Page 71 of Spit

Legion must have thought my voice was husky with something else because his eyes darkened as he lifted his wine and took a delicate sip.

I slid into the booth, reaching for the menu wedged between the salt and pepper shakers. I was always hungry, mainly because of the curse, and though I wasn’t rail thin, I couldn’t afford to lose weight. I was seriously slacking in my calorific needs, though it seemed that shadow was content enough to feed my hunger by stealing magic from everyone in sight.

Katalina inhaled sharply, her eyes seeking mine, filled with condemnation. “You did that on purpose.” She snarled, her pink lips pulled back to reveal perfectly square teeth that couldn’t bite into an apple, let alone human flesh.

I held up my hand in a disarming fashion. I didn’t say anything to absolve myself. There was no point.

“Legion,” Katalina pleaded. “Make her stop.”

Legion sighed. “Alexis’s magic doesn’t work that way. She didn’t do it on purpose.”

Katalina leaned back in the booth, crossing her arms over her chest as she pouted. I had no idea what Legion saw in her. It was like being around a ten-year-old.

Trey returned to the table, holding a pint of beer in each hand. He placed mine in front of me before sliding into the booth. “Auction as a bust. The scepter was bought by a phone bid at the last minute.” He said, sipping his beer. “And none of the demons from the other night were there.”

Legion shrugged. “It was unlikely that the scepter was involved in their disappearances. It would be one thing if they had won the auction and had possession of such a treasure, but why would Mars and Quinn be targeted if they didn’t acquire it?”

“Money?” I suggested, wrapping my hand around my glass. “Maybe someone at the auction saw how much they were willing to bid for the scepter and decided they would make a good mark.”

Legion considered my theory. “Surely there would be a ransom if that’s the case.”

“Maybe.” I conceded. “Or they are holding onto the demons until they break, then they’ll take them to the nearest ATM and get them to withdraw all their money.”

“Ifthis is about money,” Trey added. “Which I don’t think it is.”

“Did you order food?” I asked Sloth.

Trey grinned. “I always order food.”

My shoulders slumped in relief. I was starved.

Legion noted our interaction with keen interest. “I asked the manager if we could watch the footage of the alley after Mars left with a human woman, but it was corrupted. Somehow the cameras didn’t overwrite the memory card as they usually do.”

“Quinn kept drinking.” Trey added, “I expected him to join Mars once he found a partner, but Quinn chose to lament his loss instead.”

“Did you leave after Mars?” I took a sip of my beer.

Trey nodded. “Got tired.”

“Do you think there were two kidnappers?” I asked. “Maybe the woman was a diversion, leading Mars out first, so they didn’t have to take on two demons at once.”

Legion’s eyes flicked to the middle distance in thought. “Maybe.” He seemed troubled by that. “The scepter bothers me, as does Quinn’s disappearance. Mars could have been led away by his partner, but Quinn vanished from thin air.”

Trey sat forward. “You think the person with the scepter used it to kidnap them?”

“Just a thought,” Legion said, sipping his wine.

Katalina stood up. “I’m going to the bathroom.” She declared.

Both of the demons ignored her.

“Have fun?” I suggested. “Don’t fall in.”

Katalina scoffed and walked away, her hair swishing with every sway of her hips.

A moment later, the female demon with a short shirt and a tail peeking out appeared with a tray filled with food. I let out a sigh that was unashamedly orgasmic. The she-demon inhaled as if she could sense my pleasure, but I didn’t have it in me to be coy. I wanted my food.

“You’re of my sin.” The female demon noted, her tail swishing behind her.

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