him, and he pulled her onto his lap and nuzzled into her silken hair, losing himself in her eager excitement. She’d done it again, had now successfully defeated two of his demons. He couldn’t let this woman go. He had to keep her.
Because she made him feel light amid the weird absence of darkness.
His fingers curled about her hips possessively and he pressed his lips to the nail at the base of her neck while the demons inside him cackled.
“Let’s head to my place,” she said. “Reichardt usually senses when I’ve souls for him. He’ll be there, I’m sure.”
“Do I recall seeing a chandelier in your living room?”
She gave him a reassuring squeeze. “You did.”
* * *
The prismatic light from the elegant chandelier mastering the center of the St. Charleses’ living room was just enough to send the demons prodding at CJ’s edges cringing into the dark nooks and crannies pocking his soul. CJ relaxed and blew out a breath. Safe here. For now.
Alone while Vika had disappeared up the curving marble staircase, CJ watched as a black cat curled about his ankles, and he bent to scratch the critter behind the ears. The cat’s tail was interesting, striped with thin white bands, while the rest of its body was grayish-black.
“Oh, hello, Monsieur Jones.” The sister sallied into the room in a flirty white skirt and purple top. “I see you’ve met my sister’s ex-boyfriend.”
CJ straightened, the cat in his arms. “Her what?” Pausing midscratch, he turned the cat to study its intent gold gaze.
“This is Salamander,” Libby said, giving the cat’s tail a tug. “Vika’s ex.”
“Vika used to date a cat?”
Libby nodded negatively.
He held the thing out at arm’s length. The feline stared accusingly at him, flicking its tail angrily. Seriously? “A familiar?”
“Nope.”
Well, that only left— “You mean he was once human? Isn’t that kind of cruel?”
Libby laughed heartily. “Don’t worry. We don’t believe he remembers anything from his former life. It wasn’t Vika’s fault. Sal ran into a nasty warlock, and that’s what you get when you play with the big boys, isn’t it, you silly thing?” she said in baby talk to the cat.
The cat flicked its tail and would not look at Libby, showing her its disdain.
“Vika dated a man named Salamander?” CJ didn’t know what disturbed him more. The name, or to learn the cat used to be— No, he wouldn’t think about it.
“His name was Sal,” Libby explained. “But it felt weird to call him that, so Salamander it is.”
“Right. Because there’s nothing whatsoever weird about naming a cat Salamander.” He tried to hand the thing off to Libby, but it wrapped its tail around his wrist and clung like a...lizard.
Libby managed to snag the cat and sent it scampering. “So, you’re looking fine today, CJ. And not so desperate.”
“Thanks. I think. Not desperate, but tired. Your sister exorcised another of my demons.”
“Ah, so that’s why she’s beaming. Good for you. I bet it’s a real riot inside there, eh?” She tapped his chest. “But more important, did she find the soul?”
“She did, and it’s stuck to her soul right now.”
A man suddenly materialized in the living room near the kitchen door.
Libby clutched CJ’s hand. “He’s here. Vika, Reichardt is here! And for once I’m not holding the toilet plunger. Can life get any better? Hello, Monsieur Reichardt.” She shook her hand from Certainly’s and made a nervous little curtsy to the soul bringer. “My sister will be right down.”
The man, silent but seeing all, CJ suspected, gave him a nod and waited, hands calmly folded before him. He’d never met a soul bringer before, but he knew they were not conversationalists or social. They lived to ferry souls. Day and night, all hours of the day. Must be a boring life. Yet, being angelic in origin, they were some of the most powerful beings to tread this realm, and he respected the man’s silent strength.
Vika sailed down the stairway and greeted the man. “CJ, this is Reichardt, the soul bringer.”
“A pleasure to meet you.” CJ offered his hand, but the stoic soul bringer merely nodded as if a bored bouncer standing guard before a nightclub door.
The soul bringer looked to Vika. “Remove your clothing.”
“What?”
Vika cast CJ a sheepish glance. “It’s a requirement.”
“I don’t think so.” He stepped before her, putting himself between her and the soul bringer.
“Is there going to be a problem?” the soul bringer asked.
“No problem.” Libby tugged CJ away from her sister, and he only reluctantly followed. “You two go