Page 27 of Wicked Little Tricks

I gave her my best winning smile. “I’m actually here to talk to you.”

Her slender brow twitched. “Oh really?” She reached out a well manicured hand, running a red lacquered nail across my wrist.

I fought the urge to pull away. I wanted her interested in speaking to me, but notthatinterested.

In my peripheral vision I spotted a male vampire with bleached blond hair and a studded jacket coming our way.

Lilith snapped her head to one side as he reached us. “Mine,” she said simply.

He lifted his hands and backed away. Braxton not so subtly scooted closer to my stool.

With her attention back on me, Lilith traced a light line down my wrist with her nail, drawing goosebumps to the surface of my skin. “And why are you looking for me?”

I hadn’t really come in with much of a plan other than finding her and asking her my questions. Maybe I should have played up the flirtation a bit more, but I didn’t want to get in too deep.

I lowered my voice. “Two angelics tried to kill me the other day. Someone told me you might have information on why.”

Her brows lifted and she withdrew her hand. “I wouldn’t know anything about that.” But for just a moment, her expression had given her away. I’d surprised her, and she knew something about it.

Flirtation it was. I boldly reached back out and slid my hand over hers. “Please, I just want to know who they are.”

She hesitated, glancing over at the elf behind the bar who was looking our way. I couldn’t read the look that passed between them. Lilith gave her a slight nod, then turned back to me. “You should leave this place. Count yourself lucky for surviving, and do not ask about this again.” She pulled her hand out from beneath mine.

“Wait.” I reached for her.

Her gaze shifted as the door opened, but I couldn’t see who was coming inside. Her eyes widened, then suddenly her mouth was on mine, her hands cradling my cheeks. She had slid from her stool, shifting her body to block my view of whoever had entered.

She broke the kiss, but kept her mouth near mine. “They can’t see you with me. Just play along. I’ll get you out.”

I sensed Braxton at my back, close enough to hear her words with his werewolf hearing.

I gave a slight nod, and she kissed me again. Her mouth tasted incredibly minty, and I wondered if it was to cover up the taste of blood. Her hands found my waist, guiding me from the stool. “They are past us,” she breathed. “We are going to move toward the door now.”

I nodded again. She turned me around, holding my back against her chest. It was lucky she was so tall—she completely blocked me from view. Though I desperately wanted to know who she was blocking me from.

I caught a glimpse of Braxton as he followed us toward the door, then opened it for us.

“Lilith,” a man said, but she hurried us outside.

As soon as we were out in the street, I gasped the cool night air with panic gripping my chest. My body broke out into a cold sweat.

Keeping her hands on my shoulders, Lilith hurried me away from the entrance of Crimson Kisses. “You need to run. And do not come here again.”

“Wait, but why? Who was that? Why am I in danger?”

“Lilith!”

The three of us turned as four men poured out into the street. I didn’t recognize any of them, but I could tell that the one who’d shouted was a vampire. He was shorter than I had expected given his deep voice. He wore a black shirt and black jeans, making his pale skin even paler.

He pointed a stubby finger our way. “Unhand the girl.”

Lilith pushed me behind her. “Run!” she hissed.

She didn’t have to ask me twice. I staggered back, but Braxton grabbed my arm, steadying me. I took one last look at the four men, memorizing their faces, then we ran.

We ranthrough the streets of the Dark District, past antique lanterns and little black streamers still left up as decorations from some past event. There were a few people loitering about, but it was early for the Dark District. Most wouldn’t be out until midnight. The vampires chasing us were just glimpses of darkness in the shadows.

“Why are we being chased!” Braxton shouted.

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