“Clearly, there’s something interesting happening.” Zora’s eyes flashed with excitement. “I think it might be time to go scouting.”

Interesting was not the word I’d choose. “What do you mean, scouting?”

“There are only so many places where a large vampire nest can settle in for an extended stay. The guilds around here routinely flush them out, but I think we might be overdue for the next round. You in?”

“In? In for what?”

“In for some vampire hunting!” She grinned like she’d just offered me a basket of delicious goodies. “You and your demon are more than a match for a few bloodsuckers.”

“Uh …”

She laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll get a good team together. Do you have a champion?”

I’d told the Grand Grimoire that Amalia was my champion, but we’d abandoned that farce when we joined the Crow and Hammer. “No …”

“I’ve never championed for a contractor before. We can partner up.”

“But—” My shoulders drooped at her eager expression. “Sure. That’d be great.”

“Awesome. I’ll schedule a team and send you a message with the details.” She hopped to her feet. “A contractor on a vamp hunt! I can’t wait to see you in action.”

I grabbed her wrist as she stepped away. “Zora, I’m not—”

With a flash of chagrin, I cut myself off. How could I tell her I wasn’t combat experienced? She’d never believe it, especially since Zylas and I were semi-famous now for killing the unbound demon on Halloween.

My hand slipped off her arm and I smiled weakly. “Keep me posted.”

“You bet.” She strolled across the bar, calling a loud farewell to Ramsey on her way out.

I slumped in despair. Vampires like that first one? Sure, no problem. Or even like the second one. We could handle that.

But what if we found an entire nest of super-strong, super-fast vampires like the last two?

I puffed out a breath. Did I really have a choice? If I didn’t go, I’d have no chance of finding out why the vampires were searching for Uncle Jack—and no chance to stop them from reaching my uncle, and my grimoire, before I did.

Chapter Nine

“There’s a good kitty,” I cooed. “This is a yummy treat.”

The black kitten cautiously stretched her neck out, whiskers twitching as she sniffed intently. She inched toward the morsel of deli chicken I held between the bars and her pink tongue poked out, licking it.

“Good girl, Socks.”

She licked more enthusiastically, then pulled the chicken from my fingers and gobbled it down. Smiling, I ripped off another strip and stuck it through the bars. Bite by bite, I coaxed her to eat the entire slice. I breathed a happy sigh as she licked her chops and looked up with eager green eyes.

“That’s all for now,” I told her. “You don’t want a tummy ache.”

Her stare grew reproachful, and she mewed sadly as I swung a light blanket over the crate, enclosing her for the night. Between the vampire attack and my meeting with Zora, I hadn’t had a chance to take her to the shelter. I’d do it first thing tomorrow.

Stifling a yawn, I tugged my tank top down, cotton shorts hugging my hips. The mattress creaked as I crawled into the middle, flipped the blankets over myself, and leaned back into my pillow.

My bedroom door opened. Crimson eyes glowed in the darkness as Zylas crossed to my bed and stopped beside it, towering over me.

He’d been quiet this evening. No bullying Amalia, tormenting Socks, or antagonizing me. I wasn’t sure what to make of his mood, but I was too tired to worry about it.

“Going out tonight?” I asked drowsily.

“Var.”

We’d arranged this compromise only a couple of weeks ago. Prior to being summoned to Earth and imprisoned in a ten-foot circle, Zylas had enjoyed a life of comparative freedom. Spending every day trapped inside an apartment or contained inside the infernus had been driving him mad—and he, in turn, had been driving me and Amalia mad.

After a full day of debate, we’d decided he would remain with me at all times, either in the apartment if I was home or in the infernus if I wasn’t home, except when I slept. At night, he could explore the neighborhood—on the condition that he was never seen, entered no buildings, and interacted with no one.

Letting a demon loose in the city caused me daily indigestion, but I wasn’t that worried about what he got up to on his own. He understood the consequences of causing trouble.

“Zora texted me,” I murmured, eyes drifting closed. “She’s organizing a vampire hunt for tomorrow evening.”

“These vampires, don’t they prefer night?”

“Yeah, but she’s the expert. I’m sure she has a reason.” I forced my tired eyes open. “Should we back out?”

His face was a shadow in the darkness, his silhouette broken only by his softly glowing eyes.

“I’m worried,” I confessed. “The vampires this morning gave you a lot of trouble. If we hunt them at night, when they’re even stronger, and you can’t use magic …”

The mattress dipped as he sat on it. “I am not helpless like you, drādah. I know how they fight now.”

“Dray-da? What does that mean?”

The faint light from my window caught on his teeth as he smirked. Damn it. He wasn’t going to tell me. I scowled at him.

He thumped a hand against my thigh under the blanket, making me jump. “You are weak.”

My scowl deepened and I rolled onto my side, putting my back to the demon.

“You are slow and easy to scare. When you see hunters, you scream and fall down.”

“Yes, thank you,” I ground out through clenched teeth, burrowing my head into my pillow. “And I’m helpless and stupid, too. You don’t need to keep reminding me.”

The mattress bounced as he shifted his weight. I expected him to get up and head for my window, but the bed dipped again. Glowing eyes appeared as he leaned over me, his face six inches from mine.

“Zylas!” I exclaimed, lurching onto my back. “Would you—”

I broke off. By rolling onto my back, I’d put myself directly under him as he braced himself on one elbow.

“You are bad prey,” he said decisively, his quiet voice too close for comfort.

“Can you lay off the insults for two minutes?”

He leaned down even more, his warm breath tickling my cheek. “Listen, drādah. I am telling you an important thing.”

“Get off my bed.”

A moment of silence—then he pushed up. Instead of sliding off the bed, he swung a leg over me and sat on my hips, pinning me with only the blanket between our bodies. My eyes bulged.

“Zylas, get off—”

His hand closed over my mouth. I went rigid, adrenaline stinging my nerves. Trapped under his weight, desperately aware of his strength, I sucked in air through my nose.

Don’t make me use the infernus command, I warned.

“You are not listening, drādah.”

I made an angry noise against his hand. This is not making me want to listen!

“You must listen anyway.”