“Don’t waste your time with him, little mortal,” he drawled. “Immortals don’t consort with mortal females on a permanent basis.”
Jesus, why her? She’d left one prejudice-minded mage to land with their equally opinionated enemy. She said in a stony voice, “I'm glad we were put here for your amusement.”
“You are angry. Emotions are overrated, you’ll find.” He indicated the sideboard set against a window, laid out with a coffee pot and a covered plate. “Eat.”
“I’d rather eat with the devil.”
“Your wish is granted.”
Eve scowled. She clamped her lips shut and made her decision. She had to touch the fiend, find out what he planned to do, and prayed she wouldn’t black out in the process. No way would she allow Reynner to walk into a trap.
***
Sebris bit back on the pain mowing through his bones like acid. Taking a deep breath, he studied the seated female. He found it interesting the angry red flush streaking her face at his promise of trapping the Empyrean.
“Enlighten me,” he said, his gaze traveling down her body and back up again. There was something different about her. He couldn’t quite decipher what it was. “You’ve been with the Empyrean a while now. What does he do?”
In response, she got up and headed for the sideboard only to stumble. She let out a strangled gasp, her body shuddering as she fell against him. Sebris caught her.
What was wrong with this female? Was she defective?
Humans. So damn frail.
His gaze lit on the wound near her hairline. A wet scab had formed over it. Yes. Her blood would tell him the truth.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
He dumped her back on the chair and willed the gash to start bleeding. Swiped a finger over the blood trailing down her forehead.
She gasped and jerked away. “What are you doing?”
He licked the trace of red on his finger. Said coolly, “Tasting your blood.”
Color drained from her face. “Why?”
“Because I can.” A coppery taste coated his palate and a slight hum rose in him only to dissipate. This wasn't what he picked up when he nabbed her from that street. She was mortal, yes, but no hint of the power that roiled so furiously through him and made his body tighten.
He stilled, his heightened senses picking up on the disturbances outside.
He headed for the sideboard, poured a shot of vodka in a squat glass and sucked back the liquor, enjoying the blistering trail burning his throat. It blurred the pain for a brief second, but it crawled right back into his bones again. He’d come back far too soon, didn't equate long enough.
And for what?
This human had too little of the magic in her. Which meant he’d taken the wrong female from the chaos. And yet the Empyrean guarded her like a rabid wolf.
Turning, he leaned against the sideboard and studied her. She shifted warily in her seat. He recalled the blood scent, that strain of magic hitting him square in the chest. No, it wasn’t from this female. Another was on the street, hurt—the only thing that made sense.
Sebris retrieved his cell phone and made a call. Keeping the conversation in his language, he told Paxyn what he required then slipped the device back into his pocket.
Time to end this and face his enemy.
He glanced at the female he’d wasted valuable days trying to capture because the Empyrean got her first. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 25
Upstate, near the Hudson, Reynner eyed the two-story building opposite him as he waited for the others. The rich scent of soil and trees filled his lungs as he drew in another harsh breath.
His fists clenched. Pain tore through him. He wasn’t in the least bit surprised at Inanna’s retaliation after his attack on her. Usually, he didn't give a fuck what she did, except the damn agony prevented him from completely opening his mind to Eve.
