Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(79)

“Is that so?” A pulse of scorching heat emanated from him. His mark on my arm throbbed in response, burning as if flames engulfed my flesh. “You know who shouldn’t be f**ked with? Someone who knows how to get inside the head of those who love you.”

Logic told me to shut up, but the heady rush of the kill drove me to be bold. I wasn’t backing down. “I know what you’re doing with Arys. Taking advantage of his fear of losing me won’t get you very far. He’s not an idiot.”

“No, just a man with a lot to lose. Everything in fact. And, the more he worries about keeping you safe, the more likely it becomes that he himself will destroy you.” Shya leaned in dangerously close, searching me for something, weakness perhaps. “I promise you, I’ll be there when he does.”

This was not how I’d pictured our conversation. Shya knew too much. Had Gabriel also foreseen my death at Arys’s hand? Is that how Shya knew?

“Even if you find a way to take advantage of my death, I will never help you. I won’t lead vampires and wolves for you. I will, however, lead them against you.”

Shya laughed in my face. He smelled of wine and roses. Faintly beneath that was the bitter stench of sulfur.

“I look forward to it,” he said. “Now tell me, why did you really ask me here? I assume it wasn’t to argue about petty details.”

“Brook is working with Lilah. He delivered an invitation to me for tomorrow night. And, a chunk of my sister’s hair. I need to know she’s safe from him. That he won’t do anything to her between now and then.” Those petty details were my life and death, but he was right, I had called him because of concern for my sister. It was a risky call, and I knew he would take advantage of it.

“Oh I see.” He stepped back a few paces, allowing me some room to move. “So, you expect me to do something about that.”

“I know you have power over him,” I offered lamely. I had a bad feeling I would regret this. Still, I couldn’t leave Juliet in Brook’s hands.

“What do you want me to do?” There was intrigue in his eyes.

My stomach turned. This would lead to nothing good. “I just don’t want him to touch her in any way that would harm or violate her.”

Shya nodded thoughtfully. Pinning me with a deep red stare, he pursed his lips in consideration. “I may be able to do something about that. Falon’s recent indiscretions with Lilah have put him deeper in my debt. He’s playing double agent now. I can have him speak with Brook.”

Relief swept me.

“That’s not going to come without a price, is it?” I was wary, afraid to hear his demands, but if it meant keeping Juliet safe, it would be worth it.

He pulled his wings in close so they hugged his back. Stroking a hand along the hood of my red Charger Daytona, Shya’s grin was vicious. He tilted his head to the side and regarded me as if I were a prize, not a person.

“How about we negotiate on this whole leading vampires and werewolves issue? You are already Queen to Arys’s King. Why not start acting like it?”

“I’m not going to pretend to know what you mean by that. You’re too elusive, Shya. I can’t agree to anything if you aren’t straight up with me.” I frowned when he sat on the hood of my car. I was ready for this night to end.

“Nobody has more power among vampires and werewolves than you two. I need the kind of power and muscle those creatures can provide. All you have to do is establish and maintain a position of respected authority. You have it. You just don’t exercise it.” When I glowered at him uncertainly, he added, “It wouldn’t be so different from what you already do for me, what you did for Veryl. You’d just have more man power.”

I searched him for a lie, hating that I couldn’t smell one on a demon. “You want me to keep wiping out people that get in your way. FPA rats and such?”

“More or less.” With a cocky smirk, he winked at me.

“That’s what worries me. The more or less.” I watched a car slow down as it rolled past us. The driver was smart to keep going. I said a small prayer that this wouldn’t be a mistake that would come back to haunt me. “I’ll do what I can to make connections with the vamps and Weres in this city. But, the Stony Plain wolves will be left out of it, and I won’t force anyone to do anything. Their choice.”

That was as close to giving him what he wanted as I was going to get. He knew it, too. The demon dragged out the moment, making me sweat while I awaited a response.

“Alright,” Shya finally said after what felt like an hour. “That works. For now.”

“Good. Now, can I please go home? I need to rest up so I can be bled by a vampiric demoness tomorrow night. Wouldn’t want to be unprepared for that.” Sarcasm dripped from my words. I reached for the car door handle, hoping Shya would take the hint.

He looked far too pleased with himself. A flicker of unease passed through his eyes. “Be ready for anything. It’s going to get nasty. I’ll see you there.”

Shya vanished. I got into the car and started the engine. I kicked myself for being a hypocrite. Making a deal with the demon was stupid, but it was for Juliet.

As I headed out of the city, headed for home, I couldn’t help but think that if Lilah bled me dry tomorrow, at least I wouldn’t owe Shya a damn thing.