are rumors. Many, many rumors.” Words ripped from its toothy mouth. “All one has to do is put them all together.” The demon made a rather unsavory hissing sound.
“Is that why you came up here, to look around?” I asked.
“I was called for the pleasure I could bring,” it said.
“Uh…” Steve shivered. “No, now…that just ain’t right. Banging that thing? No, that puts me off entirely.”
I didn’t bother to explain the particulars to Steve. “So why did you feel inclined to put all the rumors together then scamper off down to the underworld?”
“The master will greatly reward anyone with information about the woman and vampire who disturbed his empire. But behold, I have found something so much more, haven’t I?” It hissed again, sending chills racing down my back. Steve shivered again. “I have found…”
I squeezed my hand, the air around the demon crushing it into pulp. Steve knew a lot about my magic, but he didn’t know all. He didn’t know a few very important clues about my very precarious situation.
“Crap,” I said softly, crouching down. “The rumors used to mix up Charity and me, but with Roger sending her all over, without a vampire, collecting evildoers or whatever it is you people do, she’s dispelling the possibility of the rumors being about her. Which puts the heat on me.”
“Where does that leave you?” Steve asked.
I shook my head, standing. “Darius thinks I should go back into hiding.”
Steve stood with me and led me around the stone building to a scene that made me smile. The fae and shifters sat in a cluster, bleeding and pissed, wrapped in invisible magical rope. The mages had essentially tied them up, their magic too powerful for the shifter and fae to break out of.
Penny shrugged. “We didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t want to actually fight them. What’s the status?”
I sighed. “Either I hide, or I get ready for a showdown. It’s only a matter of time before news of me gets to the right ears.”
“You’ve been too exposed to slink back into the shadows now,” Emery said. “Trust me, I know how that works. People will look, and eventually they’ll find you. You best be getting ready for a showdown as you hide, so when you come out, you come out swinging.”
I let my gaze drift toward the winery. “Probably time to take that druid up on his offer to train me.”
“Probably,” Emery said.
“Probably also time to drink half the wine in that winery.”
“Probably.” Emery grinned this time.
I nodded and headed off in that direction.
“What about the mark?” Charity called.
“He’s all yours. Won’t be much good to you, but you’re welcome to have what’s left. Wear gloves, though. I hear he’s slimy.”
THE END
ABOUT K.F. BREENE
K.F. Breene is a USA Today Bestselling author of fantasy, paranormal romance, and paranormal women’s fiction works.
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To those of you who lie in bed with the one who’s supposed to love you, yet never touches you.
To those of you who cry each night for the love you deserve, but don’t have.
To those of you who feel alone, even when you’re mere inches away from the one who vowed to love you for life.
To those of you who no longer have the energy to try with the wrong person.
To those of you who desperately seek your other half.
To those of you who’ve finally said, “Fuck it—I’m doing me.”
A NOTE FROM LILLY
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoy Rendezvous Dot Com, the prequel to the jaw-dropping novel Love Dot Com. This