Mysteria Nights

stare was fierce. She didn’t want that man making any connections between her and the underworld, especially not while her demon powers were down. “Your record’s clean. Nothing on you at all. Yet, here’s your car, swimming in our fountain. What did you do? Fall asleep at the wheel?”

Shay’s gaze shot to Harmony’s. She couldn’t have the woman thinking she was irresponsible. I’m hardworking, honest. I’m the perfect woman to trust around your son. She blinked, planting the thought in Harmony’s head.

The minister’s expression remained exactly the same. Serpent’s breath! Without her legendary powers of mental persuasion, she’d have to rely on her wits. She was sure she had some; she’d just never had to rely on them before.

“Aw, honey. It’ll be all right.” Harmony took her hand, squeezing it. Her gaze intensified as she held fast to Shay’s fingers, conjuring the unsettling feeling that the minister saw much more than she let on. Shay’s instinct was to pull her hand away, yet there was something so compelling about the reverend’s regard that it kept Shay in place. In Harmony’s gaze, she felt accepted, forgiven . . . good. Yes, good. In that breathless moment that seemed to hang still in time, Shay was no longer evil.

No longer a monster.

Then Harmony patted her hand, breaking the spell. Her eyes were moist; a sheen of perspiration shone on her forehead. She appeared almost as unsettled as Shay. “You have a soul,” she murmured. “A good and sweet soul.”

Shay covered her appalled snort with a fake coughing attack.

“Leave her be, Reverend Faithfull,” Dr. Fogg scolded. “This young woman needs to rest. She’s in shock.”

If she wasn’t in shock before, she sure was now. Shay hoped Lucifer wasn’t eavesdropping on any of this. Withering warts, a soul! And not just any soul, a “good and sweet” soul. Bat bugger. She hoped to hell the condition wasn’t permanent, merely a trick of the fountain.

Some trick. If it could implant souls in demons, the fountain was more dangerous than she’d thought. Lucifer should have been more specific. Unless he didn’t know. If he didn’t, and these mortals did, it could prove the undoing of the entire dark empire.

Well, no matter. If a soul got in, she could get it out. She’d worry about that tomorrow. As long as her master didn’t know anything was wrong, she was fine.

Harmony stood. “I’ll be out of the good doctor’s hair now, but if you need anything, call.” She smiled once more before disappearing in the crowd.

At the doctor’s direction, the ambulance crew transferred Shay to a stretcher. Going to a hospital was a delay she couldn’t afford. What choice did she have? She didn’t know how severe her injuries were. Without her demon powers, she’d have to rely on the mortals to repair her. Then again, Harmony Faithfull was coming to her hospital room in the morning to see how she was doing. Shay didn’t have to lift a finger to lure her there.

A soul, a good and sweet soul. The woman’s pronouncement haunted her. On the bright side, a soul would throw Laredo off her scent. She stole another glance at the man working so hard to figure her out. Her heart gave another little leap.

He walked alongside the stretcher as they wheeled her to the ambulance. His gait was deceptively casual. There was banked power in that walk. Killing power. He was impressively built, though his frame tended toward leanness rather than bulk. She imagined he hadn’t an ounce of fat on that body. He didn’t seem to be a man who tolerated overindulgence in himself or in anyone else. Shay, on the other hand, loved to indulge, which, of course, underscored the fact that they’d never get along.

Much to her annoyance, Laredo stayed close as she was loaded into the rear of the ambulance. Was he that worried she’d escape? She could hardly lift her aching head much less sit up or walk.

With his rifle cradled in his arms, the demon hunter waited in silence until the doctor and medics had settled her in. “Your coat, Mr. Laredo.” A medic handed Laredo the coat he’d draped over her. It left her top half uncovered. Her soaking-wet pink T-shirt was molded to every curve and contour of her breasts.

Laredo read the slogan scrawled across her chest. “Angel?” His smile was slow, feral. “We’ll see about that, Miss d’Mon.” To her disgust, her heart leaped with the heat and the challenge of his dark stare. Slamming the door closed, he walked away, shoving his rifle back in his holster.

Shay glowered after him. Let him see if he was as arrogant once her powers of persuasion returned!

Four

The morning Shay d’Mon was released from Mysteria General, Quel blended in with the crowd gathered in the town square for the weekly farmers’ market. He bought an apple from a vendor and leaned back against a light post, biting into the fruit while keeping an eye on the Faithfull family: Harmony, Damon, and their boy. The couple had picked up Shay the moment she was discharged. Now, after taking her to lunch, they were giving her the grand tour, including introducing her to what townspeople hadn’t witnessed her infamous crash into the fountain.

They exited an ice cream shop. Shay ran a pointed tongue around the base of the ice cream. It was just a damn ice cream cone, but the woman put her whole focus into indulging in it . . . licking . . . savoring. It was probably the thousandth time she’d eaten ice cream, but she made it look like it was the first time and the best damn thing she’d ever tasted. Swearing, he forced his eyes away from that mouth. He’d been all about resuscitating her the night of the crash, but he hadn’t forgotten the way those lips felt. She was dressed in the same clothes. Laundered, they fit just right on her tight, toned little body. “Angel,” he muttered, shaking his head as he read that damn pink shirt of hers. “We’ll see . . .”

As if she’d sensed his attention, Shay turned his way. Quel touched the brim of his hat and nodded. Yeah, darlin’, I’m keeping an eye on you. There it was again, always that look of surprise chased by sadness and unmistakable heat. Just like the other night, it got to him, and he didn’t like it, not one frickin’ bit. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she missed him. But, hell, she didn’t know him—and probably didn’t want to, based on his record with women. He probably reminded her of someone who’d done her wrong. Or maybe his little “angel” had done the man wrong.

Then she was whisked away by the Faithfulls without another glance in his direction. Quel narrowed his eyes and took a sniff. One taste of the air brought the unmistakable scent of her.

Not, he acceded stubbornly, a demon.

Bullshit. He took a brutal bite of the apple, frowning as he chewed. He’d smelled that she-demon the moment it came down the hill. If it wasn’t Shay, then somewhere, somehow, a demon had done a bait and switch. All he could do was lay in wait for it to make a mistake.

“Take him,” Harmony said, grinning as she dropped a wriggling little boy in Shay’s arms, drawing Shay’s attention away from the enigmatic demon hunter who’d been shadowing their tour of the town. If only Quel Laredo would go away and stop reminding her of what she was—and what she could never be.

Awkwardly, Shay juggled the squirming weight in her arms. Satan’s stones—here she was, pretending to be a child-care provider, and she’d never once held a child. She’d never wanted to. Harmony, thank the Dark Lord, didn’t seem to notice. “He’s a handful, isn’t he?”

Shay swallowed hard. It wasn’t her intent or desire to get to know the boy. Especially since she was going to have to—

“Park!” The boy strained in the direction of the lawn and play area across the street. Other children played, their mothers watching, smiling as if their offspring were the cutest things on earth.

To Shay’s shock, disgust didn’t fill her as she’d expected. Nor, however, did she want to join the group. It was too far outside her experience—and interests. It’s a chance to get the babe alone. Yes, but she couldn’t kill it here, not in front of everyone. The thought of killing it at all was growing increasingly repulsive. As soon as she recovered, her reservations—her conscience—would pass, she was certain. Meanwhile, she’d better role-play and strengthen the family’s trust in her.

“Take him to the swings, if you like,” Harmony coaxed. “Damon and I will stay here. It’ll give you two a little time to become acquainted.”