Loup Garou. That pack? My stomach flipped. The way he’d looked at me … The way my body had reacted to his nearness …
“You all right? You look a little flushed,” pink lady asked.
I took a gulp of coffee that was way too hot and blinked back tears. “I’m fine.”
“Blow, honey. You got to blow it before you sip.” She winked.
A bell tinkled, and she looked over my head with a smile. “Caramel latte, chocolate croissant, and … No, honey. We don’t serve cock here.”
I’d just taken another sip and ended up spluttering.
She calmly handed me a napkin. “You’re not a swallower, then? Funny, you look like you swallow.”
Fucking hell.
The bell tinkled again.
“Fee, you beat us here.”
I turned on my stool to face Sariah. Nix and Nox strode in behind her, and I did a double-take. Sariah was dressed in black slacks, boots, and a deep purple halter neck paired with a form-fitting jacket. The guys wore shirts with the top buttons undone, dark jeans, and kick-the-shit-out-of-you boots. Hair was slicked back, and horns polished. Sariah had braided her mohawk, and dark kohl ringed her eyes, making them pop even harder. She looked like a warrior, despite the going-out outfit, and the guys with their huge frames and horns looked lethal, and then there was me.
Not exactly intimidating. And there I was, doubting myself again. I slapped the voice upside the head. I had the scythe for a reason. I was descended from Samael and Eve, and I could totally kick ass and take charge. They needed me.
I canted my head, studying them. “Um … aren’t you guys a little overdressed?”
Where were the black reaper uniforms? The tough material that wouldn’t rip, that would cushion them when they fell and protect their skin. I hadn’t had a chance to change into my patrol outfit, because, oh yeah. I didn’t have one, but surely they should be dressed for a fight?
I looked down at my jeans and long-sleeved polo top and then back up at Sariah.
She grinned. “We’re undercover tonight.” She patted her hip, and I noted the slender weapons belt that blended almost seamlessly against the black material of her slacks. It was mostly hidden by the jacket. “We’re covered, though.” She handed me a bag I hadn’t noticed she was clutching. “For you. It should fit.”
I took a peek inside to see a crimson halter neck.
“It’ll go with your jeans,” she said. “You have weapons, right?”
I nodded. I had my scythe and my dagger with me.
“How did you get here so fast from the Underealm?” Nox asked.
“I was at the Academy with Uri. He brought me.”
“The Grigori?” Sariah’s brows cocked in surprise. “You know him?”
“He saved my life.”
Nix and Nox exchanged glances.
I was missing something here. “What?”
“Uriel is somewhat of a legend,” the pink lady said. “A demon who ascended to celestial, or so the rumors say.”
“It’s a myth,” Nox said. “Demons can’t ascend.”
“Whatever,” Nix said. “We don’t have time for this. Grayson and his pack will be waiting for us.”
My belly did the weird dip again. “Why are we working with the pack?”
“It’s their territory,” Sariah explained, “and they called us in for backup. There have been several attacks on humans in the area, and a Loup Garou went missing last night. They found his dead body this morning. Drained of blood.”
Oh, God. All qualms about working with Grayson fled. I grabbed the bag and stood. “Where can I change?”
Chapter Thirteen
Westside was the domain of the kebab house and the Chinese takeout. It was dimly lit bars and seedy clubs, and it was a half-hour train ride to Eclipse, but this was the Regency Pack’s territory.
From the name, you’d expect their territory to be more central Necro where the classy bars and clubs made up the nightlife.
Sariah led us through the streets until we hit what had to be the hub of this borough. It was probably around ten p.m., maybe later, and the bars were filled with people. It hadn’t even hit peak time yet.
My gaze roved the street, the roofs, the dark shady corners. “Do the vampires attack when it’s busy like this?”
“It’s the only time they attack,” Sariah said. “They like the crowds. It’s easy to pick off prey from the edges of the herd.”
“Grayson said several people have gone missing from Killion’s Bar,” Nix explained. “We’re scoping it out.”
Well, that explained the outfits. We were playing clubbers. “And where is Grayson?” My voice got a little higher when I said the alpha’s name. I