Shadow's Seduction (The Dacians #2)(39)

“Because I was committing every word to memory.”

Surprise flashed in the demon’s expression. “You . . . can’t lie.”

“I told you I was interested in your mind. Your divine body and blood are simply the cherries on top.”

For long moments, Caspion stared at Mirceo. Seeming to make a decision, the demon said, “I think it’s time to celebrate.”





TWENTY-TWO


“DRINK!”

At a crowded table inside the Red Flag, Cas and the vampire raised their cups, then emptied them.

Earlier, when Cas had pinned the bounty parchment on the board for completed jobs, all the hunters had clamored to buy him and Mirceo rounds.

For a few hours Cas had been able to forget his history with the prince and enjoy his company. He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but tonight he’d been proud of Mirceo—as only a friend would be.

Lie to yourself, Cas.

To the very fucking end.

“Come on, vampire,” said one of the demon hunters. “Divvy how you stole into the sorcerer’s lair.”

These pros had been stunned to hear that Cas and Mirceo had taken out more than a hundred Wendigos. And that’d only been the first step.

Mirceo cast them his arrogant, sexy-as-hell grin. “Trade secret.” His words were slurred—because the vampire was drinking demon brew.

That libation provided an even buzz, right up until the bomb of total drunkenness hit. Cas had begun monitoring his own consumption. In the past, one of them had always remained a touch more sober in case they ran into threats.

Earlier, Cas had taken him outside, telling him, “You don’t have to drink every time they toast us. And you sure as hell don’t have to down brew. It gains on you with every drop.”

Mirceo had grazed his finger over Cas’s collarbone, saying, “My aim is to impress your friends.”

He already had. “Color them impressed. Besides, Bettina is the only friend I care about, apart from you.”

“Are we friends?”

“We could be, if you were content to remain that way.”

“Hmm.” What did that mean? “Even after what happened in the cave?”

He’d had no answer for that.

“Admit it, demon. You’re having fun with me. Just as we always used to.”

“I don’t deny that.” The vampire made life more exciting. Made each second taste better. If he was honest, Cas would admit this might be the best day of his life.

Unequaled bounty. Unequaled pleasure.

Unequaled mate? No! There was still hope for self-preservation. . . .

“Can I tell them you’re mine?” Mirceo had asked.

“Sure you don’t want to keep your options open, tulip?”

Mirceo had grabbed Cas’s balls.

GULP. “Easy, vampire.”

Mirceo had given them a tug that sent Cas rocking to his toes. “I’d like to tell the world that these are mine. That all of you belongs to me.”

The vampire’s show of possessiveness had been . . . thrilling.

Now a lion shifter leaned in toward Mirceo and said, “At least tell us how you got past the sand scyllas.” That shifter was irritatingly bewitched with the sophisticated prince.

In fact, all of the rough-and-tumble hunters were, which made Cas’s own possessiveness—already off the charts—spike even higher.

Mirceo had pointed out that Cas’s demonic temper would continue to grow more volatile. Too true.

“It was nothing.” Mirceo brushed imaginary lint off his shoulder. “A day in the life of bounty hunters such as we.”

Cas’s lips twitched. Throughout the night, the vampire’s lids had grown heavy, his grin permanent and crooked. He was kind of . . . adorable like this.

“Were you truly inside a gulg?” another hunter asked.

“Come, gentlemen, who among us hasn’t been?” Mirceo winked at Cas.

The charmed hunters laughed. They reminded him of the fawning group that had surrounded the prince the first night Cas had met him.

“Now, which one of you exterminated that giant scorpion?” Leyak asked as he poured another round.

Cas waved toward the vampire. “The scorpion was all him.”

With his eyes lively, Mirceo said, “I also faced a monster in a firelit cave, a notorious one-eyed beast. I thought for sure it’d take me; it had me on my knees till I bested it with my fangs.”

Cas coughed into his fist to disguise his laugh.

Before anyone could ask about this beast, Mirceo said to them, “Tell me more about my hunting partner’s exploits.”

“He took his first posted bounty”—Leyak waved at the wall of them—“when he was just fourteen. But his big break was finding a rich warlock’s daughter.”

Mirceo said, “This I must hear.” Did Cas like that the vampire hung on every word as others talked about him?

Hell. Yes. Sometimes Mirceo gazed at Cas as if he was a hero of old—as if the vampire was a little . . . awed by him.

Feels like I’ve waited my entire godsdamned life for a look like that.

“She’d last been seen in a dark forest,” Leyak said. “In his panic, the warlord sent out his whole settlement to search for her.”