Blood Before Sunrise

He sighed in disappointment and downed his drink in a single swallow. “I can lift the entrapment spell Adare has placed on the Oracle. But it’s not an easy task to accomplish. I’d be putting myself on the line by doing this for you. So in return, I ask only that you do the same for me.”

“Put myself on the line? How?”

“Someone has stolen something from me, and I want it back.”

“Doesn’t sound like a fair trade to me.” Boy, was that an understatement. “Besides, I’m not a thief. I’m an assassin. If you want someone offed, I’m your girl. But burglary is not my forte.”

“Well, then, it had better become your forte. Fast. What I’m asking is fair and equitable. If I’m caught removing the spell on the Oracle, I won’t simply be removed from duty or reassigned. I’ll be arrested-or worse. If you’re caught stealing”-his eyes wandered longingly to his companions waiting at the next bed-“you’ll suffer the same fate. Fair-and equitable.”

Fucker. “Can I have a few days to think about it?”

“Sorry,” Fallon said, sounding anything but. “I’m afraid my offer expires in”-he checked his watchless wrist-“fifteen seconds. Take it or leave it.”

I balled my fists at my sides to control my mounting rage. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

Fallon snapped his fingers, and his companions returned to the bed with a grace and speed only the inhuman possessed. As if starved without his nearness, the three of them scrambled onto the bed, kissing and petting him with a perverted intensity. He stared right at me and graced me with an indulgent smile before he relaxed back on the pillows and closed his eyes. “You’ll understand if I ask you to go first.” He peeked through one lid. “Call it insurance.”

“No fucking way. Where’s my insurance? How do I know you won’t drop me cold after I steal whatever it is you want?” My hand closed around the dagger’s hilt again. I wanted to stab him so bad, I could taste it.

“You can keep my prize until I fulfill my end of the bargain. Is that enough insurance for you?”

Okay, ransom could work to my advantage. If he didn’t help me unlock Delilah’s mind, I could pitch whatever it was I’d stolen-or give it back. “All right. Now, what exactly is it I’m stealing?” If I played my cards right, I could slip in and out as my incorporeal self, taking Fallon’s trinket before anyone even knew I’d been there.

“A piece to a puzzle.” His voice was muffled as the Fae to his right stripped him of his shirt. Her eyes bulged at the sight of exposed, muscled flesh. Brilliant red hair spilled over him like a cascade of flames as she rubbed her mouth against one of his nipples. He closed his eyes for an indulgent moment. “One half of an hourglass.”

Interesting. “And who will I be taking it from?”

Fallon’s eyes snapped open, and a corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. “Sidhe. If I thought you could manage it, I’d have you kill them as well. His name is Reaver, and he’s the Keeper of the Glass. His sister, Moira, is his… security.” He spat to the side. “I would shit on their corpses if I could.”

My knees nearly buckled. I’d met the brother-and-sister duo at the PNT Summit not six months ago. And I’d hoped never to see them again. But apparently Fate had other things in mind, since I’d seen Moira at The Pit the night those magic arrows had been slung at my head. Had it been a coincidence? Something told me I was about to dig my own grave.

“Not backing out, are you?” Fallon asked.

I swallowed against the fear tugging at the edge of my mind and an urge to scream, Yes! Yes! “No,” I said, ignoring my nagging better judgment. “Any idea where I can find them?” Besides slinking around my favorite hangouts?

“You have a genie, don’t you? Ask him.”

Blood turned to ice in my veins. If he knew about Tyler, what else did he know? “Leave him out of this. Or you won’t need me to steal a damned thing for you because I’ll take your head right off your shoulders.” Razor blades would not have been as sharp as my warning.

“Tsk, tsk.” Fallon unfastened the male Fae’s pants. His eyes turned liquid as he looked upon Fallon as if he’d already given him a million-dollar blow job. I pursed my lips, lest my jaw drop right down to my knees. If I didn’t get the hell out of here soon, I’d have a front-seat ticket to an orgy whether I wanted one or not.

“You have such a temper. The Jinn is tied to you, no? He can be an asset-or a liability. Which I’m sure you are to him as well. Such is the way of these bindings.” He traced his fingertip along the male’s cheek. “I’ll call you in one week’s time. Best have my merchandise by then. If you don’t, I doubt I can keep Adare from transporting your Oracle to Portland, and then you’ll never know her secrets, will you?”

I hated him-hated him right down to my toenails. Xander would be pleased to know someone had finally knocked him from the top spot on my shit list. But I had to do this for Raif-for his friendship and for the heartache he’d endured. “I’ll have it in three days,” I said, throwing down the bravado. “You’d best be ready for me.”

Spinning on a heel, I turned, commanding my body to ignore the need to flee for safety and walk away with calm dignity. It wasn’t until I’d cleared the doors of Seven that I allowed my body to respond to the urge to run. And it wasn’t until I was a block from my apartment that I’d finally stopped shaking with fear.

Chapter 14

“At least it’s not getting any worse,” Azriel said, examining the slice to my forearm.

That wasn’t saying much. I’d never had a wound that didn’t heal fast. The fear of what the blade had been laced with scared me more than the damned gash. What could have damaged my inhuman skin to such an extent?

Azriel’s expression didn’t give me ease. His eyes shone with knowledge, something his mouth had denied.

“Plant extract? Rat poison? What do you think it was?”

“I told you,” Azriel replied, his tone more than simply annoyed. “I have no idea.”

“You said a magic blade can kill us. What if-”

“No.”

“Can you be sure?”

Azriel wrung the soaking cloth from a basin of water and dabbed at my arm one more time before wrapping it with a white gauze bandage. “I’m sure. The bastard was human, after all. No reason to believe he knew what you were. Damn it, Darian, you’ve got to be quicker than that. You don’t have time to contemplate the morality of your actions. Draw your blade and cut. End of story.”

He was angry with me for hesitating, but only because he cared for me and didn’t like to see me hurt. I should have done as he’d told me and struck with speed. My hesitation would be my downfall someday, and I didn’t want to disappoint him again.

“Another postcard came today,” I said as Azriel pinned the bandage in place. “From Dallas.”

“Hmph,” Azriel grunted, carrying the bowl of bloodied water to the door and throwing the contents out onto the street. “He’ll stick out like a sore thumb there. Better for Lorik if he returns to Europe.”

“You said yourself it’s not safe for him there.”

“Nowhere is safe for him. His father’s indiscretions have guaranteed that.”

“What is he to you?” I doubted Lorik’s postcards were meant for me, even though they were addressed to me. We’d never been what you might call close. “You’ve taken an unusual interest in this human.”

“That,” Azriel said, kissing the tip of my nose, “is none of your concern, my love.” He pulled the sleeve of my dress back into place, refastening the button. “Now, come lie with me for a spell. Let us watch the rain as it runs down the windows. I have need of the feel of your body against mine.”

I smiled, my entire being responding to his words. “That sounds lovely.”

He’s getting worse, I thought as I shook myself from memories and hung up the