Page 12 of Kiss of Light

“I won’t go anywhere with a demon. Not if you paid me.”

“In this instance,I’mthe one getting paid. Now come on. We have a long journey.”

“You’re making no sense. Fuck off before I have you thrown out.”

“I’d like to see anyone try.” She flipped back her coat and revealed the blades at each hip. “Now, we can do this the hard way or the easy way. But you’re coming with me. Choice is yours.”

“Personally, I prefer it hard. The harder the better. Don’t you, demon?”

He gave her a slow, dangerous smile. She tamped down hard on the kick of heat that flared in her belly.

“Look, Romeo, there’s a contract out on your head. And while I would normally join in with gusto, a good Samaritan has employed me to rescue you. So cut the crap and come with me if you want to live.” Dammit, she was quoting movies now.

Lemar uncoiled lazily from the sofa. Tala was forced to crane her neck as he towered above her.

“I assure you, small demon, I can take care of myself. I have no need for a bodyguard. Especially not a half-pint like you.”

“Half-pi…? You cheeky fucker. I may not be as tall as you, fang-face, but I assure you I can protect you. Even though it’ll make me sick to my stomach.”

Lemar studied her thoughtfully.

“If you hate Vetali so much, why take the job?”

“A friend asked me. Now come on.”

“Not so fast. I need more details.” He picked up the champagne bottle and poured her a glass. “Drink?”

“We don’t have time for this.”

He sat back down and patted the sofa.

“Of course we do. No-one knows I’m here. Except you, it seems. You’ll have to tell me how you did that. Here, drink.”

Tala took the glass reluctantly.

“What about your girlfriend?”

“Camille? She’s here somewhere. Actually, I haven’t seen her for some time. I wonder where…”

He stopped and his head snapped towards the entrance, but she’d seen it too. A group of vampires had come in, maybe ten or twelve of them. They slid among the dancers, lithe and sinuous. Predators on the hunt.

Tala set her glass down.

“Move,” she said softly. “Towards the back. Fire exit.”

“How do you know they’re here for me?”

“How much do you want to stay and find out?”

Lemar slipped from the sofa and followed Tala to the back of the mezzanine. The vamps would be up the stairs at any moment and there were too many civilians in the way for a full-blown confrontation. She saw the fire alarm on the wall and punched it.

Immediately a shrill siren blasted through the club, cutting through the music and noise. Everyone started pouring towards the exits. As she pushed Lemar through the crowd ahead of her, she caught a glimpse of one of the vampires. He’d seen them.

They reached the fire exit and Lemar made to go down the stairs but she grabbed him.

“No. That’s what they’ll expect, they’ll be waiting. Go up.”

They ran up two flights. The door to the roof was padlocked but Lemar simply crushed it in his fist.

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