"It's not humid in hell, is it?"
Ezra took a step ahead of me and people instinctivelymoved out of his way. I trailed along in his wake, grateful for that particulardemonic power. Or maybe it was just his presence. Whatever it was, movingthrough the press became easier. Mayhem trotted along behind me.
"Depends on where you are at."
"Bleh."
He chuckled and my stomach tightened as the seductivenature of his voice wrapped around me and made me want to rub against him.
Ezra stopped suddenly and I almost smacked into him. Ifmy duffle hadn't been slung over his shoulder I might have. Instead, I bouncedoff of that. Mayhem managed not to smash his little button nose into my calf,though I heard him give a doggy grumble.
"Problem?" I asked.
"No, just a bit of a roadblock."
I glanced around Ezra's shoulder. Just a massive pressof people waiting for something. A tram?
"We need to get to that escalator." Hepointed.
For a moment it seemed like an impossible task, but then,after a deep breath that was almost a sigh, Ezra led the way.
Finally, we were there, and it was marginally lesscrowded as we stepped onto the moving stairway. I was relieved, at least until someoneshoved into me from behind. If Ezra hadn't been a solid rock for me to crashinto, we both would have gone tumbling down the escalator. As it was, theconnection between us sprang to life with an almost painful surge. Ezra twistedaround and caught me before I hit the ground, fingers digging into my arms withhis own renewed need to touch me.
It was a good thing I was seriously pissed off, or Imight have melted into his arms in an embarrassingly gushing puddle of desire.As soon as I had my balance, I twisted around to glare at the offender. Mayhemstood between us, fluffy hackles up, teeth bared.
Ezra, still holding me, guided me backward off theescalator and onto the solid ground. Mayhem,still snarling, backed up with us, though he hadn't shifted to his hellhoundform.
The smirk on the other person's face might have gottenwiped off with my fist if Ezra hadn't had a solid grip on my arm. She didn'tlook at the dog, though her stance told me she was aware of the Pomeranian.
"What the fuck, mate?"
"Chris Price. You haven't changed one bit."
The person sneering at me seemed vaguely familiar. Imentally erased a few lines off of the woman's face, colored her hair pinkinstead of dirty blond, and changed her attire from relatively conservativejeans and a T-shirt, to a leather mini skirt, fishnets, and crop tops. She hadway more of a tan to her pale skin that she'd had years back, too.
"Nicki?" Ahh, shit. What the hell was shedoing here?
"In the flesh." She sauntered toward us likeshe owned the place.
Ezra pulled me back against his chest and I let himhold me.
"Care to introduce me to your friend?"
I still wanted to punch her, but my initial anger hadfaded into wariness. There was no way running into Nicki was a coincidence, butI couldn't figure out how she would be connected to my trip to New York,either. I hadn't seen her, or Daed, or Tif in years.
"Uh, yeah, sure. Ezra, this is an old friend ofmine, Nicki."
"Hello," Ezra replied, ignoring Nicki'soutstretched hand.
His fingers tightened on my arms and I wondered whathad him on edge.
She dropped her hand to her side, an amused smirk onher face. "Nice dog, by the way. Pretty sure that's supposed to be on aleash."
I ignored the taunt.
"Not going to ask after anyone else?" she taunted.
I could sense a trap when one was presented and shookmy head. "Naw. Don't have time to catch up now. Maybe later. We've got acar to meet." She was up to something for sure.
"Yes, perhaps later," Ezra echoed and beforeshe could protest or mock us, he pulled me out of the building and into the dampafternoon air. I stopped and Ezra paused behind me. The smells of the city, exhaust,and various food overwhelmed my senses. The press of humans combined with the screechof tires, and angry honking of cars, added weight to my shoulders. Holy shit I'dgotten used to living in New Mexico and I was off kilter from running intosomeone from my past. I leaned back against Ezra's chest and tried to breathethe air. Once upon a time, I'd thrived in this kind of environment. Now it feltalien.
"Are you okay?" He leaned down to speak inmy ear, his breath tickling my hair and sending shivers through me.
"Yeah," I lied.
He wrapped his arms around me, much like Mal wouldhave, and let me have my lie.
A black town car pulled up to the curb and the drivergot out and bowed to Ezra.
"My lord." The man set off my senses and Iwas willing to bet if he had taken his sunglasses off, I would have seen redrimming his irises. He gave me a wary look, but otherwise ignored me.
"Someone you know?" I asked quietly.
"One of mine. Yes."
Ezra released me, though he threaded his fingersthough mine, keeping a hold of my hand. Right now was not the time to deal withany sort of weird touch withdrawal.
The possessed man opened the door for us. Ezra didn'thand off my bag, probably because of what it contained, instead putting it onthe floor of the town car, before helping me slide in. Mayhem hopped in afterme. I made room for Ezra and once we were all inside, the driver shut the door.
I sighed in relief, though I couldn't help but lookback toward the terminal. Nicki stood just outside the door, staring at us. Thoughthe windows were heavily tinted, she waved as if she could tell I was lookingat her, managing to convey a great deal of irony with that little motion.
"Fuck," I muttered.
Mayhem whined softly.
Ezra put his arm around me, and despite all myconflicting emotions, I snuggled into his embrace.
She'd caught me off guard once. She wouldn't again.
"Want to talk about it?"
"It's a small world, mate, but not that small. Ijust can't see her being here as any sort of coincidence." I rested myhead on his shoulder
