Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend (11 page)

He waited quietly, watching the varied emotions cross her face. “You can’t deny it now, can you? There’s something there, Maggie. What’s so wrong in pursuing it?”

“I have a job to do. You’re a part of this as well. I don’t know what exactly you are to me, but all that matters right now is the operation ahead of us.” Despite her words, she gave in to her need to lean toward him. The heat of his skin called out to her, warming her better than any coat or blanket could. The idea of curling up with him on a cold winter’s night was very appealing.

“And the way Mal made it sound, we could all be killed.” His eyes flared with silver flame as he watched her.

“You’re a civilian. You can bow out anytime.” Her smile indicated she knew he’d do the exact opposite.

“Or seize the day, as they say.” The sizzle in his gaze shot up her internal temperature. “Have dinner with me tonight. Not in the dream realm, but in the here and now,” he said. He named a popular place in the city. “Eight o’clock?”

“Getting a last-minute reservation there is impossible.” Dinner with Declan in the real world. Definitely too good to turn down.

Declan smiled. “Do you honestly think someone can resist me?”

Maggie smiled back.

“Eight o’clock and I will meet you there, because I’d hate for you to make the trip out here twice in one day.” She tapped him on the chest.

“Very good. Oh, and Maggie,” he leaned over to whisper in her ear, “the only weapon you’ll need tonight is perfume.”

For once, she was speechless as she watched him walk away.

“I am going along, am I not?” Elle asked from her spot on Maggie’s shoulder.

“He said no weapons, and you’re listed as one of my weapons.”

“But I’m a fun weapon.” The arachnid tipped her head to one side and then reared up, showing the red hourglass on her tummy. “I make sex an unforgettable pleasure for my partners.”

“It’s only unforgettable until they’re dead when it’s all over. This is why you have so much trouble finding dates on the Web.” She dodged a ferret racing along and headed for her quarters.

“I know you won’t go without me,” Elle said, pointedly ignoring Maggie’s comment. “We must have Sybil help us choose what you’ll wear tonight. Her taste is ultra-romantic. And which perfume is Declan talking about?” Elle chattered away while Maggie walked.

Except Maggie wasn’t hearing a word. She was still wondering how dinner was going to go without either her or Declan ending up as dessert.

How would Declan feel about being covered in hot fudge with me holding a spoon?

“Your thoughts are giving you away.”

Maggie felt warm all over.

“You have no idea.”

Declan’s expectation that Maggie would be late and make an entrance was mistaken. She arrived at the restaurant at eight on the dot and attracted more than her share of attention as she followed the maître d’ across the dining area.

Her sapphire-blue dress was short and flirty with a saucy ruffle along the hem and narrow straps a man would ache to lower as he kissed her golden shoulders. She’d arranged her short hair in loose curls that curved around her cheeks.

He wasn’t looking at a witch who could take down a hulking creature without breaking a sweat. He was looking at a witch who was pure female calling to his male.

She is mine.

“You look lovely,” he told her, standing up as she approached the table.

“Thank you.” She smiled, but he was convinced she didn’t feel as confident as she looked.

Declan dismissed the maître d’ and seated Maggie, inhaling the sexy scent of her perfume.

“Have you ever eaten here?” he asked as she was handed her menu.

“No, I seem to go more for burgers and chili dogs, but I always like trying something new.” She looked up as the sommelier presented a bottle of champagne to Declan and the glasses were filled. “Are we celebrating something?”

“You having dinner with me.” He held his champagne flute up for a toast. “To a successful mission—and to more dinners.”

“To seeing you wear something other than black.” She nodded toward his black shadow-striped silk shirt and slacks.

“Did Elle accompany you?” He glanced at her bare arms.

“Elle is always with me when I leave the compound.” Maggie laid her small bag on the table. The jeweled spider was artfully placed on the sapphire silk fabric like a brooch. Elle waved one foreleg at him demurely.

“Don’t worry… she’ll behave.” Maggie set the menu down. “Do you have any suggestions?”

“If you’d like, I’ll order. Is there anything you absolutely don’t like?”

“Don’t order snails, and we’ll be fine.” She smiled, watching him as he spoke flawless French to the waiter and then turned to her to explain.

“To start, I thought of
gratinée de coquilles St. Jacques,
which is scallops with a crust of bread crumbs and grated cheese.
For the entrée,
terrine de saumon aux épinards
and
riz spécial—
salmon and spinach
terrine and rice pilaf—and for dessert, custard with fresh berries.”

He fancied a soft spotlight shone down on her. “If we’re meant to go into a battle soon, we may as well have a beautiful meal first. Perhaps get to know each other better.”

“Tell me more about yourself as a child, Declan.” She sipped her champagne. “Were you, pardon the pun, a hellion as a boy? Did you create mayhem and mischief everywhere you went?”

He suddenly wished he had something stronger to drink. If she had been any other woman, he would have brushed off her question and diverted her attention to another subject. But he knew Maggie wouldn’t allow that. She wanted a truthful answer, or she’d get up and leave.

And for the first time, he wanted to speak the whole truth.

“As you know, my father raised me,” he said quietly. “This was not the life you see on television. It was harsh. He wasn’t happy if I didn’t follow his rules and meted out punishment for the least infraction.

“While I was embarrassed anytime I burned something down, my father was proud. He said it showed the power I had, and he wouldn’t have minded if someone died because of me. I’m grateful that never happened.”

“Is Anna also half demon and half human?” she spoke softly enough that no one could overhear their conversation.

“No, she’s my half sister but a full-blooded demon—and it appears she is a Seer.” He leaned back as a bubbling dish of coquilles St. Jacques was placed before them.

“You never realized that was her gift, even with her nightmares?”

“That’s the thing. Although I’ve always felt Anna was special, I only saw them as nightmares or night terrors. I never thought of visions because there aren’t any Seers in our family tree.”

“What would I see on your branch?” She smiled after her first bite of savory scallops and immediately took a second one.

“Warriors like yourself, some sorcerers, a few incubi, and more than a few succubae. One cousin owns an S and M club in Manhattan.” He preferred looking at Maggie to eating his food, but he wasn’t about to insult the chef by ignoring the delectable fare in front of him.

“And what about you? What is your specialty?”

“Business and finance. When I showed a flair for numbers, my father,” his lips twisted at the last word, “sent me to Cal Poly and then Wharton. He saw me as the next Donald Trump.”

“And instead you’re running a nightclub.”

Declan shook his head. “I own it. I made sure every
i
was dotted and every
t
was crossed to ensure there were no loopholes they could use against me.”

“No offense, but blood always tells.”

“I leave the dirty work to my cousins.” He paused while their plates were taken away and replaced with the main course.

Maggie fingered her water goblet. “I admit you’re nothing like any demon I’ve met. Maybe it has to do with your mother’s blood, since I haven’t heard of many half-demons around.”

“Most die before they’re a year old, if not at birth. My father considered me a novelty and portrayed me as such in his household.”

“I worked for a physician in 1803,” Maggie said. “He had been under the eye of the Guard because supes in the area disappeared under suspicious circumstances and the not-so-nice doctor was the prime suspect. I didn’t realize he knew what I was until I woke up one morning strapped to a table. He didn’t know I was a Guard, so he didn’t kill me.

“Somehow he figured out I was a witch, and he wanted to find out what made me one,” Maggie said softly. “I had no idea how he found out, since I never used my power around humans. By then, all that mattered was that I made sure he didn’t try to dissect me.”

“What happened to him?”

“His obituary read that he had a heart attack.” She held out a hand, the fingertips sizzling with power.

“Seems we’re getting too serious here. So tell me, Maggie, what’s your sign?”

Her laughter was just what he wanted. He saw it as the next step, because there was no way he was going to back down from this woman.

***

Maggie had to admit that Declan knew his food. Every bite melted in her mouth, and a few times, she was positive her taste buds experienced an orgasm.

At the end of the meal, she sipped coffee and nibbled on rich champagne truffles while Declan enjoyed a glass of cognac.

“I enjoyed this. Thank you very much.” She noted the disappointment in the back of his eyes at the idea the evening was coming to an end. “I wonder if you’d like to do some surveillance work tonight.”

“Not my idea of after-dinner fun. I thought we might visit a club—no, not mine—and listen to music or dance.”

She reached inside her bag and pulled out a slip of paper. “Even if I have the address of the home Courtney’s staying in? I’d really like to get a look before I start playing my role.”

He took the paper from her and studied the address. “I know where this is… not all that far from a favorite club of mine that plays excellent blues.”

“Spy, then music. I can do that.” She lifted an eyebrow.

“I’ll drive.” He gestured for the bill and guided her out of the restaurant.

Maggie eyed Declan’s BMW 335 convertible with open avarice. “Very nice,” she said as he helped her into the passenger seat. She pulled the paper out of her bag and gave him the address.

As he roared away from the restaurant and glided through traffic, Maggie noticed her hair wasn’t ruffled from the wind.

“Protections for passengers,” Declan said, easily reading her mind.

“Female passengers who don’t like getting their hair mussed.” She watched the buildings fly by, changing from city high-rises and apartment buildings to homey neighborhoods.

“It’s a group home,” she said. “About ten kids live there. I also told Mal it’s better if I’m like a third cousin instead of an aunt.”

“Here’s Oaktree Lane,” Declan announced, making a sharp left turn.

“That must be it.” She felt the car slow down as they neared the two-story house. “Hide us from curious eyes, keep us silent, and do it now.” Maggie invoked a protection spell. Soft gray light floated over the car, starting at the hood. “If anyone senses anything, they’ll think it’s a dog,” she told him. “Just don’t try any fancy moves or rev the engine.”

“A couple of lights are on upstairs,” Declan commented, pulling over to the curb. “Did you think you could see her by parking out here, or do you have a spell for that?”

“I have a crystal that works great for that, but this time around I just wanted to see where she was living.” Maggie studied the house. With the moonlight, she could see it was painted cream with burnt-orange trim and that the yard was well cared for with several bicycles lying on the wraparound porch.

“Why her?” she mused.

“Ravenna said she has true blood in her veins.” He switched off the engine.

“If so, you’d think they’d want to make her some kind of priestess or something.”

“I don’t have to tell you that blood sacrifices offer a lot of power. Since somebody’s planning to raise the Destroyer, they’ll need all the magick they can get. How do you know they won’t look for anyone else who carries what they call ‘the true blood’ if we manage to stop them?”

“This is why I hate those who use blood magick. All they do is create chaos,” she murmured. She cocked her head and threw out her senses. “Do you hear that?”

Declan stilled. “A window opening. Whoever is doing it is experienced, because very few humans could hear it.”

“It sounds like it’s coming from the back.” Then she noticed a motorcycle rolling toward them with its headlight and engine off. She touched Declan’s arm, but he’d already seen their visitor.

A sprightly figure ran from the rear of the house and down the lawn. The motorcycle rider hopped off his bike and grabbed her in his arms. After a long kiss, she climbed on the bike behind him. They rolled silently up the street at first, and then he switched on the ignition.

“Do you hear it?” Maggie lifted her face.

“Hear what?”

Darkness momentarily surrounded her. “Drums,” she whispered. Seconds passed when she shook her head indicating there was only silence now.

“Shall we follow her?” Declan asked, already turning on the engine.

“Definitely. I’ll keep the invisibility spell going so they won’t know they’re being tailed.”

“No problem there.”

Maggie wasn’t surprised to find that they were returning to the center of the city. She thought the young couple might be heading to a local fast-food restaurant or somewhere for coffee. Instead, they parked near a warehouse.

“The Hallows?” she said, reading a signboard propped up outside the door. “What is this idiot kid thinking? No way she’ll be coming down here when I’ve got hold of her, because she won’t be able to sneak out as easily.”

“Come on.” Declan parked the car and went around to the passenger door. He glanced at the patrons entering the club, none of whom appeared to be over the age of twenty-five. “Any illusion spells up your alley so we can blend in and not arouse the bouncer’s suspicions?”

“You don’t have any magick of your own?” She got out and looked around.

“I told you. If you don’t count controlling fire, my magick mainly has to do with figuring out profit and loss.” He took her arm. “Are you going to hurt the bouncer if he gives us trouble?”

“Why would I do that?”

“You seem to thrive on it.”

“Only at your place.” She patted his arm and then kept her hand there. “We are not fiends. We are teens. We wish to hide in plain sight and do it now.” She looked up and saw Declan the way he must have looked in high school. “You were a cutie back then. How about me?”

“The black eyeliner is a bit over the top, along with the barely there pink dress, but you’ll blend in.”

Maggie’s ears started hurting the moment they entered the club. “And here I thought your club was bad, sound-wise.”

She took his hand, looking from right to left until she saw a flash of dark hair with blonde streaks. “She’s over there.”

She started forward, but Declan pulled her back.

“Let’s just observe. There’s something about the boyfriend that bothers me.”

Maggie knew his hearing was good enough that she didn’t have to shout over the loud music. “Is he a demon?”

She studied the kids dancing with a frenetic energy that tired her just by watching. She also felt a wave of something that she could only describe as feeling wrong. Even with all her years as a Guard, she couldn’t remember sensing something like this.

“I do not like this place,” Elle moved up to embrace Maggie’s neck. Considering the tattoos covering some of the kids in the club, a shiny black widow spider wouldn’t look too odd.

“No kidding,” Maggie murmured.

Declan continued staring at the young couple. “I don’t know. He doesn’t feel demon, but there’s still something off about him. I can tell you that I’m positive he’s hiding something.”

“I felt that, too.”

With the club so dark, Maggie couldn’t easily see what the boy looked like, but she sensed that Declan could give her any details she missed.

“Wanna dance?” A black-haired boy with multiple piercings on his face approached her.

“Back off,” Declan growled, draping his arm around Maggie’s shoulders and pulling her close.

The kid took one look at him and backed off. “It’s cool, man.”

“He only asked me to dance, Declan. No reason to get the testosterone going. She sneaks out at night, goes to a rave, and has a boyfriend who might not be what he appears,” Maggie mused, still checking the participants and not liking what she was seeing. She sensed magick but couldn’t identify a source.

Declan was looking around uneasily. He took her by the hand. “We need to leave.”

“Not yet.”

“Someone’s noticed us.” He pulled on her hand and practically dragged her toward the exit, although he kept a slow pace as if they weren’t retreating.