Page 34 of A Study of Blood and Ichor

“Shove it, Vain,” the witch bit back, and Vain laughed.

It couldn’t have been more than fifteen minutes before we heard the whir of a plane engine overhead.

Vain pushed off the wall and tipped his chin up at Ava. “Get up,” he said.

We stepped back out into the night, and while the rain had subsided, the humid air was so thick it was nearly choking. A low mist curled around us as we watched the white jet approach the airstrip and land in front of the hangar.

Vain led the way, ensuring Ava still followed closely behind.

The jet’s ramp descended, and Alastair’s tall thin figure stepped out to greet us, pushing one hand through his shoulder-length blond hair.

“Thank you, Alastair,” Vain said and clasped the demon’s shoulder.

“Good to see you too, sir. You as well, Mr. Masters.” Alastair said through a smile of pointed teeth and then gave a wink with only one set of his green eyes. He kept the other pairs of eyes on his face closed, the thin slits across his cheekbones and above his brows barely visible, more than likely in an attempt to not freak out the witch more than she already was.

I knew he missed me, I said to Vain, which prompted a soft smile to sprout at the corners of his mouth.

Careful, mortal. He may even like you more than he does me.

“Be gentle with this one,” Vain warned Alastair, leaning in closer to him and motioning toward Ava. “She frightens easily.”

The demon retracted his lips over his sharpened teeth and gave a gentle smile, then extended a hand to the witch.

“Alastair.” He gave a small bend at the waist. “I’m at your service as well, Miss…”

Ava did not introduce herself, only looked down at the demon’s extended hand in trepidation.

“You are in the presence of Helacourt royalty, Alastair,” Vain said.

Recognition flared in his eyes. “A legacy witch? What in Lilith’s name did you get yourself into?” Alastair said as he cocked one eyebrow up at Vain before turning back to Ava. “Well then, it certainly is a pleasure.”

Alastair lowered his hand when he realized Ava wasn’t going to extend the same courtesy, though he didn't look offended in the slightest. He motioned up the stairs. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Vain half-turned and guided Ava around him with one hand pressed gently to the small of her back. She stiffened at his touch as he escorted her up the steps and into the cabin.

His eyes never left Ava once as she walked down the cream-colored carpet and planted herself in a seat toward the middle of the plane, facing away from us.

“Returning to New York, I presume?” Alastair asked after pulling up the ramp and sealing the door shut.

“Yes. The penthouse. The sooner we’re in the air, the better.”

“Of course, sir.” Alastair nodded and then retreated to the cockpit.

Vain went to the bar and pressed the small button hidden in the glossy wood paneling to raise the console lined with crystal decanters. He pulled out one filled halfway with a warm amber spirit and poured a finger into a glass tumbler over ice.

Ugh, I groaned.

What?

You know I hate that shit.

Vain just lifted the glass to his lips and took a generous sip of bourbon, and I wished I had the ability to smack him.

As the plane rolled down the runway, he approached the witch while her back remained turned to us, and I didn’t miss the way her body tensed when he neared.

“Care for a drink?”

Ava tucked her arms across her chest and stared out the window in pointed silence.

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