Page 34 of Demon

“Daniel, Lonnie can see past glamours,” Xavier said.

“You can?” Daniel blinked those creepy, black eyes at him. “You see these?” He flexed his fingers into the air.

Lonnie nodded. “I’ve always been able to see our differences. What are you?” He popped his hand over his open mouth, heat filling his cheeks. “I’m sorry. That was so rude. I didn’t mean to offend.”

“You didn’t. I’m a banshee.”

He dropped his hand, mouth still hanging open.

“I know. You thought they were only female. We are rare, but male banshees exist.” He smiled, the expression kind and taking away a lot of his creepiness factor. “I’ve spent time on message boards where humans talk about seeing preternaturals but wasn’t sure if it was true. Interesting.” He opened Lonnie’s laptop on the one free spot on his desk. “Let’s get you logged into the operating system, then sign me into the site you use. Feel free to do whatever while you wait. It could take a little time.”

Lonnie did that, then stuck around long enough to see how Daniel typed with those long claws. He tapped away using the sharp points with complete ease, and Lonnie couldn’t help but be fascinated. It was like Callan’s horns—he hardly ever ran them into things because he’d spent so long adjusting to having them there. His glamour only hid them from view, so they were still there. Being unable to explain a busted light fixture two feet over one’s head was why he probably ducked so often, lower than he truly needed to. He had scratched up Lonnie’s headboard a bit, but hesodidn’t care about that.

They had too much damn fun in that bed.

“Lake,” Xavier said, breaking into Lonnie’s thoughts. “Lonnie, this is one of our wizards who is going to be shadowing you along with Callan. He has the same abilities as the wizard who is fixated on you, so will be of great help.”

Lonnie turned to find a man who was much shorter than most of Protective Solutions’ employees. He was about Lonnie’sheight but leanly ripped. He carried the same sort of graceful elegance that Xavier had, but his expression was much fiercer. Sandy brown hair in a high fade cut accented his sharp features. There were dark circles under his brown eyes, and he looked a little washed out.

Lake nodded at Lonnie, then looked at Xavier. “This last job was a bitch. I need some sleep.”

Xavier’s hair swished over his chest lightly as he nodded. “I can tell. Go home for tonight. I will join Callan and Lonnie for the evening myself.”

“Thanks.” Lake nodded toward Callan. “See you tomorrow. I have the address.” He strode from the room, stopping to talk to the massive man Lonnie had noticed earlier.

“Xavier,” Daniel suddenly said, looking up at his boss. “We have a problem.”

“Were you able to trace the person sending Lonnie all those messages?”

“Yeah.” He pointed at a map on the screen. “You know this house, and so do I.”

Xavier leaned down to peer at the screen and his lips tightened.

“What?” Callan’s voice was loud. “Who is it?”

Xavier straightened. “It’s Roman Brentwood.”

Callan’s gray skin went at least two shades lighter before it started turning red. He closed his hands into fists, nostrils flaring.

“Who is Roman Brentwood?” Alarmed, Lonnie’s voice broke. The sudden tension in the room was as thick as swamp mud.

Xavier sighed and ran one hand through the hair at his temple. “Roman is a wizard who’s given us trouble before. He’s very powerful. Daniel’s been keeping tabs on him for me.”

“Why would someone like that fixate on me?” He was truly perplexed.

“Why wouldn’t he?” Callan frowned. “You are wonderful.”

“But we’ve only talked online, and that was only because we were looking for a couple of the same collectibles. I never said anything that would entice him. There was no flirting, no private discussions. Nothing.” He looked at the map. “And he’s right here in Seattle?” He shivered.

Callan pulled him into his body and Lonnie gratefully soaked up his warmth, burying his face in Callan’s wide chest for a moment before looking back at the others.

“Lonnie,” Xavier said. “Knowing what we’re up against is a step in the right direction. Now we can turn the tables on him.”

“We go there.” Callan stroked his hand down Lonnie’s back. “Now.”

“And do what?” Xavier leaned his hip against the desk and crossed his ankles. “He hasn’t actually hurt Lonnie.”

“Warn him off.”

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