Blonde & Blue (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #4)(21)

He leaned forward, a brow raised. “Tell me, Alexa. What do you consider to be innocent?”

I had no easy answer to that. I didn’t need someone like Arys or Shya to convince me that the inhabitants of the earth, both human and otherwise, were far from innocent. That still didn’t make them all worthy of slaughter.

“I know that’s a trick question. There’s no way to answer it without contradicting myself somehow.” I paused, trying to form my words in a manner that he wouldn’t be able to twist on me. I wasn’t a demon expert, but I wasn’t born yesterday. “Prove to me a target is dangerous, a threat, anything like that, that’s all I ask. Just don’t send me in blind. I can’t live with a guilty conscience.”

Shya didn’t miss a beat. “Dangerous? But, even you are dangerous. Some would consider you a threat. It is never so simple.”

Dammit. So much for not contradicting myself. “Alright. Point for you.”

“I don’t claim to understand where your hesitance comes from. You are a killer. It’s in everything you are. However, you won’t be forced into anything.”

“Understood.” I knew what he meant. I could refuse a kill, but that wouldn’t stop someone else from doing the job.

The weight of Shya’s gaze made me fidget. I struggled hard just to sit still. His wicked power was deep and murky, like a bottomless pit that sought to draw me in.

“If you choose to accept the opportunity to advance from hunter to personal assassin, I think you will find there are many perks to having power like yours. That being said, I would like to propose something to you.”

The glint of anticipation in his blood-red eyes had me chewing my lower lip anxiously. I wasn’t going to like what I was about to hear. He enjoyed that. Fucking demons.

I gestured for him to continue. The noisy din of the nightclub seemed to fade away as I waited to hear his proposal. My heart began to pound. I feared the worst.

Demons were true evil. Despite his professional and almost friendly demeanor, I didn’t forget that. I wasn’t surprised that pure amusement shone on Shya’s face when he said, “I want you to kill Veryl Armstrong.”

I took a few moments to let the echo of that request play in my ears. My reaction was delayed. I was conflicted. Part of me was immediately ready to refuse though something deeper down was intrigued.

“Why?” I deserved to know that much at least. I’d known Veryl for years and this demon for all of a matter of minutes. Did he really expect me to say yes?

Shya pursed his lips and regarded me with a curious expression. “He’s taken to meddling in the affairs of others, you included. Of course, I don’t have to tell you that. Once it came to my attention that he was blackmailing one of my own, his days were numbered.”

Blackmail huh? That didn’t come as a surprise. I wouldn’t put anything past Veryl. But, did I want to kill him?

“I need to think about it.”

“By all means. There are many who would love this opportunity. I offered it to you first. I assumed you would appreciate it after everything he has done to you.”

I wasn’t an easy enough target to fall for that line, but I knew what he was trying to do. He thought he could get inside my head by going for my personal feelings. I was starting to feel that for everything Shya said, there was something he wasn’t saying.

“I might not be the right fit for this. It feels a little too close to home. But like I said, I’ll consider it.” That’s the best he was going to get out of me right then. It became hard to meet his eyes; a magnetic pull seemed to grow and pulse if I didn’t look away. It was hypnotizing and intimidating. I wanted him to leave so I could think clearly.

“The wolf’s loyalty, it’s a lovely attribute.” He winked, and though he hadn’t done or said anything else, I knew there was a veiled threat in those words. Shya stood abruptly, offering a hand. “We’ll speak soon. If you wish to reach me, speak with Lilah.”

I didn’t want to touch his hand; it almost pained me to do so. I felt the reptilian touch of a snake against my flesh, and I visibly shuddered. Shya was gone before I could fight my way out of the cloak of darkness swirling around him. I watched him disappear through the exit and gradually the suffocating sensation fell away.

Arys was right where I’d left him. With his arms crossed over his chest and a beautiful glare etched on his handsome face, he oozed fury. Shaz stood next to him, a worried frown creasing his brow.

“Got something you want to say to me?” I asked Arys, my tone accusatory.

In the same breath he said, “Please tell me you didn’t make any deals with him.”

“Of course not. Why didn’t you tell me you knew more about who I work for than I do? A little heads up on the big CIA-style demon action would have been nice.”

“How could you not have known? Sometimes I think you prefer to be in the dark.”

“Why did you turn them down?”

Shaz looked from me to Arys. Curiosity lurked in his jade gaze. As much as I loved Arys, sometimes he really drove me nuts with the secret keeping. It seemed to be a vampire trait, which I could understand to a degree. After several centuries I’d be set in my ways, too. But this was different.

“They approached me about six months ago, after you and I forged our bond. Anything that demon can promise isn’t worth what he’ll ask for in return, and personally, I want nothing to do with him.”