“Fellow citizens, both human and supernatural,” he called down to us. “What happened the other day is, as the Holy Representative stated, a tragedy.” He paused and cast a look out into the audience like it pained him to discuss it. “What he didn’t say, and doesn’t want you to think about, is that this sort of thing will happen again. And again. And again.” The crowd began to murmur, and I could see shock on the faces all around me. “Supernaturals are tired of being treated unequally, and we will demand change. The HR and the realm of Heaven cannot protect you from the chaos that is coming.” One final dramatic pause. “You may want to consider whether you are placing your faith in the right people.”
And then suddenly he was gone, evaporated into the night like a bad dream. A moment of stunned silence, and then the crowd broke into pandemonium.
As screams of anger and fear filled the night, I suddenly saw Eli striding out of City Hall. Where he’d come from and how he’d been able to react so quickly I had no idea. “Get him out of here,” he called to me as he approached and then breezed past me to the front of the crowd.
As I began to usher the HR and his tight group of angel guardians back into the building, I heard Eli address the crowd. “Everyone please remain calm. The HR and the realm of Heaven are doing everything in their power to maintain a peaceful society. Do not let the words of one disgruntled citizen sway you…”
The doors swung shut behind us, slicing off his words. “Well, that was unfortunate,” said the HR.
I bit back a laugh. Unfortunate? If that wasn’t the understatement of the century, I didn’t know what was. I also bit back the spew of vicious thoughts running through my head, thoughts about what I would do to Alexander when I finally caught him. To think he’d been right there in front of me and then escaped again was infuriatingly frustrating. And then that thorn of doubt speared me sharply—what if I couldn’t beat him? I’d never run up against something I couldn’t beat, not until now. Which was maddening all on its own.
“Eli will calm them,” I said, instead of all that.
The HR cast his eyes over to me as if to read my true feelings, but I’d put on a cold mask of impassiveness. I was really, really good at that when I wanted to be. After a moment, he looked away, his own expression unreadable.
We headed out the back of the building to the awaiting cars. Just as I was about to get in, Eli jogged up behind us. “Zyan, do you have a sec?”
I looked over to the HR. “Not really.”
“It’s okay,” the HR said. “Speak with Elijah. He can take you home as well.” He signaled to the driver and the gray sedan pulled away from the curb.
Eli got right to the point. “I’m sorry I lost my temper the other night. I still stick by my opinion, but I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.”
“Thanks, I guess.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “So, where were you tonight? And how did you know to show up at just the right moment?”
“I was looking for your sister,” he said. Not harshly, but with no attempt to sugarcoat it, either. “And as for the latter, angels can communicate telepathically with each other. I heard the commotion and jumped through the interdimensional roads.”
“I see.” A moment of awkward silence. “So, anything else in the works for tonight?”
“No.” Another silence. “So, where do you want me to drop you off?”
I pondered it for a moment. “My apartment I guess. I’ll change and go in to Noir for the night.”
“Yeah. The Seattle nightlife has been suffering without your famous cocktails.”
I couldn’t tell if he was trying to compliment me or illustrate once again how trivial my life was. I shrugged. “Maybe.”
He stepped forward and grabbed ahold of my arms, then we were whooshing through that tight space between dimensions. That space that was nowhere, nothing, between. The next moment we stood in my hallway.
“So I take it no luck with Anna?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral. Like Switzerland, baby.
“No.” He kept his eyes off me. Was there something more neutral than Switzerland? If so, he was it.
“Oh. Okay.” I reached for my keys and stuck them in the door.
“Wait, Zy—”
The door swung open from the inside. We both turned to see Donovan standing there, holding two glasses of wine. “Um, hi,” I said.
“Hi, gorgeous,” he responded.
“One sec,” I told him, then turned back around to Eli. “Sorry, you were saying?”
“Nothing,” Eli said. He offered a tight-lipped smile. “You two have a good night.”
“You, too,” Donovan said with a broad smile.
This was somehow really awkward. But why? Confused, I stepped inside and shut the door. Donovan hooked me in an intense gaze.
“Soooo, what are you doing here?” I asked.
“Quinn let me in.”
“And?”
“And, I came over to make you dinner. You’ve been stressed lately, with all this vengeance and long-lost sister and assassination business.”
I realized he was wearing an apron. A muscle-bound, Irish panther wearing an apron. I hid a smile. “So, since when are you this sweet?”
Donovan pretended to be hurt for a moment. “I told you—I’m going to do whatever it takes to win you back. So, I’m going to start by showing you my romantic side.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do you have such a side?”
“Yes. And to show you I’m serious, I won’t let you have sex with me tonight, even if you really, really want to.” He grinned.
“That’s you being romantic? Awfully presumptuous…”
Donovan just chuckled and headed back into my kitchen. I followed, feeling like this was all a bit surreal. “So, what are you making the soul sucker for dinner?”
“Spring lamb, extra bloody, with mash and whiskey sauce, of course.” He looked entirely too pleased with himself as he stirred the contents of a sizzling sauté pan. I took a sip of my wine, watching him covertly from under lowered lashes.
“Alright, well, it seems like you have this under control. I’m gonna feed Malakai and take a shower.” I turned to the fridge, taking my wine with me.
“I already fed Malakai.”
“You fed the dog?” I knew I had an incredulous look on my face.
“Yeah. Us beasts have to stick together. Me and Mal are good buddies now.” His eyes danced at my obvious discomposure.
“Um, okay. Thanks.” I walked to my room and closed the door. What the hell? Donovan had always been a nice guy—well, other than that pesky cheating thing. And that Irish bad boy thing. But not like this… this was just weird. And I have to say I felt like Quinn and Malakai were in on some sort of ex-boyfriend reunion conspiracy. Traitors.
I showered and put on a rather small silk robe before heading back out to the kitchen. When Donovan saw me, he almost did a double take. I smiled, smooth as snake skin. “How’s everything heating up?”
“Fine. Uh, what’re you wearing there?” His eyes were having a hard time staying on the stove.
“Oh, just what I always wear around the house.” I blinked innocently at him. It was true. I did always wear this robe. “You said we were just going to be friends, so you don’t mind, right?”
He took in an unsteady breath. “I never said we were just going to be friends. I said I was going to show you my romantic side. The side we never got to before.”
I stepped in closer, drinking in his scent. “Because we were too busy doing other things…” My eyes turned up to his with all the pull the gaze of a professional seductress could have.
The next step forward was his, which closed the distance between us. One finger reached up and traced the edge of my jaw, then traveled down to pull the robe off my left shoulder. His lips hung poised just over mine, so close I could feel their warmth, and the electric buzz of his shifter energy. With his free hand, he untied my robe with practiced ease and it fluttered to the floor. His fingers brushed down over
my hips and around to the small of my back…
“I knew you couldn’t do it,” I said, my lips turned up triumphantly.
Donovan blinked, like someone waking up from a dream. “What?”
“Your whole bullshit line about being romantic and not having sex with me.” My hands were on my hips now.
“Oh, come on! You were totally seducing me!” He threw up his hands in a gesture meant to indicate how helpless he was against my feminine powers.
“So, what happens when some other hot chick starts seducing you?” I narrowed my eyes and held him tightly within their hazel glare.
“Other women aren’t as pretty, and—and cunning—as you are,” he said, trying to lay a charming smile on me.
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.” I dipped down and grabbed my robe. When I straightened, I gave him a condescending pat on the shoulder. “Sorry, D, but you’ve got a lot of work to do before you’re even going to have a chance at getting me back.”
Contrary to the disappointed look I expected, he wore a small smile. A hopeful smile. “So, there’s a chance then?”
Shit. Now he’d never give up. “Uh, that’s not exactly what I meant…”
“It is exactly what you meant.” He thought he had the upper hand now.
“Think whatever you want,” I said, trying not to sound too pouty. “And when’s this food going to be ready?”
“Just a couple minutes, my lady.” Donovan made a low bow, turned back to the skillet and started stirring things around.
It was more like five minutes later by the time he had plated everything up and we were eating on the sofa. “This is really good,” I said with my mouth full. “Who would’ve thought you could actually cook?”
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me,” Donovan said enigmatically.
“Like?”
“Like… I enjoy writing haiku.”
I giggled. “You’re joking, right?”
“No. It’s sort of fun. And relaxing at the same time.” He grinned.
“Tell me one.”
“Uh…” He looked up at the ceiling, thinking. “The night she is black. But not cold or unfriendly. In darkness comfort.”
“Wow… that’s impressive and astonishing. Did you just make that up?”
“No, that’s an old one. The basic rules are easy—just three lines: five syllables in the first, then seven syllables, then five again.”
I gazed at him like he was a stranger. “What other crazy things are lurking about in your psyche?”
“Well, I guess you’ll have to spend more time with me to figure it all out.” He took a bite of the lamb.
“Maybe so.” I sat in contemplation for a few moments, chewing my food. “So, why do you want me back so badly?”
Donovan laughed. “Is it really such a mystery? Why do I need to explain it?”
“Well, you had me before and it wasn’t enough. And admittedly, our relationship wasn’t exactly deep. Mostly physical. So, is that all you’re after now, or what?” As I found myself trying to sound nonchalant, I realized I actually cared about the answer.
He was silent for a moment before answering. “We were together over five years ago. Not very long in immortal years, I know. But for me, a lot has changed. I don’t just want the next pretty thing that walks in front of me. I want the whole package. Someone that’s smart and tough and funny. And not just anyone beautiful, smart, tough and funny. I want you. I realized over these past few years that you’re one of a kind, and I let you go. So, when you walked back into my life a few days ago, I knew I couldn’t let you walk back out again.”
I sucked in a deep breath. After all our playful banter, I hadn’t been expecting such a serious response. Even though I’d asked. “Well—okay.”
“Is that all you have to say?” He smiled a little, but with a vulnerability folded into it.
“No, I just—” I struggled for the words. Actually I had no words. I was blank.
At that moment, my cell phone saved me, chirping from somewhere in my bedroom. “Hang on a sec.” I jumped up and practically fled to my room. I didn’t recognize the number on the screen, but flipped it open anyways, relieved for the distraction. “Hello?”
“Hello, Zyan.”
I froze, my blood coming to a stop in my veins.
Anna.
“I want to speak with you. Alone. Meet me outside the carousel at Pier 57 in twenty minutes.” Her voice was neutral, revealing nothing.
Had she reconsidered what I’d said? Was she ready to roll over on Alexander? My heart pulsed like a mad thing in my chest. “I’ll be there.”
The line went dead.
I turned off my phone and stood there in the darkness for a moment. Eli would want me to call him. But Anna would know he was coming and bail. I didn’t really have to debate it—my choice was clear.
Slowly, I changed clothes and then walked back out into the living room. Donovan shot me a questioning gaze.
“That was Eli. Something’s come up. I’m really sorry, but I’ve got to go.”
“Uh, okay. Can we finish this conversation later?” He reached out and took my hand.
Damn. He’d just spilled his guts to me and here I was running out the door. He probably totally thought I was lying. Which, I was. But not because of that. “I promise I’m not trying to evade our conversation. Something really came up. It was sweet of you to make dinner and everything.” I met and held his eyes for a moment, so he could see my sincerity.
“Yes, and you seducing me and then denying me was a blast, too. We’ll have to do it again sometime.” His eyes shone with mirth.
I laughed, high-pitched and a bit strained. So unlike my usual laugh I felt sure he’d pick up on it and realize something was wrong.
“I’ll go put up the plates,” he said. “You mind if I let myself out after I put everything up?”
“Yeah, sure,” I said distractedly. “I’ll call you soon, okay?”
“You’d better. I don’t cook for everyone.”
I laughed again, a bit more naturally this time. “Good night, D.”
“’Night, Zy.”
I opened the door and stepped out into the empty hall.
She stood silhouetted against the lights, nothing but a dark shadow.
“I’m glad you came,” Anna said.
The bright lights at the entrance to the carousel shone to my right. “What’s up?” I asked.
“Not here,” she said. She turned and walked away from the water. After several minutes of criss-crossing through the streets, heading south into the industrial sector, she abruptly opened a door in a shabby gray building. Glancing back at me, she led the way into a large room with concrete floors.
“Another warehouse?” My eyes scanned the building quickly, taking in the crates on the left and the forklifts to the right.
“It does lack in charm, doesn’t it?” Alexander stepped out of the shadows behind one of the pieces of equipment. “But then, the three of us more than make up for it, don’t you think?”
Anna shot me a smirk and stepped up next to him. “Did you really think I just wanted time with my big sis?”
I shoved down the wave of defeat that roiled inside me. “Well, you lured me out here, so let’s just get to the point. Why am I here?” I growled, tapping my fingers impatiently on my arm.
Alexander spoke. “I wanted to see if you’ve been enjoying our little game. Has it been fun for you?” His eyes sparkled, both with humor and an icy coldness. “Long-lost sister and all?”
“Oh, it’s been a blast,” I purred, purposefully ignoring Anna’s gaze. “But surely that’s not the only reason you brought me here?”
“Has it dawned on you yet, Zyan, that you can’t beat me?” He ran his fingers through his inky black hair.
“No,” I lied. “Because we both know that’s not true. You wouldn’t even be bothering with all this if you thought I had no chance.”
His eyes flickered. Maybe I’d struck a ner
ve. “I get my fun in a variety of ways. Letting Arianna take the fall for me was pretty amusing. Silly woman. She thought I actually wanted to sleep with her… but we both know she’s not my type, hmm? I like them so much younger.”
I suppressed a surge of rage. “Well, I can agree that arresting her was quite fun. Just for being stupid enough to get involved with you. She should be old enough to know better.”
“Like you. So mature now. I’m sure it drives you crazy wondering why your sister doesn’t see through me like you do.” Alexander’s reciprocal smile was dark and unhealthy like melted chocolate.
“Anna will see the truth eventually,” I said. I did look at my sister this time. “And then she will leave you.”
“What do you think, love?” Alexander asked. “Are you going to abandon me like your sister abandoned you?”
“If I hadn’t left, I would have killed all of you, the whole family,” I said, addressing Anna. “After that first taste of a human’s life force…” I cast my eyes down, looking hard at the concrete floor as I remembered it. “I was pretty inhuman for a long time.”
“Clearly, since you murdered our father,” Anna said. Her words punched into me, and her eyes burned colder than a glacier. Colder than the far, black reaches of the universe.
Could she ever forgive me for killing the man who raised us? She obviously didn’t acknowledge Alexander’s part in the whole tragic story.
“So, Zyan.” Alexander’s voice cut through the band of pain that had washed over me. “Anna and I would like you to take a little stroll with us. We want to show you something.”
“Show me what?”
Alexander sighed. “So many questions. You are a suspicious one.”
“Either follow us or don’t,” Anna said coolly. She turned and walked through a door on the opposite side of the room.
I hesitated for only a moment. The longer I spent with them, the more information I could glean. Maybe I could find some sort of weakness in Alexander’s power that could be used to my advantage.
Gesturing for Alexander to walk in front of me, and getting his slick smile in response, I headed for the door. Anna had already disappeared into whatever room lay beyond. I paused in the doorframe, seeing nothing but an empty room before me. Alexander and Anna had turned and were looking at me. I had a moment to feel a tickle of unease before I felt a stronger tickle all around me. The pull of magic. My eyes widened and I tried to step back. Too late. Everything went black and I felt the now familiar pull of a shift in dimensions.
Martinis with the Devil Page 16
