Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“Not at all,” she said grandly. “More for bragging rights.”
So godsdamned sideways. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve decided I’m going to protect you tonight.”
“What job would you ditch without a care?”
He wasn’t ready to explain everything, but he would never lie to her, so he fell back on one of his strengths: flirtation. “That battle back there, beauty? Was our foreplay. Screw any job I might have had. I’m only interested in picking up where we left off two years ago.” If they could get away from this place, he could up his game and seduce her at last. The lay that got away? Not for much longer. “The wizard must’ve left behind a mystical power source. Let’s find this castle’s battery, shut it down, and teleport out of here early.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. The movement made her jacket lapels gape and pulled her V-neck tight over her breasts.
Don’t stare, don’t stare. . . . But had he ever seen such mouthwatering breasts? Head in the game, Rök. With danger about, he didn’t need to be fantasizing about this witch’s pert—
“Even if I wanted to leave with you, which I don’t, I’m not going anywhere till my job is complete.”
He yanked his head up in disbelief. “We’re starring in our very own horror movie! And how do characters get into trouble? When they won’t leave the scene.”
Her green eyes glinted with determination. “Some of us are professionals who don’t spook lightly.”
“I’m a demon of many years. I’m not the one in jeopardy here.” Immortals grew stronger with age.
She raised her chin a notch—her way of unwillingly conceding a point. Yet she didn’t budge. “You had your chance with me. Move on. I did.”
After she’d stood him up on what should have been their second date, he’d gone to Rothkalina to bury himself in work. By the time he returned to this plane, she’d taken up with a warlock, some asshole named Ixius the Bringer. Ah, but the two of them had broken up a couple of weeks ago. “Why would I move on? I like a challenge. You’re just waving a red cape in front of a bull.”
Her coral-shaded lips parted as if he’d said something outrageous. “That’s the thing about bulls. They’re not very discerning.” She turned from him and started down another hallway.
Sconces cast a gloomy light over the threadbare carpet and paneled walls as he caught up with her.
When she glared, he said, “Take the assist. You needed it back there.”
Prickling with irritation, she strode on, her gaze keen for bogeys.
He figured her visitors would be the biggest danger, so he’d monitor her eyes. When he and the witch passed a section of floral wallpaper, he said, “Nice decor. The atmosphere reminds me of the Overlook Hotel, only with a touch more REDRUM.”
He could joke now—he was high on her and chuffed to have protected her—but earlier today? He’d been between jobs, his emotions roiling as usual; trace/pacing and horn abuse all around.
She barely spared him a glance. “So you like horror movies.”
“Which you well remember. A love of the genre is just one of the many things we have in common.” He frowned. “You do remember, right?”
“I’m surprised you do. How do you keep all your females straight?”
Don’t. Ignoring her question, he said, “Cade and I made a pastime of drinking brew and binge-watching horror movies to see how much the humans got right about the Lore. At least, we used to, before his Valkyrie mate came along.”
Lured into conversation, Poppy said, “I know Holly well.”
“I figured.” Witches and Valkyries were thick as thieves. Rök had suspected anything he told Cade might be passed on to Holly and from her to Poppy, so he’d kept his own counsel with his best friend.
“I talk to her often.” Poppy’s gaze flitted to Rök’s horns. Had Holly told her how demons loved to have them stroked?
Rök’s mouth went dry when Poppy fisted her satchel’s strap in both hands. The idea of her silken palms handling him like that . . .
She cleared her throat. “Holly and Cadeon are a good couple. Unexpected, but good.”
Rök dragged his gaze from her hands. “They’re happy together. Weren’t really before. Are now.” He took in Poppy’s stunning profile as he said, “One plus one equals two, huh?”
“And two more.”
“Yeah, twin girls.” They’d had them not long ago. Cade, the ruthless mercenary, had turned into a devoted mate and father. Love and laughter filled his and Holly’s home with the toddlers. “Those are the cutest halflings you ever saw.” Rök couldn’t stop a grin. “They chase me everywhere, tracing after me. Uncle Rök is putty. I spend way too much time shopping for Duplos and dinosaurs.”
She raised an auburn brow. “The big, bad merc has a soft spot for kids?”
“Didn’t figure me for it either.” But when Brianna and Alyson had first babbled happily to see him . . . ?