by Nina Bangs
She pushed the door open but couldn’t resist one look back. A thin band of blue had joined the black. Lust. Males thought about sex a lot. She wondered if he had a specific target for all that hunger, or if it was simply his normal state of being. Passion had no experience with lust. Didn’t want any experience. She sighed. Yeah, lying was a sin too.
Once outside, she drew in a deep breath of clean night air. She’d escaped. And that’s exactly how she felt even though he was the one in the cage. She’d have to toughen up if she wanted to do any good here.
But she would need some time to get used to everything. The only experience she had of the mortal plane was what she’d seen and heard in the minds of the souls she’d visited. Even though she’d been focused on easing their worries and nudging them down the path of goodness and light, she’d absorbed enough knowledge to blend in.
Blending wasn’t the problem, though. Heaven didn’t generate much emotion, nothing even close to what she’d felt as she stared at the demon. She’d better get a handle on her feelings fast. Ted always said that logic was what made angels superior beings, and that humans were beneath them because they were slaves to their emotions. So, no more out–of–control emotions.
Passion scanned the courtyard. People who must be arriving for the next fantasy stepped around her to reach the door. She moved out of their way. She was sure if she went back into the great hall she could find a door leading to the hotel lobby. Did she want to do that? And take the chance of locking eyes with the demon again?
She walked around the outside of the castle. And as she walked, she worked on her story. No luggage because the airline had lost it all. Passion was glad that at least the Council had given her a credit card and some cash. She’d have to go shopping tomorrow. Maybe buy some clothes in brighter colors. Not that she was letting the fake wizard get to her. What she looked like didn’t matter as long as she did her job.
She thought again about the demon with his amber eyes and his lust and…Maybe she’d buy herself a few sexy things. She had to fit in here, not draw attention to herself. And she couldn’t change evil if she couldn’t get near it. Those who embraced all that was wicked would be more willing to accept her message if she dressed like them. Not that she’d enjoy dressing like a slut. Hello, your conscience here. Run that thought past me again. Okay, so maybe she’d enjoy it a little. There were times when Passion despaired of ever living up to heavenly standards.
Edge went up in flames for about the five hundredth time this year, or at least it felt that way. As the fake flames rose around him, he thought about the woman.
He’d felt her stare, different from the others in the hall—tentative, intrigued, with no sexual response at all. Amazing. Edge had no illusions about his effect on women. They might not know what he was, but they all reacted to the power they sensed. They always claimed his face or body or—God forbid—his mind attracted them, but it went beyond that. No matter what humans wanted to believe about themselves, the promise of violence drew them. Just look at the top-rated TV shows. Lots of blood and death. Not that he was complaining.
The women never stayed long, though. Eventually their primal instincts kicked in, the ones that recognized him as a predator. And they ran. Smart ladies.
The flames roared around him, hiding him from the celebrating queen, virgin, and assorted other idiots. With a casual flick of power, he dematerialized.
He reappeared in the dressing room. Stripping off his cape and hood, he returned to thinking about the woman. Colorless, but with the promise of beauty if someone took the time to nurture it—tall and slender with long, pale blond hair that would flow over his body like cool spring water. And she’d gazed at him from light green eyes that hid nothing. Those incredible eyes said that he was the most amazing thing she’d ever seen. How could any man resist that message?
She wasn’t taking part in a fantasy. Was she staying at the hotel? He hoped she wasn’t just making the rounds of the park’s attractions and then going home. Time to talk with Holgarth.
Edge found the wizard being his usual snarky self with customers waiting for the next fantasy to begin. “Have a minute, Holgarth?”
The wizard turned to glare at him. Edge didn’t miss the customers’ relieved expressions.
“Why wouldn’t I have a minute? I have nothing to do but make sure the lifeblood of this castle, its fantasies, keeps running like the well-oiled machine I’ve made it after years of endless toil, sacrifice, and—”
“Oh, shit.” Edge started to turn away.
“But I suppose a minute won’t disturb my schedule too much. What do you need?”
Edge thought about the giant squid, even now peeking over the edge of his consciousness. Nah. If he offed the wizard, they’d try to kick him out of the castle, and he wasn’t ready to leave. Bad stuff would happen.
“There was a woman watching the fantasy. Tall, long blond hair—”
“I offered her the part of the lowly maiden, but she wasn’t interested.” Holgarth’s expression turned sly. “It was too far beneath her, I think. She’s more than she appears.”
“Explain.” Edge never underestimated the wizard’s shrewdness.
“Just a feeling.” He shrugged. “She seemed confused by everything that was going on, but I sensed a purpose in her. I don’t think she was a casual visitor to the castle.” Holgarth looked thoughtful. “There was something about the way she looked at you, as though she’d never seen anything like you in her life.” The tiny twitch of his lips was his version of a wide grin. “And of course she hadn’t.”
“Did she say where she was going?”
“No.” Holgarth was already turning back to his cowed customers. “You’ve had your minute. I now have to choose the shining hero who will slay the dragon in the next fantasy.” He swept his possible hero candidates with a contemptuous stare. “Where is St. George, or even Harry Potter when you need them?”
Edge snorted his disgust at Holgarth’s lack of helpful information and headed for the door leading to the hotel lobby. Once in the lobby, he glanced around. She wasn’t there, so he walked to the registration desk.
“Who checked in today?” This was a long shot. If she was a guest, she could’ve checked in days ago. The only thing he had going for him was the size of the hotel. The castle didn’t have as many rooms as a normal hotel, so there wouldn’t be that many guests arriving on any given day. But she might not even be staying in the hotel, in which case he was screwed.
And when did she become so important? Not important, just an interesting side trip. He needed something to break up his routine, and women didn’t usually catch his interest. It had been so many years…He shook the thought away to concentrate on Bill’s answer.
“Only a few new guests. A middle-aged couple, a guy here for the fishing tournament, and a woman who checked in a little while ago.”
“The woman. How old?”
“Twenties, long blond hair—”
“What room?” The hunter in him stirred.
“One-ten. No luggage. She said the airline lost her bags.”
“Name?”
The clerk grinned. “Passion McBride.”
Edge returned his grin before moving away. More and more fascinating. Who named their kid Passion? No luggage. He checked his watch. Still early enough for her to be up. He stopped in the lobby store that carried clothing and bought a few things. Then he headed for the elevator, faster but not as authentic as the winding stone staircase in the great hall.
Once in front of her door, he knocked and waited.
She opened the door and began speaking before she even looked at him. “I didn’t call for…” Then she saw him.
Edge watched her eyes widen and her lips part as she stared. Shock became her. She looked beautiful, vulnerable, and tempting all at once. If he leaned forward and put his mouth over those full lips, she’d really have something to be stunned about.
He controlled himself. First he’d slip into her mind to
see if there was anything he needed to know. But as he reached for her thoughts, he slammed into a solid wall of no. What the…? Humans couldn’t deny him, even when they tried. And she was human.
Edge narrowed his gaze on her face. Nothing in her expression hinted she was actively trying to keep him out. Strange.
“You’re…” She spoke the word on a soft exhalation of wonder and maybe a little fear.
“Not a demon.” I’m much, much worse. He smiled his most reassuring smile.
She didn’t look reassured. “I know that.” Her gaze dropped to the bag he held.
“I’m Edge. I help manage the Castle of Dark Dreams when I’m not bringing death and destruction to the locals.” Truer than she’d ever know.
“Oh.” She looked surprised.
“When I checked in at the registration desk, Bill told me you’d lost your luggage. We always want our guests to have a comfortable stay, so I picked up a few things you might need tonight.” He held out the bag.
“Thank you.” She smiled as she accepted his offering.
There were smiles, and then there were smiles. Edge had seen some of the best over thousands of years—sexy, innocent, calculating, and his very favorite, the you’ll–die-happy ones. Passion McBride’s smile was the best. It was innocence wedded to knowing, sensuality wrapped in unlimited possibilities.
He wanted everything that went with that smile. Just for a night. Because that’s how long his interest usually lasted. Besides, the few times he had hung around for more than a night, things had ended badly. He’d learned his lesson.
She glanced into the bag. “A nightgown, robe, slippers, and toiletries. You’re a lifesaver.”
When she looked up, her smile had warmed and some of the shock had left her eyes. But not all of it.
“I have about an hour before I do my second fantasy. I’m hungry. Bet you are too. Let’s go down to the restaurant, and I’ll buy us dinner.” He tried to look nonthreatening, a lot tougher than looking demonic.
Now would be when she’d say she was married, or that she didn’t go anywhere with men who scared her witless. Because he was frightening her. He could see the fear resting right beneath the shock. Interesting. Women never sensed his threat until further into a relationship. Not that a marriage or her terror meant anything to him. Nothing much had mattered to him for a very long time.
“Why?” Her question was straightforward.
He studied her before answering. No guile in her eyes. She wasn’t fishing for a compliment. Edge thought about lying, but for whatever reason told her the truth. “You interested me when I saw you watching the fantasy. There was something different about you. I like different.”
She looked horrified. “No, I’m not different. I’m just like everyone else. Do you really think I look different?”
Okay, this was weird. “Hey, if you say you’re ordinary, then you’re ordinary. I’d still like to buy you dinner.”
She seemed to relax a little. “I guess I could eat something.” She nodded. “I’m Passion. You can tell me about your job at the castle over dinner.”
He’d rather impress her with his real job, but he had a feeling her “ordinary” human mind would explode from that particular disclosure. He didn’t want to lose her that quickly.
A few minutes later, they were seated in the restaurant. He waited impatiently while the waitress took their orders before asking his first question. “So what brings you to Galveston and the Castle of Dark Dreams?”
She glanced past him out the window with its view of the Gulf of Mexico. “I’ve had lots of stress in my life lately. I wanted to spend a few weeks relaxing someplace with a water view. And castles fascinate me. So this is perfect.” She offered him a quick smile before looking away again.
A lie. She really needed to work on her technique. Avoiding eye contact was a dead giveaway. He was immediately intrigued again. Why would she want to keep her real reason for being here secret? Cheating on her husband? Somehow he didn’t think so.
As though she knew what he was thinking, she looked directly at him. “My turn to ask a question. Why have you allowed darkness to take you?”
2
Uh–oh. Passion watched Edge’s gaze sharpen. Her question had just popped out. She was too impulsive. Thoughts became words with no waiting period between them. Not smart in a place where evil walked. She was human, and she could die.
As for the evil…Passion knew it stared across the table at her. She didn’t need any color coding to tell her that. It was there in the wicked slant of his lips and the layered secrets hidden in those amber eyes. And it fascinated her more than was safe if she ever intended to return home.
“Why would you think darkness has taken me?” He leaned forward, and a few strands of his tawny hair fell across his eye.
Impatiently, he raked them back with fingers that seemed too long and elegant to belong to a man as dangerous as she suspected he was. All the better to wrap around your neck. His smile mocked even the idea that he was wicked, but his eyes looked wary.
And that wasn’t good. Passion needed everyone in the castle to see her as clueless and nonthreatening. “Nothing, really. Just a feeling. I guess seeing you as a demon affected me more than I realized.” She shrugged. “But feelings don’t mean much, do they?”
He seemed to relax. “Glad you don’t take them too seriously, because I’m a pretty laid-back and happy guy. A good guy.”
Right. He was also a big fat liar. She could sense the tension and need for violence surging just below the surface. What was he? Because he sure wasn’t human. She might be missing her usual powers, but her instincts never failed her.
Everything about him was just more. He wore a touch-and-you-will-get-burned warning any woman would recognize. The blond strands in his hair shone beneath the restaurant’s dim lighting. Thick, and looking so soft she wanted to reach out and…No, definitely wasn’t going there. Anyway, his hair almost brushed his shoulders and framed a face that hadn’t lost any of its savage beauty since she first saw it.
And his eyes shouted other. She sensed too many years filled with too many experiences for any human lifetime.
She would’ve gone on to catalogue the high points of his body, but the tattoo on one powerful bicep snagged her attention. The sleeve of his T–shirt revealed half of what looked like…“Is that the grim reaper on your arm?”
Edge pulled up his sleeve so she could see the whole thing. “I like the symbolism—hooded, scary guy coming to cut your life short with that crazy scythe. I know most images of him show a skull inside the hood. But I like this better. You can’t see a face, just a black hole. The unknown terrifies people. What do you think? Would you want to stare into death’s eyes?” He seemed serious.
“Not particularly.” Weird question. She’d swear he looked disappointed by her answer. Probably liked adventurous women, the ones who jumped out of planes or climbed mountains. Too bad she couldn’t tell him exactly how adventurous she was.
The waitress brought their food, saving Passion from any further discussions of death as she concentrated on her meal. Passion loved eating anything with lots of flavor, not something she got at home. She’d eat even if she wasn’t hungry just to experience the flavors. Guess that made her a glutton. She glanced down to make sure no orange was swirling around her.
And as she ate, she puzzled over her job here. What did the Council expect from her? She wasn’t one of the avenging angels, so they didn’t want her to eliminate anyone. A relief, because the thought of destroying Edge made her…uncomfortable. So what? Talk him down from where he perched on his evil ledge? Didn’t think that was going to happen. Maybe if she—
“I don’t mean to interfere”—a woman’s voice—husky, sensual, and way too eager—“fine, so I do mean to interfere.”
Passion looked up.
“I’ve been watching you. This is not an eat-your-own-weight–in–mashed-potatoes contest. You make a lumberjack look like a picky eater. Put down
the fork.” It was an order.
Surprised, Passion obeyed. She widened her eyes as the woman pulled out the chair next to her and sat down.
“Feel free to interrupt our meal and our private conversation.”
Edge sounded irritated but resigned. He knew this woman.
“Your boring conversation. I was listening.” The woman didn’t apologize to Edge.
“Do you know how amazing you are?” The woman’s eyes shone with wonder as she studied Passion. “You’re the perfect blank canvas. I can paint a masterpiece on you.”
Passion suspected an insult in there somewhere, but she was too busy staring at the woman to worry about it. Talk about painting a masterpiece. Passion had always wondered why lust was blue. Anything connected with sex should be a hot color. This woman was painted in every shade of sensuality anyone could imagine. Long red hair, sexy amber eyes, bloodred nails…
Wait, she had eyes the exact same shade as Edge’s eyes. An unusual color. “Are you two related?”
Edge narrowed his eyes at the exact same moment the woman widened hers. What had she said wrong?
“What makes you think we’re related?” Edge sounded indifferent to whatever she might say, but his white-knuckled grip on his glass told a different story.
“You have the same color eyes, and I’ve never seen that exact shade of amber before.”
The woman laughed. “Do you believe in coincidences?”
Passion didn’t, but she kept her mouth shut.
“Edge and I are just good friends.”
Passion glanced from one to the other. The way they avoided each other’s gazes hinted at something else. Love? Hate? She couldn’t tell. Interesting. Disturbing. And she didn’t have a clue why any relationship they might have should bother her.
“Oh, and I’m Sparkle Stardust. I own Live the Fantasy.” She held up her hand. “Before you ask, I chose my name. I’m just not a Susie Smith kind of person.” Her smile was friendly and open, promising that they could have all kinds of fun together.
