Page 25 of Kiss of Light

“That’s personal.”

“Fuck that. I’m trying to save your sorry ass and you’re trying to torpedo the only plan I have. So just level with me, fang-face. Why can’t you go home to daddy dearest?”

“Because the minute I set foot in Vetali territory, he’ll have me executed.” Lemar took perverse delight at the shock on her face. “So now you see the problem. If I go back to Palissandra, it’s certain death. I’d rather stay in the mortal realm and take my chances.”

“The scar on your body.” Understanding dawned. “The X. It’s not a mark of royalty. It brands you as an exile.”

“Yes. My father did that to me when he told me never to return.”

“But why? What have you done?”

“That’s enough gut-spilling from me. What about you? How is it you have no master? I thought shaitun were passed down from generation to generation.”

“Thanks for making me sound like a family heirloom.”

Her voice was bitter and Lemar cursed his bluntness.

“I meant no disrespect. I’m just curious.”

“Get me another whisky and I’ll tell you.”

Alcohol had little affect on her. But she’d found throughlotsof trial and error that several glasses of whisky in a short space of time could blur her edges for a while.

Lemar beckoned to the barman. He locked eyes with the bearded human and let his pupils dilate.

“Free whisky for the lady. All night.”

The barman nodded vigorously.

“Coming right up.”

Tala smiled faintly.

“Neat trick. Trancing must come in handy. Shame it doesn’t work on my kind.”

“Are you so sure it doesn’t?”

“Try it.”

She met his stare and he let his eyes bleed to black.

“Drive away and forget you found me.”

“Nice try.”

“Worth a shot. What aboutyourtalents? Shaitun are able to possess bodies, aren’t they?”

Tala watched the barman reach for the cheapest bottle on the shelf.

“Keep an eye on me. I’ll be right back.”

“Excuse me?”

She ignored Lemar’s puzzled look and let her essence drift from her body. She turned to watch him frowning at the still figure on the barstool, knowing he could detect her heartbeat slowing and her respiration decrease.

She possessed Beardy. The weight of his corporeal form settled around her, as if she was putting on a heavy old overcoat.

Some humans were resistant to this, she knew. She’d come up against two or three in her long existence who had the strength of will to repel demon possession. She’d learned the hard way that trying to force herself on those individuals ended badly. But by and large, most humans were susceptible.

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