“Always so much better in color,” he said.
“What?”
He smiled and reached up with his other hand to finger my hair. “Gold and silver entwined. I can’t see it when in the in-between. Everything is tinged with gray.”
“If you two are done admiring each other, then maybe we should get on with it?” Mira snapped.
Paimon dropped the hand caressing my hair. “We can travel faster if you permit me to hold you.”
Hold me? Against his manly chest with those … arms. “Um … sure?”
“Incoming!” Mira cried.
The air behind us exploded, spitting out four hairy bestial figures.
Yaksha.
They faltered, taking in their environment.
“What the fuck?” the one closest to us said, his voice thick and distorted by his muzzle.
Paimon pulled me back and stepped in front of me.
“Where is it?” He advanced on Paimon. “Where’s the fucking creature that killed Denny?”
“Yoohoo!” Mira, in her Gemma form, gave them a little finger wave.
The Yaksha turned their attention on her.
“You want to play?” She cocked her head.
“What the fuck is this?” Another yaksha said.
“Turn around and go back the way you came,” Paimon said steadily.
The yaksha’s eyes, all too human in his canine face, narrowed. He leaned to the right to look past Paimon, his gaze landing on me. “I’ll take the female. Fuck first, eat later.”
His comrades laughed.
Paimon’s body tensed, the vibration of his anger rippling through our bond, and then the pack attacked.
Not one by one like they do in the movies, but enforce. Mira’s battle cry turned into a big cat roar, and Paimon’s body blurred as he rushed the Yaksha. Mira grabbed a yaksha with her powerful jaws, shaking him, pinning him, and then tearing him in two. Paimon grabbed the ring leader by the head, freezing him instantly and then plucking off his head like a grape off the vine. The remaining two Yaksha stumbled backward, turned, and ran back into the red zone.
Mira didn’t bother morphing back into a girl. Instead she curled up on the sand to groom herself, her huge tongue lapping at the blood on her paws.
The golden sand was speckled with crimson, like a vivid piece of abstract art … was that an arm way over there?
My stomach turned. I was gonna be sick.
Paimon’s scent enveloped me, exotic yet comforting. He pulled me to his chest, solid and cool, and then wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Close your eyes,” he said.
Mira raised her huge head and blinked lazily at me. She stood and padded over to the torn arm. Oh man. No way.
I closed my eyes.
_____
“You must stay here. Do not leave this chamber,” Paimon instructed.
“Leave? This awesome chamber with the most fantastic view of another world I’d ever seen? Why would I leave?” I bounced on the massive and extremely bouncy bed. “Wow, I mean, who needs this much space when sleeping?”
Mira cackled from her spot by the exit. “Trust me, it’s not sleeping Paimon needs the space for.”
This was his room? His bed. Where he … Oh … I climbed off the mattress.
Paimon was watching me carefully, his eyes all pupil.
Mira cleared her throat. “The Lords meet in less than ten minutes.”
Paimon tore his gaze away and strode to the door. “Do not leave this room. On second thought, I’ll just lock it.” He closed it firmly behind him and the scrape of a key in the lock followed.
Great. Trapped in Paimon’s bedroom where he … did all sorts of stuff in his wonder-bed.
So they’d go to this meeting or whatever, and Paimon would convince them he wasn’t somehow involved in the ascendants being taken, then we’d go home. Simple.
Maybe the view would be a distraction?
I drifted onto the balcony where a chaise longue and cushy seats were set out. Had his lovers lounged out here watching the sunset? Had he made love to them out here under the stars? Urgh, what the heck was wrong with me?
Leaning against the balcony, I looked out over Paimon’s city. We were high up, so high the buildings below looked like tiny models nestled in greenery. Spires and towers glittered in the distance—a metropolis of glass and stone. A complete contrast to the lush nature that surrounded the building we were in. I’d have to ask him about the towers. Was that a city? Mira called him lord, so he had to be high up in whatever hierarchy governed this place, right? And the meeting was with other Lords.
How much time had passed?
Something in the air caught my eye, a bright dot, growing rapidly as it approached. Orange, now red, wait … was it blue? It was getting closer, faster. What the …
I backed up into the room as the whirlwind molten mass whizzed onto the balcony, landing with a soft thud.
Not a molten mass. A man. A hot man—like literally—the dude was on fire.
His eyes flared orange and then darkened to warm honey. He strode into the room, spitting embers and ash. Heat smacked me in the face, and my skin broke out in perspiration.
I held up my hands. “Whoa! Back the fuck up.”
He stopped. “Oops.” The fiery effect winked out, leaving him dressed in black pants and a cream shirt open at the neck. Gems winked at his ears and his deep red hair was swept off his forehead, falling down his back in loose braids. He stood, just inside the balcony arch, arms hanging loosely at his sides studying me from head to toe. It was invasive and rude and who the heck did he think he was?
I crossed my arms. “Who the heck are you?”
“I could ask you the same question but I think I know the answer.” He walked into the room, circling me. “Paimon and his minion certainly know how to pick them.”
What was he talking about? “You know Paimon?”
He snorted. “Know? Yes, you could say that.” He came to a standstill in front of me. “I see why he hid you up here.” He caught his bottom lip between his teeth and leaned in. “If the other Lords got their hands on you …”
“Are you threatening me?”
He took a step closer, totally in my personal space. “Threatening you is the last thing on my mind. These meetings take time. I’m happy to entertain you in the meantime.”
Entertain? He made to touch my face, and I jerked my head back. I was locked in a room with a man who could catch fire and who, by the look on his face, wanted to get hot and heavy with me. My pulse kicked up. Okay. Handle with care and all that.
“Look, I don’t know who you are, but I’m not interested so you should just go.”
He frowned. “Really?”
“Yes. Really.” Please just leave. I glanced at the exit.
He followed my gaze and then sighed. “Ah, I see. You think Paimon will be upset if you lay with me?” He shook his head. “Trust me. He won’t mind a jot. We share everything! Always have.” He winked and reached for me again.
My hand came up on reflex and cracked him across his handsome face.
He froze, his hand a couple of inches from my cheek. “Ouch.”
Shit, shit, shit! What was he going to do? What was I going to do if he did anything?
The fiery dude lowered his hand and stepped away from me. “Okay, so you don’t wish to lay with me?” He looked dazed and more than a little confused. “Can I ask why? Is it the braids? It’s the braids isn’t it? They make me look ridiculous don’t they?” He slapped his thigh. “I told that damn barber to do the usual cue but no … this is all the rage he said, up and coming djinn fashion, he said” He held up a finger. “Wait. I can take them out …” He reached for his hair.
“No. It’s not the braids.”
“Then what?” He seemed genuinely perplexed by my rejection.
I shrugged. “I just … I don’t want to lay with you.”
“Yes, yes, I get that, but why? What is it about me that repels you?”
“Nothing. You’re very … handsome.”
He offered me a crooked dimpled smile. “Well, that’s true.”
“I just … I don’t know you well enough.”
His mouth formed an o. “You wish to converse first? Swap life tales?”
Oh, man. How to get through to him. “Look. Where I come from, we don’t just lay with people. Okay, some of us do. But I don’t. I only lay with people I care about and have serious feelings for.”
He stared at me for a long beat and then shook his head. “Your world must be a strange place. What do you do for recreation?”
He was deadly serious. I didn’t know who he was, only that he knew Paimon and he didn’t seem dangerous; he’d stopped trying it on when I’d told him I wasn’t interested, and who knew how much longer Paimon was going to be.
“Well, if you want to hang out I can tell you.”
“Hang out?”
“Sit and converse?”
His brows flicked up. “I must admit, I am intrigued.”
_____
“So you must buy a meal, possibly three, before the woman will allow you to lay with her?” Amon said from his perch on the other end of the bed.
“Well, some women will lay with you on a first meeting. It varies.”
“Then how do you know?”
I shrugged. “You just … do. Body language, conversation, that kind of thing.”
He sat back and pretended to wipe his brow. “Your world sounds like hard work.”
I laughed. “It can be.”
He sat forward. “So now that we’ve conversed …”
I rolled my eyes.
The door slammed open and an icy wind rippled through my hair. Paimon stood in the center of the room.
Amon raised a hand. “Hello brother.”
Paimon looked from me to the bed then back to Amon. “What did you do?” He addressed Amon.
Amon grinned. “Well I figure since we shared a womb and have shared most everything else since …”
Paimon’s hands curled into fists. “What. Did. You. Do?”
A flash of uncertainty flitted across Amon’s face, but then he was smiling slyly. “Would you like us to show you?”
He was baiting Paimon and the frosty djinn took a big bite. He was across the room in a blur, his fists tangled in Amon’s shirt as he yanked him off the bed. Amon’s chuckles reverberated around the room.
I jumped off the bed. “Paimon! What are you doing? Nothing happened.”
Paimon faltered.
“Amon was keeping me company till you got back.”
Paimon released his brother.
Amon straightened his shirt. “We were merely conversing—the first step to getting to know each other. But after that, who knows what could have happened.” He winked cheekily.
Man, he was really pushing it. Paimon’s jaw ticked. He exhaled through his nose. “Leave, Amon. And tell no one.”
Amon looked from me to Paimon. “You’re playing with fire brother.”
Paimon snorted. “So? You do it all the time.”
Amon’s playful expression turned to one of concern. “Paimon … seriously. The danger of—”
“Not now, Amon.” Paimon slapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder and led him to the balcony. “We will talk when I return with the creature’s head.”
Amon caught my eye over Paimon’s shoulder. “Carmella? May I visit with you sometime?”
What? He wanted to come to my world? “Sure.”
Paimon’s shoulders tensed. “Amon …”
Amon danced backward and leaped up onto the balcony. “See you around brother.”
And then he burst into flame and flew off.
Paimon strode back into the room. “We should leave. Now.” He pulled me into his arms, his heart beating way too fast. I looked up into his face, still taut and tense. Once we got back I wouldn’t see him again. Not like this. I wouldn’t be able to touch him … not like this. What was happening between us, whether it was the binding or something else, was too powerful to resist. His heartbeat matched mine as I reached up and brushed my fingers down his jaw line. His body tensed, but he didn’t stop me. Emboldened I ran my fingers through his dark silken hair, committing the sensation to memory.
He exhaled long and slow, and then pressed his forehead to mine. “Close your eyes.”
19
T he dress was beautiful, light as gossamer, caressing me in all the right places. I looked …
“Breathtaking.” Hannah clapped her hands together. “My dear, you will be the belle of the ball for sure.” She finished pinning my hair up and took a step back to survey her work. “Perfect. Mr. Banner made the perfect selection.”
She wasn’t talking about me though, she was referring to the dress—a present from Banner. He hadn’t even asked me my size. It was like he’d measured me with his eyes or something.
My face stared back at me from the dresser, bright eyed and fresh. The deep midnight-blue of the dress set off my silver-blonde hair and brought out the blue flecks in my eyes. We’d never got around to moving me to a different room, but it was all right. Banner’s playboy persona didn’t bother me any longer. That wasn’t the person I was getting to know.
Paimon was silent, forcing a distance between us. It was for the best. This binding was messing with us both. Best he take a backseat for a while and let me do my thing. Let me forget the way he’d held me, or the thud of his heartbeat against mine.
Hannah gave my hair a final spray and then headed for the door. “I’ll tell Mr. Banner you’ll be down in a moment?”
“Yes please.”
She closed the door softly behind her.
In less than an hour we’d be infiltrating the Ghandarva tower. Snooping around their home and at huge risk of getting caught, so why wasn’t I nervous? Where were the sweaty palms and quivering belly? Instead excitement fluttered in my chest. The thrill of danger.
Was this coming from me or from Paimon?
A shift in my mind, followed by a sigh. Maybe it’s time you came to know yourself better.
You’re here.
Always.
It was time to do some sleuthing.
Grabbing my clutch, I headed for the door.
_____
The tower was lit up like a Christmas tree. Guests milled about outside, taking in the air. Tables laden with food had been set out for those who wished to enjoy the breeze. Banner led me through the double doors, thrown wide to let in the night, and onto a polished floor filled with more people. He glanced at me again, his gaze traveling down the length of my body.
He obviously liked the dress. My cheeks heated.
He smiled. “It looks gorgeous on you.”
“Thanks. You have a great eye.”
“Yes I do, don’t I?”
His tone dropped to something too intimate and he quickly averted his gaze. I’d pretended I hadn’t noticed, focusing instead on all the colors—varying shades of skin, vibrant fabrics, and high-definition hair. There were a variety of supernatural creatures, all conversing and laughing together. Surrounded by such a carefree atmosphere, it was easy to forget the poverty outside of this room. Easy to put the black-market activities and the desperation of the creatures forced into the red zone out of our minds. From what Melody had told me during my time at the IEPEU, the red zone, which had previously been the home of the most dangerous supernatural creatures, was now attracting the desperate homeless creatures, both human and supernatural. Who knew how long these people survived beyond the barrier before becoming a yaksha’s meal? Who knew how long before they’d be a vamp’s meat suit? And here were the rich and famous, wining and dining, with enough food to stock several soup kitchens, simply because it was a full moon.
It made me sick.
A ripple ran over my skin. A warning from Paimon to beware, and then a shadow fell over me.
“Miss Hunter, you look positively disgusted. Care to share?” Vritra looked down on me from his l
ofty height.
His aura, primal and greedy, pressed against my personal space, demanding entry. I resisted the impulse to take a step back.
Banner coughed.
Dammit, Aunt Constance had always said that I wore my feelings on my face. Maybe I should have disguised the curl of my lip. Made up an excuse for my facial expression … something, but my tongue sometimes had a mind all of its own.
“Share? Isn’t that something everyone here should be doing?” I waved a hand toward the over-laden tables of food
He studied me steadily. “You think we have too much.”
“I think there are too many people who have too little. And isn’t it the responsibility of those that have it all to share?”
His lips turned down in thought. “All the people here have built their own empires. What they own, what they have, they have worked hard for. They’ve built it from the ground up.”
“Or taken over …” Of course I was referring to his takeover of Shaitan Enterprises, and he knew it.
“Taking over a failing business and nursing it back to health is more a risk than building one from scratch. But then you’d need a head for business to appreciate that. Anyone who’s achieved a status allowing them to be here tonight has no obligation to do anything but enjoy the fruit of their labors.” He sounded almost bored.
My ears grew hot and my fingers tingled. How could he be so flippant about the suffering in the city? But then, what did I expect from an asura? I couldn’t look at his savage face, not when my contempt was written all over mine. Banner’s warning about the man, about his power and reach, were enough to poke my common sense. Besides, we weren’t here to cause a scene or get into a debate, we were here for one thing only, to find our Ghandarva and get some answers.
Releasing the anger on an exhale, I fixed a pretty smile on my face and lifted my chin to lock eyes with him. “I suppose I can’t be too harsh. Most of the guests are supernaturals, and to feel compassion you’d need to have some humanity.”
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