Touched by Fire (Demons of New Chicago #1) - Kel Carpenter Page 0,25

shoulders.

Relax, it seemed to say. Let your hair down. You don’t mean any harm.

There was no actual voice calling to me, but the magic tried to do its work all the same.

“Go with it,” Nathalie said under her breath. “The spell isn’t meant to lower your inhibitions, just to keep the violence outside their doors. The harder you fight, the more it will pull—and that will lower your inhibitions.”

“It won’t do us much good if we find her and I’m too busy drinking or dancing to notice.”

Nathalie snorted. “Somehow I don’t see that being a problem.”

I pressed my lips together as we made our way toward the bar. Supernaturals and humans alike milled about. Nathalie squeezed herself in between two larger men, both turned the opposite way of her, flirting with different women. She lifted her hand and hailed down the bartender who came around the side and flipped a panel up to exit.

“Nat,” he breathed in relief, picking her up and hugging her tight. “Where’ve you been? I heard about what happened. Your parents, they—” His dark blue hair and yellow cat-eyes had me stiffening. Nathalie must have figured as much because she flipped on the charm, putting a finger to his lips.

“Not here, Barry. You got somewhere we can talk privately?” she asked, her gaze flicking to me. He glanced over, his eyes raking over me before narrowing.

“Come with me,” he said. I didn’t miss the way he grabbed her hand and practically dragged her through the crowd. I followed a few feet behind them as he went around the staircase and through a lounge. The lights were dimmed, and the magic was different. More enticing. Alluring. Judging by the events happening on the couches, it wasn’t as innocent as what Nathalie claimed was happening in the club. Little did she know, I was completely aware of the spells. It was the only thing that stopped me from being pulled in.

Thanks to my own interesting background, I was more susceptible to magic and all its effects.

Barry rounded the corner and pulled us into an empty hallway.

“Who is she?”

I regarded the fae-witch hybrid and then turned to lift a brow at Nathalie. How she answered decided how far this little partnership went.

“Keeping me safe.”

Barry relaxed a fraction. “You hired a bodyguard?”

She looked at him like that was a ridiculous notion. “No. Paid help would only turn on me for a higher dollar.” I nodded to myself, silently agreeing. “She’s a friend.”

Barry took his time staring at me. “She doesn’t look very friendly.”

“I’m not,” I replied, flashing him a smile that was all teeth.

He took a step back. I didn’t miss the amusement on Nathalie’s face before she stowed it. By the time Barry was looking at her again, she was a genuine, sweet-looking girl.

I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Look, Barry, I need your help.” She took both his hands between hers. Those big brown eyes turned pleading.

“You could say that twice, Nat. You were excommunicated this morning. Your parents have disowned you, and they’ve offered a reward for your head.”

Her pulse quickened but fear never flashed in her eyes. Only sad acceptance. She’d known this was her fate from the moment I took her. “I’m not surprised,” she said, using the words to gather herself. I wondered if the bartender noticed. “That’s why I need your help. I’m looking for someone. I need to find them.”

“Who?” He didn’t hesitate to help her. I was beginning to see the girl’s usefulness. She ascribed to a different tactic. Where I believed that a well-aimed shot could solve most things, she used innocent manipulations to keep her ass alive.

“Greta McArthur.”

He visibly shuddered. A moment passed. “If my mother finds out I helped you, I’ll be dead,” he said softly. Then he cupped her cheek. “But Greta is a raging cunt. Even if I didn’t care for you, I’d do it. Come with me.” His hand slid from her cheek, and he stalked past me.

“I’m surprised he didn’t ask whether we wanted to kill her or just interrogate,” I murmured as we followed him out.

“It doesn’t matter to him,” Nathalie replied. “If we kill her, she suffers. If she talks, she suffers.”

I stared at the hybrid’s back as he escorted us back to the staircase and started climbing.

“She must have really pissed him off.”

We got to the top of the stairs where a balcony wrapped around the entire club, overlooking the festivities below. Beyond that, a much nicer lounge