You Bet Your Banshee

by Danica Avet

  I stroked the side of his wide face. “My little hero,” I cooed because he had saved my life. “You’re getting better food.” A rumbling purr was my answer and relief washed over me. He’d be okay.

  “As much as I hate to rain on the cat’s parade, we need to get moving before more come,” Sable said from the other side of the room.

  I stood with Breeze’s heavy, comforting weight in my arms. “He’s coming with us.” I wasn’t taking no for an answer.

  I glared from Sable to Ryvan, but neither looked as though they were willing to fight about it. Ryvan shrugged his big shoulders. “He proved himself.”

  “Can we leave now?” Sable asked in an edgy voice. “I managed to get a little information out of one of these bloodsuckers and he said they weren’t the only ones Melosia sent for Magda.”

  “And we still have the Host trailing us,” I reminded them with an inward shudder. I kept Breeze tucked against me as I sheathed my sword at my side.

  My apartment was trashed. Well, what I could see of it beneath the pile of dead bodies and blood. No way would my landlord let me have my deposit back now.

  “What do we do about the bodies?”

  “Leave them here,” Sable said coldly. “I’ll open the shades on your windows. The sun should take care of them in about,” she glanced at the huge watch on her wrist, “two hours.”

  “What about my neighbors?” I asked, because while humans knew all about Fairworlders living among them, having a bunch of dead vampires would bring me to the attention of the police. And just where was the ogre? He should’ve slaughtered most of the vampires before they reached my door.

  Just then a gunshot sounded a few floors down followed by screams and cursing. Ryvan shot me a dark look. I blushed because, yeah, I knew I didn’t live in the best part of the city. “Fair enough,” I muttered. “Well, let’s go.”

  Sable frowned. “Which portal should we take? I think we should try City Park. I know a lot of the wood elves and nymphs who hang out there. They’d know if any mercenaries passed through.”

  I shook my head. “No, City Park is too popular. There’s another portal at Marsh Island in Lafreniere Park. I think that’d be our best bet since it’s smaller and less populated.” Ryvan and Sable looked at me in surprise. “What? Just because I never planned on going back to Fairworld doesn’t mean I don’t know my way around. That portal should bring us to Slumber Town.”

  Slumber Town was a notorious red light district set in the neutral area between the three courts of Fairworld. Those who lived there tended to call it Slum Town because it’s where the dregs of the three courts ended up. If I hadn’t decided to take my chances on the earthly plain, I’d planned to hide there. Of course, my chances of surviving as long as I had would’ve been a lot smaller. It was a rough area to be polite.

  “Lafreniere’s in Metairie,” Sable muttered as though offended. “We should stick closer to home.”

  “I’m telling you, if Melosia is the one behind these attacks, that’s the first place she’ll look. She knows I don’t like to run and would look for the closest bolt hole I could find.” Again they stared at me. “What? You think I got this chunky by running marathons?”

  Sable rolled her eyes. “How are y’all getting there then? I can’t carry both of you and the World’s Fattest Attack Cat, and you can’t exactly take a taxi.”

  “We’ll get there,” Ryvan broke in with a stern glare at me. I didn’t like the look in his eyes and started to move away. He caught my hand, holding me in place. “That’s where we’ll head. We’ll need you on point to make sure the way to the portal is clear. Magda and I will follow behind. Don’t get too far ahead and if you see something, circle back for us.”

  She nodded, brown eyes serious and cold. “Unless they have fairies or other reapers on their side, I should be fine.” She glanced at me and her gaze warmed slightly. “I sure hope your ass is worth all this trouble.”

  Ryvan answered for me. “She is, trust me.”

  Sable snorted and stepped over bodies on her way to the windows. She opened all the shades so the morning sunlight would pour into the apartment. “Sure, I have a lot of that to hand out.” She shoved a window open and stepped onto the fire escape, sniffing the air. “Nothing yet.” She glanced at us over her wings. “Be careful.”

  She jumped and I heard the pop of her wings catching the wind. Ryvan didn’t let me watch her fly away. With our hands still linked, he hustled me from my apartment closing the door behind us.

  The soft thud of the door sounded like a chapter of my life coming to a close. Breeze mewled softly, but remained limp in my hold. As Ryvan tugged me down the hallway, I tried to remember that when a door was closed, a window opened. Yeah, right. More like the thud of the door reminded me that my head was on the chopping block.

  * * * *

  The shooter and shouter from earlier were long gone by the time we made it to the first floor. I didn’t hear any sirens which meant no one had played Good Samaritan and called it in. I hated when that happened. I also hadn’t seen the ogre, but his door had been closed. I hoped the vampires hadn’t killed him. He might have made me nervous, but I didn’t want anyone else dying because of me.

  Ryvan didn’t even let me ask. He shook his head. “No, we’re not calling the police. We need to stay out of sight and mind.” He started leading me down the block. “And you’re not chunky.”

  I snorted, stumbling over a beer bottle. Breeze mewled uncertainly; I empathized. The only time he went outside was when I took him to the vet and the last visit had seen two of his favorite body parts removed. I cuddled him closer trying to soothe him.

  “You aren’t. You’re lush.” Ryvan stated it simply, like it was fact. “And we aren’t going to run unless we have to. Running attracts attention. We will walk fast though, so are you ready?”

  Remembering the manic light in Gideon’s eyes, I knew none of Melosia’s minions would give up. I could never figure out how she inspired loyalty in people. Her cruelty knew no bounds. Then I realized it probably wasn’t loyalty that made people follow her; it was fear and the hopes they would be rewarded. Whichever the case was, her assassins wouldn’t stop, or slow down because I hated to run.

  I heaved a massive sigh. Looked like I’d have to power walk after all. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

  His teeth flashed white in the darkness of the street. “It isn’t that bad and if you get tired, I’ll carry you.” He squeezed my hand before lacing our fingers together. “I will get you to safety, Magda. I promise.”

  Well damn. When he said things like that, he left me feeling all ooey-gooey on the inside. My heart went all soft, my stomach tightened, and my nipples hardened. All because he promised to protect me. Who knew I was so easy?

  “Then what’re you waiting for? Let’s kick it in gear,” I told him in a gruff tone because I felt a little choked up.

  Gods, when had I become a sap?

  * * *

  Chapter Ten

  Apparently my idea of walking and Ryvan’s were completely different because I jogged for a mile before I panted for a break. His answer was to sweep me into his arms and continue walking. I allowed it for now, but knew there was no way he’d be able to hold me for long. Breeze liked this position because he was able to curl up against my chest and rest.

  Poor kitty.

  “I never thought I’d be jealous of an overweight cat,” Ryvan rumbled.

  “Well, I’m sure he’d carry you if he could.”

  His laugh vibrated through me, sparking off all kinds of sappy, happy thoughts I shouldn’t be having at the moment. Knowing I shouldn’t feel this way didn’t help much though.

  “You’re not what I thought you’d be,” he said once his laughter died down.

  I tensed in his arms. “How did you think I’d be?”

  I had to clutch his shoulders when he shrugged. “When I was younger, my parents were approached by Queen Tamsyn about the prophecy. She gave me a portrait of you.” Oh g
ods, the only portrait sitting I’d ever had was when I was twelve. I’d had pimples galore, buck teeth, and my eyes had seemed bigger than my face. “I was about eighteen at the time and I remember thinking you didn’t look like you could find your way out of a closet much less lead the banshees. I didn’t know you’d turn out to be so funny, or loyal.”

  “Loyal?”

  He nodded his head at Breeze who purred on my chest. “You could’ve left him behind, but you didn’t.”

  “Of course I didn’t! He’s my pet.” As if I’d ever let my Breeze go hungry.

  “What about that sliver of the wood elf you were friends with?”

  My cheeks burned. “How did you know?”

  “I can read your mind, remember? I know you’re carrying it with you because you feel responsible for his death. That’s what a leader does, Magda, they take responsibility for others. They’re loyal and won’t leave anyone behind. You’re a born leader.”

  “I don’t think I can lead anyone, Ryvan,” I finally whispered after considering his words. “I’ve only had to take care of myself for so long, I’m not sure I can safely take the responsibility of others, especially my own people.”

  We were both silent for several minutes. Ryvan navigated the streets of New Orleans like an old pro. Maybe he was. I had no idea how long he’d been in the earthly plain. Maybe he spent a lot of time throwing beads to the flashers on Bourbon Street. Maybe he hung out around strip clubs. He was part gancanagh after all; he’d want to be around women. Hell, maybe he liked hanging out at the Audubon Zoo to watch the howler monkeys. I don’t know because I didn’t know anything about him, not really.

  “You know what I am,” he answered my unspoken thoughts. That was really getting on my nerves. “You know why I’m here. You know I want you more than any other female I’ve ever been with and not because you’re going to be queen,” he continued as the thought crossed my mind. “I’ve watched you grow up, watched and fought my every instinct as Queen Melosia warped your people into tormenting you. Queen Tamsyn had to lock me up several times because I wanted to take you out of there.”

  His hold on me grew tighter until breathing became a little difficult.

  “What? And this is the woman you want to bring me to?” I was horrified at the thought of another cruel, unjust queen.

  He grimaced. “I might have attacked her personal guard when they tried to stop me.” I gaped at him. “I was frantic to reach you. Don’t you understand, Magda? You’re mine. You always have been and you always will be. You’re the love of my eternity.”

  No one can blame a girl for melting at that, can they? I mean, here I am an imperfect banshee with an overweight cat, and the sexiest male I’ve ever met just claimed that I was his love. Not for life, but for eternity.

  I stared up at him, awed and a little unnerved. I didn’t love him back. I barely knew him, but I did like what I knew of him. I couldn’t love him. Yet. His mouth curled to one side and I knew he’d read my mind. Again.

  “How can you read my mind?” I blurted out because all this thinking and talking about love made me vaguely uneasy. I didn’t know how to handle affection, which probably explained why I had a cat instead of a dog.

  Ryvan looked up again, watching where he was going. “When we made love, I opened myself up to you, which means I’m capable of receiving your thoughts. The reason you don’t hear my thoughts is because you’re not open to me.” I started to apologize but he gave me another squeeze. “It will come in time. I know we’re meant for each other and soon you will as well.”

  Huh, he sounded so confident I couldn’t find the nerve to ask him how he knew. My experiences hadn’t taught me about love. The few males I thought I might come to love had been killed before I could feel more for them. Melosia had done everything in her power to make me cry. Now she was doing everything she could to kill me.

  “Why now?” I muttered. “If she knew about the prophecy, why didn’t she have me killed when I was under her influence? Why wait until I came to Earth?”

  Ryvan was silent so long I didn’t think he’d answer. My stomach twisted. She either hadn’t known about the prophecy because there was no prophecy and Ryvan was lying, or Queen Tamsyn had hidden the prophecy to protect me. That didn’t make me feel any better. I knew next to nothing about the fairy queen. I’d never gone to the Fairy Court because I had no reason to go there, not that I’d ever wanted to. The dangerous waters of the Wailing Court hadn’t given me a lot of confidence in the Fairworld rulers.

  “Queen Tamsyn did hide the prophecy from Queen Melosia. She knew what would happen if it was discovered you were the rightful ruler.” Ryvan jostled me lightly in his arms as he picked up pace. “When it was decided enough time had passed, that you might have passed from Queen Melosia’s mind, she sent me to search for you.”

  He waited for a car to pass and took off again, lightly jogging. “It took me a while to track you down. We only knew you’d surfaced somewhere in Michigan. You never kept a steady job which made it harder to find you. Every time I got a lead, you were already gone.” He shot me a hard glare. “Like the dwarf you left with a few broken ribs and a broken nose. I found him three days after he accosted you.”

  I frowned. Dwarf, dwarf, dwarf. “Oh, I remember him now. He gave me a ride and expected me to give him one in return.” I shrugged. “I didn’t want to and when he tried to force the issue, I uh, handled it.”

  Ryvan grunted. Just like a man. “If you had stayed in one place, you wouldn’t have been subjected to that, or ended up dancing in that club.”

  I couldn’t believe he was still harping on that. I threw my hands up. “It wasn’t because I like being on display! Besides, I didn’t know you then, or any of this. It happened, it’s over, and I won’t ever dance again, happy?” Breeze shifted on my chest with a yawn, giving me a perfect excuse for getting out of Ryvan’s arms. Plus, my legs were falling asleep from having the blood flow cut off. “Let me down, I’m rested enough.”

  He stopped next to a corner grocery store. He let my legs slip off his arm, but kept the other around me until I found my footing. Once I gained my balance, I went to pull away only to find both his arms wrapped around me. Breeze was squished between us, but with the way he purred, I don’t think he minded.

  Ryvan cupped my chin and tilted my face up to look at him. His eyes blazed with some strong emotion that made me wish I could read his mind for a change.

  “You will dance again, Magda,” he murmured with a brush of his lips against mine. My breath quickened at the contact that sent a bolt of sensation from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

  “I–I will?”

  I had no idea what we were talking about. I’d done my best not to think about what we’d done in my room before the attack, but now it all came back to me. My knees buckled. Luckily his big hands cupped my ass to keep me from falling.

  “I saw you at that meeting looking so prim and proper,” he whispered against my lips, nipping at the bottom one sharply. “I put you in your bed after you were attacked and left you there although part of me wanted to join you.” His hands kneaded my backside. He really seemed to like my ass. “I hoped you would stay there, sleeping and looking like a perfect little angel. But you didn’t. I tracked you down to that club, thinking it had to be some kind of mistake.”

  My breathing sped up even more and for the first time since I’d found him, I cursed Breeze’s size. My nipples were hard and achy. I wanted to press them against Ryvan’s muscled chest. I wanted to rub against him and—

  “Then you came out on that stage looking like a sexy devil.” His voice had grown deeper and he’d somehow tilted our hips so they rubbed together. I purred. “And you did that thing with your ass and I almost came in my jeans.” He lunged forward to plunge his tongue in my mouth, kissing me with ferocious intensity. He pulled away before I could really enjoy it. The damned tease. “I can promise you, you’ll dance again. For me. Only for me.”

  “O–Okay
,” I responded in a shaky voice I barely recognized as my own. Right now, I’d give the man whatever he wanted. If he wanted the hottest, dirtiest lap dance in history, I was ready to deliver.

  He rested his forehead against mine with a groan. “Gods, you make me crazy with wanting you.”

  My panties were on fire so I understood his agony. We were on a public street—although I really didn’t care if humans saw us fucking against a building—running for our lives. The timing could have been better.

  “Uh, guys? I hate to break this up, but I think—”

  Sable’s voice filtered to us from above, but before she could finish speaking, we were surrounded. Ryvan spun me out of his arms, putting me behind him before my brain had assessed the reaper’s words. Breeze wiggled in my hold, letting out warning yowls.

  “Ryvan Keller,” a satisfied voice rasped. “Good work luring the banshee here.”

  My entire body went cold and it had nothing to do with the weather. That voice sounded familiar. I peered around Ryvan’s shoulder. My heart stopped for a moment and then began a sluggish chug.

  Pollard Humphreys, the Wailing Court’s Lord of Ceremonies, stood with a full platoon of goblin soldiers. The Red Caps surrounded me and Ryvan, their namesakes fully blooded and leaking into their burning black eyes. Pollard looked small and insignificant next to the hulking soldiers, but there was no doubt he was their commander.

  The fire elf’s lips curled into an unbelievably cold smile when his golden gaze met mine. “Magda O’Quinn, you’re finally ours.”

  I clutched the back of Ryvan’s shirt, waiting for… I don’t know what, him to destroy all of them? For him to denounce Pollard’s words? But he didn’t. He seemed frozen in place, the hard plains of his back rigid. He didn’t speak. He barely seemed to breathe.

  Then he turned around. His glittering eyes were solid black, his face cold and impassive. Without speaking, he ripped Breeze from my arms.