She sighed. “Nothing, really.” She directed a frown at the man in the back of the ambulance. “I tripped him up and he admitted he jumped the demon first. Not knowing, of course, that he was a demon.”
“And does he know now?”
Piper shook her head. “I know how secretive you guys are.”
“I’m gonna take off, then,” he said. “If you want, I’ll e-mail you a report of sorts.”
“Yes, please. Be sure to include his contact info. Thanks.” She headed back toward the ambulance, then paused and turned toward him. “You might pass along to Lucifer that perhaps now is the time for demon representation on the council. The next rift is only two weeks away. More prets will come through and people are going to flip out. It’s only a matter of time before they are painfully aware that demons are as real as every other preternatural on the planet.” Without waiting for his response, she walked away.
Finn sauntered to the edge of the crime scene and ducked under the yellow tape. At his bike he paused and reflected on what Piper had said. She wasn’t wrong. People were going to find themselves with family members and friends who were human one minute and preternatural the next. And some of those prets would be demons.
Their secret would be out, in a big way.
By that time he’d be a free man, and none of this would be his problem anymore. He’d finally have the time and energy to devote to pursuing a real relationship with Keira without having to worry someone would come after her because of his job.
Chapter Eight
Keira went into the Devil’s Domain and stopped at the bar to order a drink. “Glenlivet Eighteen, straight up,” she told the vampire behind the bar. He handed her the whiskey and she made her way toward the back of the club. She tried to ignore the press of bodies, both preternatural and human, and the extreme noise level. The place was packed to capacity tonight, and everyone had to yell in order to be heard over the din.
Javier stood next to the door. His brown eyes lit on her as she neared. “I was wondering when you’d get here, bonita.” He flipped his wrist to check his watch. “You’re late.”
“Traffic,” she said by way of explanation. Trying to get anywhere quickly in the greater Phoenix metro area was an exercise in futility. “I’m here now.” She placed her free hand on his arm and let part of her energy wash over him, creating a slight euphoric satisfaction in Javier. She could feel it bouncing back at her, so she knew it was working.
“Let’s go inside,” he said and opened the door to the private rooms where the vampires fed.
She followed him through the door and into a tiny room off to the left of the narrow corridor. The space was only large enough to hold a regular-size red sofa and a small table at the end opposite the door. Javier motioned for her to sit, and she did. As he sat down next to her, she took a sip from her glass, hoping the burn of whiskey down her throat would bolster her courage.
Javier took the glass from her and twisted to place it on the table behind him. Then, picking up her hand, he played with her fingers while he mused, “I’ve been hungry for you, bonita. So hungry.” He raised his gaze to hers. His pupils had completely dilated, leaving them rimmed in the thinnest circle of brown, and the whites of his eyes had filled with red. “Will you allow me to nourish myself on your sweet vitality again?”
Oh, sweet Morrigan, she wanted to throw up. At least she knew the fake feeding she’d foisted onto him still held. This time, though, she didn’t need to let him do anything to her. She was in the group. With a smile she pulled her hand away. “Not tonight, I’m afraid. You said you had a message for me?”
His mouth firmed but he answered readily enough. “Our next meeting is in two days. Stefan wants you to stay afterward.”
Her mouth went dry. Had she somehow given herself away? “Why?”
“He didn’t say.” Javier seemed a bit put out by that fact, making Keira wonder if he didn’t hold as much sway with the group leader as she’d been led to believe. He might be as much a foot soldier as she was hoping to be.