Dangerous Creatures(40)

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Little Siren.”

“I’m talking about your rigged game and your creepy markers. I’m talking about you spying on my family and my boyfriend.”

“Spying on you?” His dark eyes shone as he put down his glass. “You know what I see when I look at you, Little Siren? Flames. Smoke and fire. It’s all over your future. I don’t know what it all means, but I can translate some of it for you.”

“Be my guest.” Great. He’s a Seer, too?

“How about, your future’s going up in smoke?” He wasn’t smiling.

“Screw with me and you’re going to get burned.” Ridley’s eyes were deadly.

“You know, there are so many things I want to say to that.” Nox winked.

“Here’s one. You mess with my friends, and I will come for you.” She stood up. “And if you ever speak to my sister again—any of my sisters—you better get yourself one hell of a bigger bouncer. Smoke that, Lennox.”

Lennox held up both hands, including the black envelope—a sign of surrender.

“I think I’m happy to stay out of your future.”

“Believe me. You were never in it.”

“Duly noted. Here, give this back to your sister. She’ll be home the second she touches it.”

Ridley grabbed it out of his hand. She walked away in a huff without so much as a glance back at him, even though she had no idea where they were or where she was going.

“Stairs on your left. Can’t miss them.” She heard a chuckle from the table behind her. He really did seem to be enjoying this, and it only made her more furious.

She had almost made it to the door when she heard the unmistakable sound of music from the club below. The thumping bass. The screeching lead guitar. The drums. God, the drums.

She knew this melody. She’d been listening to him rehearse it last night, when he thought she was sleeping.

“Sweet Meatballs.” That’s “Sweet Meatballs.”

Link is playing with the band.

What did Lennox Gates call them? Sirensong?

All of a sudden she could feel it. Lennox was standing right behind her. His voice was quiet and—if she had to pick a word to describe it—dangerous. “Your boyfriend has bigger problems than just me, Little Siren. But I bet you know that, since we’re both Dark Casters.”

Ridley didn’t answer for a long moment. When she did, she didn’t look at Lennox. “Know what?”

Lennox pulled a matchbook from his pocket, fingering it idly. “That they’ll come for him. That he’s a walking dead man. That there’s no happy ending, not when you’re the idiot who took out Abraham Ravenwood.” He took a step closer to her. “As I said, Casters have long memories. Incubuses, even longer. But I don’t have to tell you that, do I?”

Ridley could feel his breath on her neck.

He continued. “Look around. Half of them are here. It’s a Dark club. I’m a Dark guy. Who do you think my clients are?”

“Shut up.” She couldn’t look at him. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I? Why do you think we wanted him to play his little drums here? Right here?” Nox shrugged. “And why not? I’m in the business of giving the people what they want. It’s what I do. If someone wants me to deliver a hybrid Incubus, why should I ask why?” Ridley’s heart was pounding, but Nox didn’t stop. “And if they wanted his friends? What then?”

What then?

Ridley didn’t want to think about it. This was a risky conversation, for her and for Link. Risky, and potentially deadly. Lennox Gates could strip her of her powers, or he could exploit them. He could make her life a living hell, or end it.

But he could not—could not—mess with her Shrinky Dink.

Enough.

Ridley turned, slowly, and when she did her eyes were blazing. “Two markers. That’s between you and me. Leave Link out of this.”

“How honorable of you.”

“I’ll pay my debts, and you’ll keep your mouth shut.”

Nox shrugged. “Tell him or not. They’ll come either way.” He tossed her the matchbook. “They always do.”





CHAPTER 18


Metal Gods


“She was so juicy, her name should be Lucy.

She was so tender, I loved her like my Fender.

Even when she had sauce, I knew she was my boss.

When she was in a toasted bun, I knew I’d get my meatball fun.”



Sweet Meatballs” was Link’s magnum opus as a songwriter—a tragic ballad composed for a meatball sub he didn’t get to eat anymore. Which was no different than his singing about a broken heart, Ridley guessed. Or a hamburger Patty.

Love was love.

But it wasn’t everything. The night was ruined for Ridley, and as she made her way back to the main floor of the club, she felt like all she could see were Incubuses moving toward her in the shadows, and Dark Casters staring at her from behind gold eyes.

Ridley and Link—and Ryan, oh god, Ryan—had to get themselves out of Sirene.

But Sirensong was still playing, and the crowd was still listening. The set was going well—better than it should have, in Rid’s opinion. Which only made it take longer. When the chorus hit (“Roll me in bread crumbs, I know you can’t be all thumbs”), the crowd even sang along.