Page 57 of Demon Found

I step closer, my hands drifting down his rock-hard torso toward the waistband of his gray sweatpants. He moves away and holds me at arm’s length.

“I’m not a gentleman, come at me like that again and I won’t stop you.”

The hungry look in his eyes makes me pause. I’m a hot mess. This is madness. I’m in an allegiance with his enemy. I take a step back, missing the warmth from his body already.

“Go home, Lori. Whatever this is between us, it can wait. But I’m in your corner. If you need help dealing with Seth, let me know.” His eyes narrow, and his full lips pull back over his teeth in a snarl.

Allowing myself a small smile, I give him a nod. Hellfire. Someone’s on team Lorelei. Just as I slip out of Chano’s room, he drops a bombshell.

“Did you enjoy my work on Hunter?”

I’m still gaping at him when the door shuts in my face. His laughter reaches me through the door, echoing down the hallway. Hunter was a mess. He was worse than he looked, and he looked bad. A vampire with only one fang? He’s a cripple. Completely de-fanging him would have been too much, probably. But one? Hell yes! Maybe it’s bloodthirsty of me, but the creep deserved it.

I’m going to like having Chano Maverik on my side.

Chapter Twenty-nine: Lorelei

Ipacebackandforth, pausing every few minutes, opening my mouth, then shutting it again, and returning to pacing.

“Lorelei, you’re going to wear a hole in my damn rug.”

Shit, it does look expensive. I step to the side, onto the wood, and keep walking.

Farrell growls in frustration. “Not what I meant.”

“We’re allegiance, so we should tell each other stuff, right?”

“Finally, she speaks.” Zephyr sits up on the sofa, throwing his hands to the ceiling dramatically.

Naeve rolls her eyes and pats my arm. “Ignore them. Yes, we should. Especially if you’re this worked up.”

Nodding to myself, I weigh up exactly how much to tell them. “I need an alibi. For the night the imp was killed.” I can’t say his name, it makes it too real.

Farrell’s head whips round “Lorelei?”

“Oh c'mon, it's not like you stick to the stupid curfew all the time either. I didn’t kill him. I promise. But the PIG arrive tomorrow. Naeve went to see Val after she finished studying so she’s Val’s alibi and I . . . had something to do.”

I rub the back of my neck awkwardly. This is a big ask. I’m asking them to trust me, to lie for me. And I’m not giving them the whole truth. I can’t tell them. Farrell will blow his lid. And if I did . . . then what? Leave out the fact I have the raging hots for Farrell’s nemesis? That we kissed. I brush the tips of my fingers over my bruised lips.What a kiss.

Zephyr stands up and stretches, smiling. “That’s it? Not telling us more?”

My heart stops in my chest. Has his sight shown him something? Zephyr looks at me for a long beat before padding toward me and giving me a fist bump.

“You’re covered. You were with me,” Zephyr announces.

“Won’t work, idiot. You were checked into the medical center for most of that night. For your drug test and checkup?”

Now it’s Zephyr’s turn to groan. “Dammit, Farrell. I thought I could do something helpful for once.”

Does he really think he’s not useful? Not wanted? He’s so carefree I didn’t think he doubted himself for a second.

Farrell’s hand drops onto my shoulder, and I start.

“You were with me. I mean . . . If I have to cover for you, then I’m telling the PIG agents all the gory details about the hot sex we were having.”

I take a mock swing at him, and he jumps back, his serious face one big smile.

“You dare tell them that, Farrell Cuelebre!”

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