Page 42 of Total Eclipse of the Moon
"What?"
"You got that glazed look and your face is splotchy like you’re angry at it. When you’re communicating with the demon your eyes turn both colors. Kind of like a blue leopard. Spotty black in there." He waved toward the bedroom. "What’s taking her so long? Let’s get moving before… We’re losing darkness."
"I heard that," Madeline said. She walked to the bags of remnant food and rifled through until she found a package of cookies. She held one out but seemed to be looking beyond both of them to the front door. "You want one?"
"Love to have one, hon," said a woman.
Both he and Antonio spun. Shane yanked out the knife he always kept on him. Antonio pulled a gun, which he immediately holstered. Shane realized the knife was the wrong weapon to fight this being and put it away. Instead, he removed a small chain of beads with a protective talisman from his pocket to wrap around his wrist.
From beneath her ultra-long lashes, the woman with pink and blonde hair smiled and took a cookie from Madeline’s outstretched hand. The smell of fresh flowers came from her—not a sickening smell but one intended to lure like the siren she was. The demon inside him recoiled and hissed,"Witch."
"Why don’t you react like that to Madeline?"
"She’s different."The demon remained ultra-focused on the new witch. That meant she was a top-level threat.
The new witch only had eyes for the vampire. "Antonio."
"Cora." Everything about Antonio had tensed.
"I’m not going to rip off your clothes and embarrass you in front of your friend." She took one step in Antonio’s direction. Her voice dropped an octave. "Interesting. Exhibitionism turns you on. Or is it just me being here that has you running hot?"
Antonio backed up. He hadn’t bothered contradicting her.
"You’re such a coward. Back then and now." She approached him and gently touched Antonio’s face in a way no one else on the planet would attempt with the vampire.
Antonio drew in a sharp intake of air and breathed shallowly. His lips pulled back to expose his sharp canines as his gaze dropped to her neck.
"I’d wondered if this would still be there," Cora said softly.
"We’re done."
"Are we? You’re sure acting like…" She let her gaze roam over him. "You’re still too sexy for your own good and you want me, which is a turn on, but that’s not why I’m here." Cora stalked away from him.
"How’d you get through the protections on this place?" Shane asked.
Cora’s eyebrows rose as she glanced from Antonio to Shane. She addressed Madeline. "Thismust be your Mr. Fantastic Ass."
"Oh, God," Madeline groaned and covered her face. "Please, Cora. Just…don’t."
Shane blinked, dead serious about getting his answer.
"Oh, please." Cora waved her hand. "Those wards might keep out humans. Maybe a lycan, but I invented the concept of wards. Kind of fun to thwart the all-powerful Antonio and his low-level protective wards." She grinned at the vampire who hadn’t moved from where he’d backed against the refrigerator. The cigar he’d been puffing hung loosely in his left hand, about to fall free. Cora faced Madeline. Her brow furrowed. She prowled close and tilted Madeline’s forehead to examine the healing lesion. Then she lifted Madeline’s hands to look at the defensive wounds.
"You and I need to speak in private." Cora marched out the door.
Shane said to Madeline, "You agreed—"
"I did," she interrupted. "But Cora will destroy both of you if I don’t speak with her."
He moved to stop Madeline, but Antonio caught his arm.
"Cora could do that?" Shane asked, low.
"Yes."
"Would she?"
Antonio compressed his lips. "She’d do just about anything to protect Madeline."
