. “In case you haven’t noticed the hunters already assassinated Mac and they’re probably gunning for Rubi now. She can’t exactly go floating around in vampire society.” His violet eyes flared, glowing unnaturally in the soft light of the shop. “You said it yourself—the vampire world is in crises and you can’t afford to lose another heir to the throne.”
Anton turned back around, shooting us a placating smile. “Of course. I suppose things are too dangerous for our young princess at the moment.”
Cold trepidation sank into my chest, cooling my blood. Why did I get the feeling the Svennsons wouldn’t mind my death? That would mean the Davenports would have to pass the throne to someone else when Whitmore stepped down—maybe even the Svennsons.
I was going to say as much, throwing him off his game, but a loud, clicking sound tickled my ears. I clenched my jaw to keep the squeal in my mouth wanted to release. Hundreds of bugs were crawling down the walls, rushing over each other.
Ick!
My hand instantly jerked up, checking my neck to make sure it was my hair tickling me and not a giant centipede.
“Princess?”
I snapped my attention back to Anton’s, his platinum brow arched curiously.
“Are you all right?”
“Fine.” My eyes drifted toward the multitude of creepy crawlers fighting for a spot on the wall, some dr
opping to the ground in battle with echoing crunches and splats. My stomach churned and I choked back a gag.
I was a carnivore, but bugs were not meat. They were yucky bugs.
Anton cleared his throat. “You seem distracted.” His gaze followed mine, having no reaction to the bugs. Neither did Demy. Why would they? I was the only psycho freak to see them!
“Just tired,” I lied.
Demy’s purple eyes were on me, narrowing with suspicion.
Chapter 8
I finally escaped Demy’s watchful eye when his father Dimitri called him. I left him alone in my room on the couch after several silent protests from him as he listened to his father’s baritone voice. I lolled around the mansion, looking for Whitmore to ask if there was any news on the cure.
Honestly I simply wanted to make sure he knew I was interested in the welfare of the vampires. I might not be well versed in the politics yet, but I definitely knew a thing or two about this poison and how it was affecting us.
I slipped into Whitmore’s study already knowing he wasn’t there. I sniffed, trying to determine how long it had been since he left. The air smelled of leather, brandy, and jasmine. He was probably last in her with Miranda about…
I scoffed out loud. Oh please. I was no CIS vampire detective. I could barely figure out who was dead in the room much less when someone left it.
With a sigh I sauntered over to his desk and grabbed a pen from the glass holder to scrawl him a note. A manila envelope was in the center of a stack of papers with the royal crest stamped on it and ‘official royal council’ marked below. My curiosity suddenly piqued and I opened it—and wished I hadn’t.
The picture of Dana Livingston stood out starkly against the black and white pages describing the details of her murder. My throat closed up and eyes avoided her face, but then the words of poison and hunters stood out brightly amongst the others and I went back to her pretty face smiling at the camera.
Her raven hair blew in the wind as she sat on a wooden bench at what was probably her school. A gray tartan skirt barely covered her long, lean legs while a white blouse and navy blue blazer sat atop with a crest on the left breast pocket.
