Page 60 of Wicked Little Tricks

Ivan clenched his teeth, baring his fangs. His hunched shoulders rose and fell with frustrated huffs of breath. “Very well,” he muttered, his teeth still clenched. “We will vacate the premises until you are finished.”

He glared daggers at me as if I had somehow set him up, then he and his vampires retreated toward the metal door.

Once we were alone with the pack of elves, I pulled away from Sebastian fully.

Elena approached us, grinning. I was glad she had lowered her bow. “My apologies for misleading you. I wanted to wait until the opportune moment before blowing my cover.”

I blinked at her. “Andthisis the opportune moment?”

She glanced back at her people. Herwarriors. Now that I was getting a closer look, they were all well-muscled and bore the scars of battle. “The perfect moment, really.” She winked at me. “Because now you owe me a favor.”

I glanced at Sebastian, but he simply shook his head. He didn’t know anything about this either. I knew the elves had a princess, but everyone thought she remained hidden away in Emerald Heights. No one knew how old she was, or what she looked like.

“Don’t look so worried,” Elena laughed. “We elves would never slump to the level of vampires and devils. I only ask that you come to Emerald Heights to meet with my father.” Her green eyes flicked over to Braxton, then back to me. “Once you have recovered, of course. Until then, I don’t imagine Ivan will be bothering you again.”

Several of the elves turned as someone came to stand in the doorway behind them.

Lilith stepped out into the moonlight. She wore another black dress, this one silky and skintight. “Apologies, but I simply had to see what sent Ivan and his cronies running out into the street.” Her eyes found me. “I’m glad to see you well, Eva.”

This was all too incredibly weird, but one problem at a time. I looked at Elena. “I’m happy to meet with your father, but if he wants to collect the bounty on my mother, I’m really not much help in that department.”

Her warm smile made me trust her despite herhaving lied about who she was. “Just come and talk to him. I promise you won’t be harmed in our realm.”

“Well, considering you just saved my ass, I’ll be there.”

Elena smirked. “I will leave word at the gates. Come at your leisure.” She turned away, gesturing for her men to follow.

Soon enough, the three of us were alone with Lilith, but her attention was solely on Sebastian. “You shouldn’t have let her come here. She could have been killed.”

He put a possessive hand on my shoulder, pulling me away from her. “I would not have let that happen.”

Braxton stopped fiddling with the ropes binding him to glare at Sebastian. “Dude, you almost let her fall off the roof.”

“But I did not,” Sebastian said simply. He looked at Lilith. “And I could not risk being involved in Ivan’s demise. You understand.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I suppose.” She turned her attention back to me. “You’re probably wondering why your devil sent you to speak with me to begin with.”

“I’m wondering a whole lot of things,” I admitted.

“Well I can’t help you with all of them,” she laughed. “But I can at least explain who I am. Your mother and I were close friends for a very long time. I actually met you, when you were young. Though it seems you don’t remember me.”

I inhaled sharply, then let it out. She didn’t knowabout my memories being stolen, or else she wouldn’t have wondered about me remembering her. “Let me guess. You have no idea where she is.”

“I do not. I had only just heard about the bounty, and that her daughter had been found by the angelics. When I realized who you were, I tried to get you out before Ivan could see you. I knew he was intent on winning the game, and he would use you to do it.”

“Were you punished for helping us?” Braxton cut in. He’d given me enough details to let me know just how much she had helped the night we were chased.

She laughed again, the rich, throaty sound sending a tingle of vampiric power down my spine. “Ivan doesn’t have the balls to punish me. I’m old enough to crush his mind like a beetle. I answer only to our shared master.” She looked at Sebastian again. “I do not fully understand your part in everything, but let that be a warning to you as well. Do not let Eva come to harm.”

“I didn’t let her fall off the roof,” he sighed dramatically.

Lilith narrowed her eyes. “I suppose that counts for something.” She looked at me again. “I’m sorry I could not be of more help to you. I do not know what your mother was running from, nor who seeks her now.”

Faster than my eyes could follow, she produced a dagger from out of nowhere and sliced it across Braxton’s bindings. He froze for a moment, jaw hanging open, then he quickly recovered and removed the rest of the ropes, muttering, “Thanks.”

“Good dog.” She flashed another grin. “And bad devil.” She looked at me. “I will be watching you with interest,Eva Nix.” She turned and sauntered away.

I was glad she hadn’t used my real name. She was probably one of the very few people who actually knew it, other than Braxton. As far as I was concerned, the girl who once bore that name was dead and gone.

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