“Do what you can,” I said, and Eldan nodded. I still questioned why he worked for me, but his loyalty was true. The seelie fae rarely shared their healing powers with other paranormals, but after all these years, Eldan had a vested interest in keeping my people alive.
I stalked back to my rooms, frowning at the witch in my bed. It hadn’t occurred to me to take her elsewhere, and from the befuddled looks Sitri continued to send me, the choice had been noted.
“Give me an update,” I ordered. Eldan had already seen to the worst of the witch’s injuries, and I’d instructed Gloria to examine her as she slept.
The witch frowned. She was powerful, but in her nineties, and unable to serve me in the field. “I sense power, but can only see a trickle of magic. Even that trickle is untapped, and would be all but useless if not honed.”
“What does that mean?”
She sighed, leaning back in the armchair as she gazed at the witch, her brow creased. “I believe she has some kind of suppression spell on her magic. Such spells are forbidden against all but our most dangerous criminals.”
“You believe she is one of these criminals?”
“I am an old woman,” Gloria said. “And I have long been part of the witch community. Even now, when shunned due to my relationship with you and your people, I have one ear to the ground. I would know if such a spell had been cast. Witches talk.”
“If not for criminal behavior, why would the spell have been placed?”
Gloria shrugged and got to her feet. “Your guess is as good as mine, demon. But it’s certainly a mystery that needs solving.”
“Does she know about the spell?”
“I don’t know. If, as your sources said, she rarely uses her power, it may be due to trauma. She may have asked for the spell to be placed herself, although I can’t fathom why one would do such a thing. If not, she may imagine that the tiny drop of power she uses is all she possesses.” Gloria frowned. “It would take incredible power to suppress another’s magic this way.”
I nodded and dismissed the witch, taking her seat as I glanced between the woman in my bed and the pile of weapons on the bedside table next to her. Asleep and silent, she was much smaller than she appeared when she was awake and challenging me.
The little witch presented a mystery that I needed to solve. I allowed my gaze to travel over her face and across the vulnerable line of her neck. I wanted to run one finger across her collarbones. Wanted to run the edge of my teeth along her vulnerable throat as I hissed filth in her ear.
The thought made my body harden and I stood with a curse. Danica was unlikely to wake for some time, and I had things to do.
8
Danica
Iwas lying on the softest pillow I’d felt in my life. It held a scent that almost made me purr in pleasure, and I nestled deeper, filling my nose with cedar and citrus.
The pillow cupped my cheek like a lover, supporting my head and neck in all the right ways, while the cool touch of silk urged me to go back to sleep. It was that thought that made my eyes fly open. My pillow was old, lumpy, and I kept forgetting to replace it. And my pillowcase sure as hell wasn’t silk.
I rolled and let out a strangled sound. My side ached from hip to ribs, as if I was bruised deep inside, and I panted as I slowly rolled onto my back.
My eyes met liquid silver and my breath hitched in my throat. This was Samael’s bed.
There was another pillow next to me and I grabbed it, panting some more as I shoved it beneath my head so I could sit up slightly. We stared at each other in silence.
“How long have I been sleeping for?”
“Sleeping is an interesting term for it. It’s Friday morning.”
Dread warred with panic in my stomach. I’d gone to the demon woman’s apartment on Tuesday morning. I’d lost three days. Oh god.
“I have a cat,” I choked out. Samael tilted his head.
“Bael handled it.”
I wrestled with that for a long moment. Samael had known I had a cat, and one of his demons had strolled into my territory, likely sliding past the ward I’d paid far too much money for.
But at least Lia was okay. Me? I’d just lost three days. Three days I desperately needed.
Samael watched me silently panic. Maybe he’d give me an extra three days to add onto my two weeks. I opened my mouth, snapping it closed as the demon tossed something in the air and caught it. I went very still.
