Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(3)

Luke rubbed his chin. “Let me make sure I understand the terms of this deal…you want me to make sure there is a woman in this world who can survive your touch—and in turn, you’ll bring me the person I seek? You’ll turn her over to me, no questions asked and just walk away?”

“Yes.”

Luke’s hand flew out. “Deal.”

Cass blinked. That had been…too easy.

Luke’s hand just hung between them—waiting. Luke quirked a brow at him. “We must shake to agree. Just got to know you accept my terms and we can get this plan in motion.”

Cass’s gloved hand met Luke’s. He shook. Another deal with the devil. “We didn’t shake last time.” He’d always wondered…would his touch kill Luke? If it didn’t, he was sure that Luke would kill him, so Cass had never pushed that particular point of curiosity.

“Last time, I could have changed my mind on the deal.” Luke smiled, a quick flash that showed no real humor. “But, lucky for you, I didn’t.” He freed Cass’s hand and stepped back.

The deal was done. Cass exhaled slowly. He was eager to get hunting. The sooner he hunted, the sooner he had his mate. “Dead or alive?” Cass asked.

That was usually his first question when he took a job. With his particular skill set, dead was always the easier option.

“Alive.”

So easy wasn’t the word of the day.

“Who’s the guy?” Cass wanted to know. “And sorry to be a dick, but why can’t you find him? I mean, I thought you just snapped your fingers most days and all of the dark creatures had to do your bidding.”

Doesn’t work that way for me, though. Another deal…very long ago. Luke didn’t control him.

“The prey you’ll be seeking isn’t dark. At least, not completely.”

Interesting.

“And I never said you were hunting a man. You’re after a woman. A very, very important woman.”

“Does your Mina know this?” Cass murmured. Luke wanted him to find a woman—a very, very important woman—and bring her back alive? That was just—

Luke’s eyes narrowed. “There is no sexual relationship between me and this prey.”

Jeez. The guy actually sounded offended. “Whatever floats your boat, man.”

The temperature in the room notched up again.

“Easy,” Cass murmured.

“There isn’t anything easy about me,” Luke fired back. But he sucked in a sharp breath and seemed to regain his control. “Your prey is light and she is dark. A blend of both paranormal worlds.”

Now that wasn’t a combo Cass saw every day. “Give me a name. And if you have something of the woman’s, that’d be helpful.”

“Her name is Amber.”

He waited. Nothing else came. The guy wanted to give him a challenge, huh? “And you have nothing of hers that I can use?”

Luke turned away. He paced toward his desk and opened a drawer there. For a moment, he just stared inside.

Cass tapped his foot.

Luke reached into the drawer and pulled out a small object. Then he headed back toward Cass, his fingers fisted around his prize.

Cass lifted up his gloved hand and held his palm out toward Luke.

Luke dropped a small, golden chain into Cass’s hand. Even through the glove he wore, Cass could feel the heat of power. That chain—a bracelet—held powerful magic. His heartbeat stuttered a bit, a damn odd reaction for him, and he focused his gaze on the token he’d just been given.

He didn’t have an enhanced sense of smell like shifters. He didn’t track his prey that way. Instead, he relied on magic—on the imprints that people had left on objects they’d once possessed. Those objects acted as homing devices for him, pulling him straight to his prey.

Cass lifted his left hand, and with his teeth, he pulled off the glove. Then he shoved the glove into his pocket. His left hand—no longer shielded by anything—then reached for that bracelet. As soon as his fingers touched it, Cass let out a low hiss.

Pure power hit him.

But…

More than that. She hit him. For just an instant, her image flashed in his mind. Thick, long blonde hair. Eyes so gold and pure—seeing straight through him. She was tall and slim, her face unforgettable. She stared at him. He felt her.

Warm. Feminine.

And he wanted.

He’d never wanted a woman just because he’d touched an object that had once belonged to her. He’d never had a vision so strong. Never had his whole body react, but he was reacting. He’d gone into overdrive. Every single muscle in his body had clamped down. Desire beat in his blood, and Cass’s heart galloped in his chest.

“Problem?” Luke demanded, watching him closely.

This time, Cass’s hand was the one to fist around his prize. “I’ve got her.” The woman with the golden eyes was in his mind now.

“Then bring her to me.”

“And you’ll give me what I want?” Cass asked the question automatically but…

The blonde woman’s image flashed through his eyes once more. Amber.

“Absolutely.” Luke smiled.

Cass grunted.

If you couldn’t trust the devil, who could you trust?