With the neon lights off and the streets virtually deserted, the neighborhood looked more lonely than seedy. He wished he could have shown Raya the place in its heyday, full of artists and composers mingling in the cafes and cabarets.
They took the stairs to the door of Cosmo’s bar.
Phoenix paused. “This time, maybe let me do the talking?”
“I’ll say what I like, thank you very much.”
Managing Raya was like herding a cat. He should know—he’d been one. Phoenix opened the door.
Demons at the bar and tables scarcely glanced up before returning to their own conversations, recognizing Raya and deeming her harmless—thanks to Cosmo’s endorsement.
How little they knew.
From his usual table, George raised his usual fruity beverage.
Phoenix nodded to him and addressed Cosmo at the bar. “Cosmo, set us up, please. And grab one for yourself. We need to talk.”
Raya elbowed him in the side. “Aren’t you masterful.”
They slid into chairs at George’s table.
George leaned in. “Back so soon? Did you give that mortal what for?”
“Not exactly.”
Raya snorted.
Cosmo set down a tray of drinks and took the fourth chair. “What’s this all about, Phoenix?”
Phoenix picked up a drink. “Now, stay calm—”
Cosmo rolled her eyes. “That’s exactly what you shouldn’t say if you want someone to stay calm.”
“And for Lucifer’s sake, don’t interrupt.”
Cosmo mimed zipping her lips and throwing away the key.
Phoenix took a drink before continuing. “We have a problem. The witch that Raya went out in the woods with—”
“Nathan,” said Raya.
“Yes, thank you. Are you telling this story, or shall I?”
Raya batted her eyelashes innocently. “Go ahead.”
George chuckled.
“Nathan is trying to capture demons.”
Cosmo shrugged. “What’s new? That’s what witches do. That’s why I don’t let any in here that aren’t vetted.” She nodded to Raya.
“You don’t understand,” Raya said. “He doesn’t want to capture a demon. He wants to capture all the demons. At least, all the demons in Paris.”
Cosmo laughed. “That’s not possible. No witch is that powerful.”
Phoenix shot Raya a look. “Tell her.”
Raya sighed. “Not normally, no. But Nathan found a source of power too big to draw from on his own, and—”
