deserted ice rink and the next they were surrounded by vampires. They all wore black, no surprise there.
“I’m Lawrence, leader of the Gold Coast vamps. You’re trespassing,” the tallest one growled, flashing his fangs at them. He oozed wealth, power, and entitlement. His expressionless face reminded her of someone who had had Botox gone wrong. His eyes were entirely black, which was entirely creepy. “This is Gold Coast territory. You have no right to be here.”
“And you have no right hiring mercenary demons,” Simon said. “That’s why they turned to demon dust last night. Because they were hired help.”
“It was an experiment gone awry,” Lawrence said. “But that’s our business, not yours.” His look turned even more menacing. “You and your pet witch aren’t welcome here.”
“I have a license that says otherwise.” Simon’s voice was calm, but Pru knew him well enough to realize that beneath that unflappable surface, he was ready to strike out.
She wasn’t sure what she could do to help. She knew that Simon was a legendary fighter, but he was outnumbered twelve to one. Glancing down at her hand, she saw her amulet ring. Lifting the top, she revealed a tiny mirror and whispered the spell.
“Mirror, mirror, get us out of here.”
An instant later, she was back where she began much earlier that day. At Damon’s loft. But she was alone.
“What’s going on?” Damon demanded.
“Simon needs help. I left him surrounded by angry Gold Coast vamps.”
“Where?”
“The ice rink at Millennium Park.”
She’d barely spoken the last word when Damon was gone.
She’d have to risk flying again. Witches were never intended to fly unlimited miles. At least modern witches weren’t. That’s why airplanes were invented.
She arrived at the ice rink in one piece, but it was close. She’d almost gotten beaned by the Bean, the famous sculpture in the park.
She expected to find Simon and Damon battling angry vampires with perhaps a few hired demons thrown into the mix. Instead she saw Simon and Damon high-fiving each other and the dozen vampires from the Gold Coast clan. She’d never seen vampires do that before, but she supposed it was better than ripping each other apart or tearing each other’s heads off.
Their laughter stopped the moment they saw her.
“What’s going on?” She tried to sound calm even though she wasn’t.
“Witches aren’t welcome,” the tall one said.
“She’s with me,” Simon said.
“She was casting a locator spell. Do I need to remind you that any supernatural items in Gold Coast territory belong to our clan?” Lawrence said.
“In most cases, that’s true,” Simon agreed.
“But not in your case?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Perhaps if you told me what you’re looking for, we could help you find it,” Lawrence said.
“That’s very thoughtful of you, but not necessary,” Simon said. “I don’t need your help.”
“Yet you need the help of a witch?”
“I enjoy her company.”
“What about you, witch? Do you enjoy his company, too?” Lawrence said.
They were leering at her as if she was a camp follower. Or in their case, a vamp camp follower.
Simon reached out and pulled her close to him, shifting his hand to the back of her neck. “Of course she does.”
“Yet she deserted you at the first sign of trouble,” Lawrence pointed out.
Simon shrugged. “What can I say? You intimidated her.”
He gently squeezed his fingers on her nape, warning her to stay silent.
“So the poor little witch is afraid of the big bad vampire?”
They all laughed. Even Damon, who had been standing nearby but stayed out of the conversation.
Perhaps sensing that Pru was nearing the end of her rope, Simon said, “Are we done here?”
“For now,” Lawrence said. “It’s been informative meeting you, Simon. Safe travels.”
“Right back at ya,” Pru muttered under her breath.
The group of vampires disappeared as quickly as they’d appeared.
Pulling away from Simon, she turned to face him. “How dare you—”
He silenced her by putting his finger over her lips. “Not here.” Turning his attention to Damon, he said, “Shall we head on out?”
Damon nodded.
“Allow me.” Simon put his arms around Pru so that her body rested against his. He wrapped his trench coat around her as he went airborne. Since her face was buried in his neck she couldn’t see where they were going, and she didn’t like it. She sensed that he was able to move much faster than she could and that he could control the speed with which he moved. She also sensed that she wanted him. Wanted him bad. But couldn’t have him because she’d cursed him.
“Back in one piece,” he announced as he set her on her feet.
She breathed in the scent of him. He really shouldn’t still have this kind of sexual power over her. She shouldn’t still love him.
“Pru?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you okay?”
She stepped back and glared at him. “No, I’m not okay. I do not appreciate being laughed at by a gang of vampires.”
He glared right back at her. “And I don’t appreciate being cursed by a witch.”
She wasn’t sure how it happened, but somehow his mouth was on hers in a kiss that was as fierce as it was raw. He moved so fast he stole her breath, but it was his passion that stole her heart. He slid his tongue past her parted lips to tickle the roof of her mouth before tangling with her tongue in an erotic thrust and parry that made her want more. But she could tell he wasn’t ready to break the curse himself, and she couldn’t do it for him.
As difficult as it was for her, she pulled away.
“I can’t make you believe if you don’t,” she said before walking out.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Navy Pier is a neutral zone. Sort of the vampire version of Switzerland,” Simon told Pru the next morning as he escorted her toward the Holiday Ice Sculpture Festival taking place on the Chicago tourist spot. “It actually juts out into the lake and the lake is also a neutral zone.”
“Fascinating, I’m sure,” Pru said. She wasn’t feeling real cheerful today. Memories of his kiss had kept her awake half the night.
“Time is running out,” Simon reminded her.
Thinking about running made her glance down at her footwear. She was wearing her magic kick-ass boots today. Contrary to popular fashion, they were not four-inch-high stilettos. Hers were more along the line of blinged-out red leather cowboy boots. Looks were nice, but the main thing was that she could run in them. Run really fast. And kick really hard.
Because when one was dealing with vampires and demons, the ability to move quickly was important. Yes,
