Moonlight's Ambassador (Aileen Travers Book 3)(39)

"They're having a bit of trouble closing the deal. I'd like to take payment for their meddling by making their lives as difficult as possible."

Her red lips tilted up in a smirk. "Sneaky, I like it. You would have made a fine harpy."

I inclined my head, taking the statement as the complement she meant it as.

She watched Nathan with an avaricious look. "We have never toyed with a vampire before. They are not our normal prey."

"Your flock would have bragging rights."

She slid me a sidelong glance. "If he did not tear us apart first."

There was that. "I doubt he’d take such actions with all of the humans around. Bloodshed would only draw attention, and he wouldn't welcome that."

"This is true." Her face took on a set cast, a bit of the bird peeking through. Her hands shifted toward claws and the brief outline of wings could be seen before she twitched her back and the mirage disappeared. "Very well, little vampire. We will leave Argus to cater to his humans, so we can play with your friend."

Suspicion dawned on Nathan's face, and he opened his mouth as he started for us. "Aileen!"

Natalia whistled, a sharp sound that pierced the air. Several women descended on Nathan at once. To humans, it would appear as if the women came from all directions to mob an unsuspecting male, but to those of us used to seeing the unexpected, the harpies came from the sky, swirling around him and obscuring me from his view.

He cursed even as their hands darted all over him, tugging on his clothes while not letting him catch a hold of them. The high-pitched screeches and giggles could be heard even from this distance, making it clear the harpies were having fun with their new prey.

"You should leave before he gets loose," Natalia said, her eyes focused on where her flock harried Nathan. "You have my appreciation for the entertainment."

I shot her a grin and took off with a small wave, letting the crowd swallow me. A few steps and it would be impossible for him to know which way I went. Now, I could get back to the business of tracking down Caroline without Liam or his flunkies getting in the way.





CHAPTER NINE

AN ONLOOKER IN the crowd caught my attention as I passed. He failed to notice me, as his focus was on the spectacle the harpies were creating with Nathan. A wolf. Was he here for the festival? I doubted it, given the way he now scanned the crowd as if looking for someone. I ducked behind a tall man and his gaggle of kids.

Nope, I was willing to bet the wolf was here for me. Brax had probably set him to tailing me in the event Caroline made contact, or I slipped my leash and went after her. For someone who had only met me a handful of times, he had a pretty accurate assessment of me.

I used an app on my phone to flag down one of those personal lift services that people looking to make extra money joined. They could use their personal cars to give people a ride to their next destination. Basically, a taxi but less formal. It was less expensive than a traditional taxi but still more money than I should be spending. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Without a ride, it would take me half the night to walk to my destination from here.

My luck seemed to have turned, because there was one circling the block. I clicked on the app and watched as it headed toward me. I kept walking in its direction, not wanting to stop and give either Nathan or the wolf an opportunity to catch me.

A minivan pulled up in the distance, and I checked the app. Looked like that was my ride. I exchanged pleasantries with the human and took a seat in the back, my stomach a bundle of nerves until we pulled away.

"Did you enjoy the festival?" the driver, a middle-aged man wearing glasses, asked while looking in the rear-view mirror.

I gave him a tight smile. "It was a little crowded for my tastes."

He nodded. "I hear that. As I get older, I find myself enjoying busy places less and less. Was the food good at least?"

"Very tasty." It had smelled tasty at least, and the number of people massed in front of those trucks would seem to suggest the same.

"You there alone?" he asked.

Evidently, this ride was going to be full of conversation.

"No, I was with friends but decided to come home early." I looked out the window, trying to show my desire for quiet.

He took the hint and went back to driving, the city passing by in a blur of lights.

My phone rang, the face lighting up with Liam's name. I sighed and clicked the button to silence it. That hadn't taken them long. It rang again almost immediately. I switched the ringer off, knowing from experience he was liable to blow up my phone until I gave in and answered.

The driver's eyes met mine in the mirror. "Your boyfriend seems determined to get in touch with you."

"What makes you think it's my boyfriend?"

His smile flashed. "Only a boyfriend would be that persistent."

I made a noncommittal sound, grateful when he fell silent, keeping his own counsel for the rest of the drive.

We pulled up in front of my apartment, and I hopped out of the back. "Thanks for the ride."

I didn't wait for an answer, ducking my head and making my way to my apartment. The stairs rattled under me as I took them two at a time. I figured I didn't have a lot of time before Liam or one of his guys got the idea to swing by here and check.

Normally, I would have avoided it for that reason, but there were a few supplies I needed before I started my hunt.