Page 10 of Of Flames and Crows

Tarang, Brimstone, and Hellreaver attacked the pizzas Vlad had brought for them while he and Mae sat down to eat.

“How was your day?” Vlad said.

“Busy.”

Mae took a moment to savor the rich bite she’d just taken. She didn’t realize she’d moaned out loud until she noticed Vlad’s heated stare. The incubus looked like he was considering skipping dinner and going straight for dessert. Mae’s stomach fluttered. She swallowed heavily and gulped down some wine.

Her next words sobered Vlad up.

“I think the Dark Council are up to no good again.”

She told him about Hodge’s autopsy findings and the suspicions she’d discussed with the High Council. Vlad tensed when she mentioned Candice Reese’s magic ability.

Mae studied him curiously. “What?”

“A Fire Magic user?” Vlad repeated guardedly.

“Yeah. Bryony said they’re pretty rare these days.”

Vlad’s face had clouded over. “They are.”

He resumed eating.

Mae stared. It was clear he knew something about Fire Magic.

“That’s it?” she said skeptically.

Vlad grimaced. “I’ll tell you more, if it becomes relevant one day.”

Mae hesitated before relenting. The incubus wasn’t one to play games when it came to the important stuff.

There must be a reason why he doesn’t want to talk about it.

“What about your day?” She raised an eyebrow. “Shot anyone? Indulged in some extortion? Strung someone up in your bat cave and whipped them into submission?”

Vlad looked hurt. “I sat in an office and did paperwork.”

Mae grinned. “The gangster life isn’t as exciting as I thought it would be.”

A flare of incubus energy danced across her skin. She shivered, her blood warming in response to it.

Vlad’s mouth stretched in a smile that almost melted her panties.

“If you’re looking for excitement, I’ll be more than happy to oblige, my queen.”

Mae’s pulse quickened. She grabbed her wine glass and inhaled the rest of the contents. There was a noise next to the table. They looked over.

Brimstone, Hellreaver, and Tarang had finished eating and were watching them with keen interest.

Twenty bucks says he gets to second base tonight, Brimstone said.

Make that fifty, Hellreaver countered.

Tarang rumbled something. Brimstone and Hellreaver sucked in air and gave the tiger an admiring glance.

That’s sick, the fox mumbled.

Vlad sighed. “If you hold that any tighter, you’ll break it.”

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