The day felt like it stretched out for years. I waited in the Legion’s meeting room while the demons hunted down the killer. After stopping by the cafe, Az and I had returned to Serena’s apartment to grab one of her shirts. The killer’s actions had given him an idea. If we had her scent, we might be able to find her before the trade tonight.
No such luck.
Phenex returned first with an apologetic smile. He tried to keep me distracted with a game of poker, but my heart wasn’t in it. I didn’t care if my hand won or not, so I kept throwing low number cards on the table. Valac drifted in second. He didn’t say a word. Just perched on a chair and frowned.
Slowly, the rest of the Legion arrived. Bael and Stolas were next, followed by Caim. Az was the last to walk through the door.
“I’m sorry, Mia.” His hands hung heavily by his sides. “We haven’t been able to find her.”
A twinge went through my heart as I stood on shaky legs. “Then, we’ll get her back with the trade. We have to.”
His lips lifted in the corners. “You really are brave.”
The compliment caught me off guard, and a sudden heat filled my face. I didn’t really know what to say or do or where to look. Definitely not at the other demons. They were probably smirking at me.
Clearing my throat was all I could manage.
“The trade it is,” Caim said, striding over to the ripped map they’d managed to tape back together. Slivers of it were still missing, but the pattern was clear. The killer had claimed far too many victims, and we couldn’t let him add to his collection. There was also that little issue of him running to Lucifer. If he spilled the beans about what the Legion was really up to here, the people of New York weren’t the only ones at risk. The future of this world was at stake. And this all depended on whether or not I could keep my shit together during the fake trade.
No pressure, right?
“But first, you two lovebirds need to go on your date,” Phenex piped in as he poked a finger at the West Village section of the map. “Rumor has it, our friendly neighborhood vampire mob boss will be dining at the Waverley Inn tonight. We’ve already booked you a table for eight.”
I swallowed hard, avoiding Az’s gaze. “Can’t this wait until tomorrow?Afterwe get Serena back?”
“Afraid not, love,” Bael drawled in his charming British accent. “Word is that Lars is finalizing his list of invites first thing tomorrow. That info could be wrong, of course, but we’d rather not risk it.”
A date. With Az. While Serena was missing. And after what had happened between us last night. Still, I couldn’t ignore the repercussions. There were human souls on the line. Actual mortal lives. And it was too late for Az to find another human date that would be convincing enough. Besides, the idea of him taking someone else made me feel a little funny.
Not jealous,obviously. Just…funny.
Az glanced at his thousand dollar wristwatch and nodded. “If we want to get there on time, we need to head back to my apartment now. You’ll need to get changed.”
Frowning, I glanced down at my outfit. Faded, ripped jeans, a rumpled black tank, and my signature knee-high boots. Maybe he had a point. Not that I had any other options.
“Ah, about that. I have something.” Phenex winked and vanished out the door. Narrowing my eyes, I gave the others suspicious glares. I didn’t really like the sound of that.
“Where’s he going?” I asked.
“You’ll see, love,” Bael said with a wink.
“You guys bought me a dress. Didn’t you?”
“We love you, Mia,” Caim said. “But you can’t go out to a fancy dinner where you’re meant to convince a rich vampire to invite you to his exclusive ball wearing…that.”
“I am very comfortable.”
His grin widened. “Yeah, you look it.”
Az let out a low, menacing growl. “Maybe you two should go on the date. Your flirting would convince anyone.”
Phenex returned just in time to break through the tension. He held up a silver slip with diamonds sown into the neckline. The rest of the material shimmered like a waterfall as it moved. My mouth dropped open. That thing must have cost…who the hell even knew? I certainly didn’t. Definitely more than anything I’d ever owned, including my car.
My poor car. I’d sold it the second I’d arrived in New York.
“You wantmeto wearthat?”
Az shot me a wolfish smile.
