“We did,” Adare said, ending the conversation. The fact that Grace was special, one of the three Keys who were destined to destroy evil, would remain a secret, even from his old friend. Adare believed that was why the mating had taken hold without a physical union. Speaking of which, the woman should be acting grateful and not like a pain in his ass right now. He had enough going on.
Grace rolled her eyes. “Are you a hybrid, too?”
Adare bit back irritation. She had lived in the immortal world for nearly five years, and she couldn’t tell a pure-bred demon when she saw one?
“No,” Nick said, smiling. “I’m all demon. You can tell from the blond hair and black eyes, as well as the weird voice.” He jerked his head toward Adare. “Although I understand your question. Even hybrids usually take on the dominant aspects of only one species, except for your Highlander here. He’s unique.”
Whatever. Adare had the black hair of a vampire and the pure black eyes of a demon; sometimes, he felt his two halves fighting each other. Which was odd, considering both species were predators. “Nick? I apologize for taking you away from your family vacation. I owe you one.” When the king had called saying his computer techs had discovered a possible Key in Colorado, he’d called in Nick as backup. Adare didn’t need backup, but when King Kayrs meddled, he went all the way with it. Adare had agreed; he couldn’t afford to have the king all up in his business with the mission into Kurjan territory happening soon.
“No problem,” Nick said, almost cheerfully. “This has been entertaining. Also, it’s getting late. Why don’t you two stay in our extra room at the condo for the night? Apparently you have some things to talk about.”
“No, thank you,” Grace immediately said. “I need to be on my way.”
Adare took a turn up the mountain road. He had to get some things straight with Grace before he died, and no doubt Nick’s stronghold was well secured and far away from any humans. “We appreciate it, Nick. We apparently do have much to discuss.”
* * * *
This night could not get any more embarrassing. The idea that she’d been fooled by some moron who wore fake vampire contacts would haunt Grace forever. She’d love to call her sister and get a laugh out of it, but then she’d have to tell Faith everything, and she couldn’t do that. Faith had nearly gotten killed trying to save Grace before—it was time Grace stood on her own feet and stopped relying on her older sister so much.
Nick’s condo was more like a spacious lodge than a typical mountain cabin. Warm and welcoming lights spilled out of a multitude of windows in a hand-sewn log building that faced the back side of an imposing ski mountain.
Grace followed Nick up the shoveled front walk to the double wooden door, her camera equipment slung safely over her shoulder.
Nick used a keypad to unlock the door and moved inside, turning left immediately into a dining room where three females sat playing poker with real money all over the table. One was a stunningly beautiful woman with green eyes and dark red hair, while the other two were kids, one probably eleven and the other a couple of years younger.
The youngest looked up, her eyes the green of pure emeralds. “Mom just lost your lake place in Scotland, Dad. You can start paying me rent, any time.”
The woman rolled her eyes and stood. Even in jeans and a black sweater, there was something regal about her. “Adare,” she breathed, smiling and moving toward him. “It has been too long.”
He hugged her gently and then released her. “Simone Brightston, this is Grace Cooper, my mate.”
Grace shook Simone’s hand, feeling power surge up her arm in response. “Hi.”
“Mate?” Simone shook, her eyes dancing. “Aren’t you full of secrets?” She slipped an arm through Grace’s and pulled her into the dining room. “These are our two monsters, Cadhla and Riona.” Cadhla was the older girl, and she had Nick’s black eyes and Simone’s dark red hair, while Riona had Simone’s eyes and white-blond hair. A definite mix of species, perfectly balanced.
“You’re on the Coven council?” Grace asked, searching through her faulty memory. Hadn’t she heard of Simone? The female was a rather notorious witch.
“Yes, but I’m on vacation now.” Simone nodded toward the stacks of paper bills, which included currency from several different countries. “Currently, I’m about to lose one of my favorite motorcycles.” She pointed a finger at the younger girl. “You had better not be cheating.”
“How?” Riona snorted. “We all agreed that counting cards isn’t cheating, and it’s not like I can see through cardboard.”
Cadhla stood and stretched her neck, her legs long and gangly. “Can I go shop online, now? I want to get Hope something cool for the Valentine’s party she’s gonna have next month after the grown-up symposium. She’s a teenager, so I can’t get anything babyish.”
Simone waved. “Go ahead.” She looked down at Grace, leading her gently beyond the table. “Would you like anything to eat? We finished supper a few hours ago, but I can drum something up for you.”
“No, thank you.” The whiskey still rumbled around in Grace’s belly. “I don’t want to put you out. There has to be a hotel somewhere around here.” She didn’t want to insult a witch, but she had to get out of there. “It’s kind of you, but I should be going.”
“We’re staying,” Adare said, walking up behind them. “If you could show us to our quarters, I’d be grateful.”
Simone chuckled. “You have the subtlety of a walrus, Highlander.”
Heat spiraled into Grace’s face. The woman thought she and Adare wanted to be alone. Definitely not.
Even so, she let Simone lead them up hand-carved wooden steps and down a long hallway to a suite at the end. “Our guest suite is stocked with anything you could need, and you have a small kitchenette off the main room if you become peckish,” Simone said.
“Thank you.” Adare grasped Grace’s hand and pulled her into the room. “Goodnight, Simone.”
The witch shut the door, and Grace relaxed a little bit. She freed her hand and looked around. The suite held a quaint sitting area by the fireplace, with a king-sized bed in the far corner. One door no doubt led to a master bath, and the other to the kitchenette. “I don’t see that we have anything to discuss.”
