Page 1 of The Incubus and the Bodyguard

CHAPTERONE

The gleamof the gold leaf adorning the walls and columns ofOro Divinomade Vlad Vissarion’s eyes hurt when he walked inside the high-end Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side. It didn’t help that he was still recovering from a hangover, one of several he’d suffered this past month.

The way his familiar Tarang flicked his tail beside him indicated the tiger was still annoyed by his recent behavior.

“Mr. Vissarion.” The maitre d’hotel left his post and came to greet him, his expression slightly nervous.

Vlad dipped his head. “Antonio. Is everything ready?”

“Yes, sir. Follow me.”

Though the man couldn’t see Tarang, he naturally avoided the space where the tiger walked. Familiars were only visible to those who possessed magic in their soul or if they wished to make their presence known.

Vlad could feel dozens of eyes on him as he crossed the main restaurant area. It wasn’t just his looks that made him the center of attention when he entered a room. His incubus powers played a part in it too.

They took the elevator to the third floor of the converted nineteenth-century brownstone. Antonio led him down a corridor to a sumptuous private dining room.

Vlad slowed to a stop, his gaze sweeping the space where two of New York’s most notorious crime families would soon attempt to broker a peace deal.

It offered a commanding view of Madison Avenue through its floor-to-ceiling windows. One he would normally have found pleasing were it not for the company he would soon be keeping.

TheBlack Devilsmen stationed discreetly around the room greeted him with silent nods.

A dull headache hammered at Vlad’s temples. He swallowed a sigh.

I’d rather be spending my Friday night at home than deal with the inevitable drama this evening will bring.His chest tightened.Then again, the place feels too empty now that Mae is gone.

Mae Jin, the Witch Queen of prophecy, had been temporarily staying at his apartment in Chelsea until she finally defeated the Sorcerer King, who had long ruled the world of magic. Though it had been four months since the battle on Brooklyn Bridge that had sealed the fate of all witches and sorcerers in the world, the encounter remained harrowingly fresh in Vlad’s mind. Not least because he’d finally met his father Ilmon, the king of Incubi and Succubi, and learned the truth about his birth.

Tarang bumped the back of his hand with his nose.

Vlad looked into the tiger’s limpid blue eyes.Are you trying to comfort me?

Tarang huffed, the bond that connected them singing warmly between their souls. Though Vlad could not hear his familiar’s thoughts like Mae could hers, he was acutely aware of the tiger’s emotions.

He perused the guy behind the bar and the uniformed figures setting the dining table dominating the space.

“The staff knows what to do in case this shit goes south, right?”

Antonio paled a little. “Willit go south, sir?”

Vlad shrugged. “This is the Italians we’re talking about. They’re not exactly known for their sangfroid.”

The maitre d’hotel swallowed. “I shall keep that in mind, sir. And yes, they know the drill. Keep low, get out, and pretend to be dumb about the whole thing if they’re questioned by the police.”

TheOro Divinobelonged to theBlack Devils. Everyone who worked there had signed a confidentiality agreement to keep their mouths shut about what they saw and heard on the premises. The pay more than made up for the inconvenience. Plus, many of the staff had fled other criminal gangs and benefited from the protection of the ruling New YorkBratva.

A bout of sympathy danced through Vlad at Antonio’s worried expression. He patted the man’s shoulder.

“There’ll be a special tip for everyone if this dinner concludes without bloodshed.”

A flush of color flooded the maitre d’hotel’s cheeks.

Vlad dialed down his incubus charms. His cellphone rang just as the man left.

He moved to the windows overlooking Madison Avenue and took the call.

“How’s it going?” Yuliy Vissarion said without preamble.

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