His wrist rune still showed no alert from the nymphs at Val Hall. Until Nïx was in residence, the wraiths were a secondary concern. . . .
Josephine had stopped in her tracks, forcing him to turn around. “What?”
“Slighted? Spread the love? I go through cycles with you. Sometimes I think you’re the greatest thing since bagged blood. Other times, like right now, I can’t figure what I ever saw in you.” She pa.s.sed him, heading toward one of the doors of the crowded bar.
He stared after her. She couldn’t lie; she’d truly meant that.
Just as information flowed to him, females flowed to him. All he had to do was be himself around them, and situations worked themselves out. Now was he to monitor everything he said?
No, no, once he started bedding the vampire, her att.i.tude would improve. He caught up with her.
As they entered, he scanned the premises for enemies. The fey kingdom of Sylvan was a pocket realm of Gaia. Sooner or later Rune would run into either Sylvan bounty hunters or even King Saetthan himself.
He pictured his half brother’s face, one so like Rune’s own. Though Saetthan had inherited Magh’s blond hair and blue eyes, he’d gotten his tall build and features from their sire.
Saetthan was Rune’s most coveted target—of the fourteen left from Magh’s line—and considered himself a protector for the others. . . .
Rune spied no fey within, but in the shadowy back of the bar, a garrulous gang of five demons sat at a table. Each had a different shape to his horns, indicating his species.
“I believe that’s our contact.” Rune nodded toward the biggest one. The male had a colossal chest and the large forward-pointing horns of a storm demon. When standing, he’d be over seven feet tall.
Josephine breathed, “I’m going to meet a real-live demon.” Her steps quickened.
Rune followed. “You’ve been with a real-live demon. I’m half demonic, remember?”
“Yeah, but you don’t have wicked cool horns like that dude.”
I should. Rune had wished for them his entire life, just as he’d wished for red demon blood.
His gaze roamed over the vampire. What if his blood were red? As much as she loved baneblood, how could she crave another kind more? What if baneblood specifically attracted her? Later, he would demand to know which kind she preferred.
At the table, Rune addressed the storm demon, “You’re Deshazior?”
“Aye, that’d be me,” he said with an undeniable piratic accent. His huge paw of a hand curled around a tankard of brew.
“We heard you can a.s.sist us with travel.”
Deshazior ignored him, turning in his chair to face Josephine. “Are ye lookin’ for a ride, me beauty?” A thorough perusal of her body accompanied his words.
Rune did not appreciate this. Deshazior had to a.s.sume she was with Rune. At best, the demon’s open interest was disrespectful. At worst, it could be taken as a sign of hostility against Rune.
“Yes, we are,” she said.
The demon stood, far too close to her, then held out a paw. “I’m Deshazior. You can call me Desh.”
She shook his hand, his swallowing hers. “Josephine,” she said, craning her head up, seeming enthralled by the male. “You can call me Jo.”
Jo?
“Ah, me lovely Jo, let’s mosey outside and talk.” He finally released her hand. “I need to know where and when I can take ye.”
Really, demon, double entendre? As if this pirate had game!
Neither paid attention to Rune as they turned toward the exit. Nearing the doorway, Josephine said, “Oh, duck! You don’t want to hit your horns.”
Deshazior slanted her a heated look. “And she’s considerate to boot?”
Sheltered or not, she must know a mere reference to a demon’s horns could be construed as an invitation!
On the street, Deshazior gestured toward Rune. “I figure him for a fey. But what might ye be?”
“I’m a vampire.” She would tell the demon that, yet she refused to reveal basic information to Rune.
“Never had much use for vampires,” Deshazior said, “till I met a l’il bit named Jo, me first female one.” He waved from her toes to her head, asking, “Are ye all this eye-catchin’?”
She beamed, her smile dazzling. “Are demons all so charming?”
Deshazior leaned in even closer. “I’ve been hard on yer species in the past; teach me the error of me ways.”
She leaned in as well, eyeing him. “Do it again, bilge rat, and I’ll bite you smartly, then keelhaul your hide.”
Deshazior put his paw over his heart and breathed, “Blow. Me. Down.”
She chuckled. Chuckled! “I speak Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Rune was all but forgotten.
“Where would such a winsome vampire need to be goin’? ’Cause I’ll trace ye across the worlds.”
Rune interjected: “We need to go to China. To Mount Hua.”
Deshazior told Josephine, “Ye’re in luck. Been all over that country. I can put ye straight at the base.”
“All over?” she asked. “No one ever asks you about your horns?” Mentioning them again!
“See me T-shirt?” It was emblazoned with the words Big Easy Casting.
She tilted her head. “I see it.”
“Folks think I’m wearin’ prosthetics for a movie.”
“Oh, cool. They’re really big,” she said, which turned the demon on, those horns growing. Her eyes went wide. “That’s wild! Can I touch them?”