Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark #6)(44)

Cade believed most would think Imatra was beautiful, but he found her overblown and lacking compared to his halfling. “My asset’s out there in a roomful of demons. She was human two days ago. There’s a time element here.”

“No one would dare hurt her.”

No, but they might frighten her. “Then I’m keen to get to the next checkpoint, which should please your master.”

“He wishes to inquire about the health of the Vessel.”

Cade hated to hear Holly talked about that way, so impersonally. Groot would never see past what she could provide to discover what she was like.

“Holly’s fine.”

“We didn’t expect you to be traveling alone with her.”

“Wouldn’t be. ’Cept for the fact that Groot and Omort’s sister Sabine, that little bitch, captured my brother.”

“We hadn’t known if you were aware of that.”

The idea of Rydstrom’s imprisonment seethed inside Cade, but he strove to block it out, realizing that negotiating this checkpoint might not be as simple as he’d anticipated. Imatra seemed capricious. She could make trouble. He didn’t want to blow this deal because he got impatient with her.

Imatra said, “I suppose everyone will know soon enough with the way Sabine’s been bragging about her new plaything.”

Cade ground his teeth. “Where is Rydstrom?”

“You expect me to tell you when you won’t even take off your sword or share a drink in politeness?”

He dutifully shrugged from his sword sheath, laying it on a chair, then lifted his glass.

With a pleased smile, she sat on the edge of her desk, making sure the slit in her skirt rode up to her hip. This female was trying to be sexy—it was her whole persona, but it wasn’t natural. She had to work at it.

And she still couldn’t hold a candle to Holly, who couldn’t care less if males found her attractive.

“Where’s my brother, Imatra?”

“Likely in Tornin, but we can’t say for certain. I’m sure more information will come to us—information we might share if this transaction goes smoothly.”

“Why wouldn’t it?”

“How can we know you won’t sleep with the Vessel?” Imatra asked.

Good question. “The same way my clients have known I’d never f*ck with whatever asset they’ve entrusted to me. Bad for future business. Besides, the chit is absolutely not my standard fare.” My standard fare was shite compared to Holly.

The demoness studied him, as if determining whether he were lying. Were they suspicious? If so, how? No one but Rydstrom, N?x, and R?k knew what Holly was to him.

“If you decide to get clever and try to have the sword and the girl, you will fail,” Imatra said. “First of all, Groot is an incredibly strong mind-reader. You might be able to block his probes, but she’d have no chance. Secondly, the exchange will be made within Groot’s fortress, which is mystickally protected, rigged with traps, and guarded by revenants. A forest of Wendigo surround it. You’ll get her killed if she runs with you.”

Cade hadn’t realized until this very second that trying for the sword and for Holly had been an option in the back of his mind.

A favored one.

Now he felt his hopes plummeting.

“A lot of obstacles,” Cade agreed. “How can I be sure that I’ll even get out alive?”

“Groot has vowed to the Lore that you’ll have safe passage. If you vow as well that you will never reveal his location.”

Swearing to the Lore was the most abiding vow an immortal could make. Even an evil sorcerer would feel compelled to keep it. “I vow it.”

“Also, my master wants the Vessel fertile for immediate breeding. You have to ensure she continues eating,” Imatra said, testing him, analyzing his reaction.

Cade just stopped himself from gritting his teeth. “Not here to play nursemaid.”

“If she’s not in the condition he wants her, then maybe your sword won’t be as you’d prefer it.”

Bugger all. “The Vessel has a mind of her own, but I’ll give it a go with the food.”

“One more thing—if she’s not there by midnight on the next full moon, the sword will be tossed back into the forge, lost forever.”

Cade had heard that Groot possessed a forge of unearthly heat in his hidden fortress. “He wouldn’t want to give it to someone else who might kill his brother for him?”

“The weapon was forged for one of the Woede,” she answered. “It would be useless to another.”

“Understood. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like the second set of directions.”

“I’ll tell you . . . but only after you kiss me.”

He narrowed his eyes, anger simmering. “Groot wouldn’t like you imposing conditions to stymie me.”

“He also wouldn’t like to think that you and the Vessel are becoming involved.” She slipped off her robe completely to pool on the floor. “Would it be a chore to kiss me, Cadeon?”

As a matter of fact, yes. Before he’d met Holly, this type of blowsy female would have appealed to him. He’d have kissed her and done a good deal more.

Now he’d only kiss her if he had to.

Had to? There was no future with Holly, and the sooner he got that into his head, the better. “Fine, dove,” he grated. “A kiss for my directions.”