“You sure about this?” Lines of concern creased hisbrow.
“Stop worrying. Let’s face it, Harv, it’s been six months, and I’ve tried everything to find her…” She inhaled a shaky breath. The seedy places she’d gone to, flirting with men, demons, and Fallen just to get a lead. “This is the only way to find mymother.”
“Fine. Remember, summoning an Edge demon isn’t only risky, if they like the way you look, some of them will demand a shag instead of your blood inpayment.”
She snorted. “All they’re getting is money, neverthat. If it’s my blood…” She thought about it. “It’s a small price topay.”
“Okay, then.” He pulled out a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. Excitement hiked, causing the heat that had recently plagued her to surge in response. She ignored the latter, staring at the name. Finally. “Thankyou.”
“No prob—shit,” Harvey cursed, his gaze darting to the entrance of the backstreet. “Shae, forgive me but I must leave. It won’t end well for me, not withhimhere.” His bodyshimmered.
“Harvey, wait!Who?”
“You’re in no danger, just go back to the club…” His voice faded as hevanished.
What the hell had scared him off? Harvey wasn’t the type to run. She stilled, prickles of awareness skating over her skin. It made her tummy dip, and not in a fearfulway.
Shae pushed the paper into her jacket pocket. The sensation continued to assail her, growing sharper. Cautiously, she traversed the length of the alley then slowed. There. Deep in the shadows, a tall, dark figure slumped against thewall.
Leave—run!Her cautious side yelled. A low, tortured groan reached her, reverberating through her mind and clawing at her to help. Aw,crap!
Shae dug into her knapsack, found her blade, and slipped it into the back of her jeans. At least it wasn’t demons, or worse, their turned brethren, the soul-sucking demoniis. Taking comfort in the feel of her weapon, she inchedcloser.
* * *
Dagan cutinto another gloomy backstreet.Aaandfound himself back in the alley where he’d started hispatrol.
Farther up, more inebriated humans geared in their Halloween get-ups stumbled out of Club Nocte. The long line remained, partygoers braving the chill, waiting to getinside.
He scanned the place, but the vibe he’d been tracking had gone cold. He bit back a curse. Just great. Except for the demoniis he’d killed earlier, there was nothing that pricked at hissenses.
He headed in the opposite direction, deeper into the alley, away from the noise, and staggered to a halt. A mouth-watering scent flooded hissenses.
Blood. Fresh humanblood.
The seductive aroma seeped through him, tightening his body and saturating his mind like a compulsion. His jaw clenched, his incisorsthrobbed.
He whipped around, scanning the alley. Pain stabbed his belly, shredding his gut. Hunger took hold. He fell against the wall, struggling against the temptation, eyes shut tight. It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to plant his booted feet on the asphalt and not go after the faint ambrosiatrail.
Sometimes, he regretted killing that first damn bird which had bound him to his deadly thirst, but he understood too he couldn’t have deviated from that fated path any more than he could stopbreathing.
“Are you all right?” a husky voiceasked.
His gaze snapped to her. She was tall for a mortal, yet the top of her head barely reached his shoulders. He could clearly make out her alabaster features in the gloomy alley, and the noticeable, bumpy Y-shaped scar running down her cheek. He didn’t care how good she looked, right then, all he could think about was just how delicious she’d taste…blood infused with strawberries and spice.Decadent.
Familiar.
The predator side of him thinly leashed, he fought for control—battled not to sink his fangs into her carotid. “Leave!”
“Look, I’m just tryingto—”
“I don’t need help!” Damn do-gooderhumans.
The coppery nectar tugged at his senses, tempting him to will her closer so her rich, warm plasma could slide down his throat. And there, on her left hand, he found the source of his doom. Blood smeared her scrapedknuckles.
His fangs dropped.Shit.He held his breath, reached into her mind, and willed her gone…but hit awall.
What the hell? He could compelanybody.
