Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(9)

“I’m not sure how things are done where you’re from, mister, but here we frown at violence.” Lucy raised her chin. Call it her defiant nature.

Rafe crossed his arm. With stony intensity, he returned her defiant gaze with one of his own. Despite the furor, crackling heat raced through her body. What was happening? “Yet people seem to thrive upon it. Since the dawn of time. TV, cinema, fisticuffs.”

“Fisticuffs? What in the hell is that?”

Rafe growled a sound that, despite its gruffness, caused her gut to flutter. “I suppose it’s called boxing, now.”

“I hate boxing.” Lucy stood proud. “As well as professional wrestling and that ultimate fighting shit. I hate watching people getting the crap kicked out of them.” Then again, the sight of blood—period—made her cringe. She crossed her arms. And this guy had her rambling like a buffoon, too. Now she needed to put her foot down. “So tell me what you want so you can get the hell out of my shop.”

Rafe groaned in obvious frustration. “It’s not here anymore. I would have felt it.” His gaze still burned. “Don’t you know what you are?”

Any attraction she felt for this man faded as anger took over. “Sure I do. I’m the owner of this establishment, and you’ve overstayed your welcome.”

“You need protection.” He stalked toward Lucy, his gaze steady, yet still wounded. “But I cannot stay where I am not welcome. If you need me, call my name.”

What a god complex! “I can take care of myself, Mr. Deleon. I’ve been doing it for almost thirty years.”

“Very well, Miss Gregory. Have a good day.” His silver eyes sparked as he bowed. In one swift turn, he spun around and stalked toward the exit. With a loud whoosh, as if a hurricane force wind swept through the building, the door swung open. Rafe, unaffected by the gust, stepped out onto the sidewalk and proceeded down the street.

As if on similar wavelengths, Lucy and Gerardo sprinted toward the window. They trained their gazes toward the direction in which Rafe had walked off. Not a person stood in sight.





Chapter 3


There was something about Lucia Gregory. While the other two people in the shop were easily enthralled, she seemed unaffected. There was only one explanation—she was of demon blood. Strong demon blood, at that. She weaved a spell of seduction with her every move. And the worst part of all was he’d been affected. The moment he saw her, heard her, smelled her, all he wanted to do was take her, in more ways than one. It amazed him he was able to hide the desire that reared itself against those blasted tight pants Nic insisted he wear.

“This isn’t good,” he muttered, pacing his personal chambers. He’d been drawn to her building from the beginning, but then he’d lost contact. What sort of spell had she woven to hide the chest?

She wasn’t all human, that much he knew. From her shaggy, shoulder-length dark blonde hair to her mesmerizing brownish gold eyes, she radiated untapped energy. She said she was nearly thirty years old. Thirty years of latent energy? What would happen if that energy were released on Earth? He needed to speak to the Paladin council, before it was too late.

“Dominic Duvane!” he called to his friend. Stalking to the emerald velvet settee, he flung himself into its plush splendor.

Dominic, wearing a suit of polished black armor, appeared before him. Scowling, he gripped his large broadsword, ready to slice.

Blowing out a deep breath, he ripped the helmet from his head. “You have the worst timing.” He wiped a tinge of blood from his cheek, the wound instantly healing. “I do hope it’s important.”

Rafael nodded. “The chest has moved again.”

“From the antique store?”

“Yes.” He crossed his arms. “To a place women—and some men—go to make themselves presentable.”

Dominic arched a brow. “A beauty salon? Why?”

“If I knew, I doubt I’d be sitting here having this conversation with you.” He paused, the words forming in his mind. “We have a serious problem.”

“Problem? A hair salon, although bizarre, is the perfect place for the chest to hide. Especially in a small town.” Dominic stripped himself of his armor, letting the metal clank to the ground. He took a seat next to Rafael. “What else is there, my friend?”

“There’s to be a total lunar eclipse and tonight is the eve of the Winter Solstice. Connolly Park, Michigan, isn’t as isolated as we thought.”

Dominic drew his mouth into a straight line as he steepled and unsteepled his fingers. “What are the chances of the chest ending up in another demon’s hands?”

“Greater than you realize, Nic.” He had no choice. He needed to return to the salon. He had to get the chest. Most importantly, he needed to protect Lucia. From what he could see, her aura was clean. However, if the Infernati got a hold of her, who knew what would happen.

Dominic brushed a strand of sandy-brown hair from his brow. “What do you mean?”

“The woman at the shop. She has latent powers.” Rafael clenched his fists. “She’s not all human.”

Scratching his goatee, Dominic narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure?”

“As sure as her immunity to my enrapture. Everyone else in the shop was affected, except her.”