Page 42 of Wicked Little Tricks

Sebastian’s arm wrapped around my waist. I drew my attention away from the goblin woman, noticing the vampire still watching me intently. I scooted my stool a little closer, leaning against Sebastian’s warmth and the feel of his magic.

You knew things were dire when you had to go to a devil for comfort and protection.

I bet and played to the best of my ability, winning far more often than I should have. I suspected Sebastian had something to do with it. I could never quite keep my eye on the cards in his hand, and it seemed like mine were sometimes changing without me realizing it. Sometimes a two would become an ace, or I would have more matching suits than I had recalled at last glance.

I was beginning to get irritated when Sebastiansuddenly leaned in near my neck. His lips grazed my skin. “Eastern stairs,” he whispered.

Pretending to enjoy his nuzzling—okay who was I kidding, there was no need topretend—I glanced at the stairs to see the blond angelic coming down them. He was with a petite woman I was pretty sure I had never seen before. Her long brown hair fell well past her waist, the glistening locks a few shades darker than her skin.

She spoke with the angelic as they descended, her head turned just enough that I couldn’t see her face.

Sebastian’s mouth found the lobe of my ear, sending a tingle down my spine. Magic flared between us, surprising me and tightening things lower in my body. “Fold your hand, then go to the bathroom.”

I stiffened. He wanted me to walk off on my own? This felt suspiciously like being used as bait.

But the bet had come around to me, not giving me time to think about it. And I wasn’t sure if I could beyond the feel of Sebastian’s lips near my neck and the magic between us.

I folded, then excused myself from the table with a smile as Sebastian pulled away, breaking the magical tension. I felt eyes on me as I retreated, and glanced back to see both the vampire and goblin woman watching me. Sebastian’s attention was on his cards.

If he had brought me here to toss me to the angelics, I was seriously going to haunt him in the afterlife. Even if I had to go to one of the hellish realms to do it.

I walked past the slot machines, catching the eye of another wraith, but my attention was mostly on the angelic and the woman. They had reached the main floor, and were making their way through the crowd toward the poker tables. I lost sight of them as I reached the bathroom.

I went inside, squinting against the brighter lights. Their fluorescent buzz jarred my already hyper alert senses. There were a few laughing women at the mirror, but they barely spared me a glance. I went back to one of the stalls, wondering how long I was supposed to stay there.

Once I was alone, I pressed the back of my hand against my flushed face and shook my head. Usually I didn’t react to just a simple kiss on the neck so strongly.

I pushed up the sleeve of my coat and glanced at my watch. 9 PM. Still early, but it was dark outside. I looked up the number for Crimson Kisses and called. It was a slim chance I would be able to talk to Lilith, and even slimmer that she would tell me anything over the phone, but it was worth trying. Something felt entirely off about the night.

I recognized the elf’s voice on the other end of the line as she answered, and I asked for Lilith. When she asked me who was calling, I told the truth.

She was quiet for a moment. I heard footsteps, then a door creaking shut. “You shouldn’t call here,” she whispered into the receiver.

“Why? Why did those vampires chase me? It seemslike everyone knows what’s going on, but nobody has the decency to tell me.”

“It’s really not safe for me to speak with you. I’m staying out of it.” The line went dead.

I frowned down at my watch. The fear had been winning out for a while, but now I was starting to get royally pissed.

I opened the stall door, walked to the mirror to straighten my hair and dress, then left the bathroom. I strode confidently past the slot machines, meeting the eyes of a wraith who watched me curiously.

I turned my attention forward and kept walking, looking for the blond head of the angelic since he was much taller than the woman. If they were anywhere in the crowd, she would be more difficult to spot.

I skirted the crowd, scanning the tables, but I didn’t see him anywhere. Finally, I neared the table where Sebastian and I had sat, but my seat was filled.

I hustled behind a decorative pillar, then glanced around it.

That damn angelic had stolen my seat, and he was speaking with Sebastian. Theydidknow each other. The angelic had hidden his wings and looked almost normal at the poker table conversing with a devil.

Sebastian’s eyes were cold as he nodded at the angelic’s words. Then his eyes shifted, spotting me. They widened for just a heartbeat.

I darted back behind the pillar.

“Hello, Eva.” I jumped at the voice behind me.

I flung myself around, pushing my back against the pillar. It was the woman who had come downstairs with the angelic.

She smiled. Her makeup was minimal, accenting large features. Her shimmering white dress hugged her small body. “I was wondering when we would meet.”

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