Page 33 of V for Vengeance

That, instead, it was me she wanted.

I tapped on the text screen I shared with the red-haired beauty currently having her soul sucked out through her mouth. Then I quickly typed my usually on-point commentary about the brutish demon who didn’t deserve her—whose entire agenda was to ruin my life. And of course, I added the usual assortment of emojis because they made her smile and giggle in a way that got my blood pumping.

She’d tried to hide it—naturally—but my experience as a spy meant I caught every emotion she tried and failed to conceal. She wasn’t as accomplished with disguising her reactions as the other Hunters. Thank the gods for that because it was the only reward I received in the company of so many barbarians.

I turned my head just in time to watch V push Phillip off her. Her spiteful glare said it all. She wasn’t amused by his possessive nature. She thought he was being a child. He wasn’t winning her over with his tantrums, and I couldn’t be prouder of my darling. She saw right through his distasteful playboy tactics. Only she ever could.

I didn’t manage to hide my grin as she tossed the barbarian another scathing look before stomping over to me. Snatching my arm, she headed to the front of the house, grumbling under herbreath about assholes. It wasn’t the smile I’d yearned for, but it was just as satisfying.

I grinned in victory as I was manhandled all the way out the door. When I cleared my throat, trying not to laugh, she stiffened and released my arm.

“Sorry. Where is it you wanted to go? You mentioned something about our contract and said there’s something I needed to know about Harmony? Since you’re the only one willing to tell me anything right now without patronizing the shit out of me, you’ve got my attention.”

Grinning at my darling, I eyed the sinking sun off in the distance. “Cheers. Let’s go somewhere we won’t be followed by that brute inside. Do you trust me, or do you need his permission for that, too?”

I nearly missed the smile creeping across her lips before she ditched it for a glare. “Shut up. Even if I didn’t, you can’t do anything to me I won’t find my way out of.”

Saucy bird.

I noticed she didn’t outright deny trusting me, though. She walked around it like the clever little thing she was, but her words suggested that, at least to some degree, she did. Maybe not as much as I’d like, but it was a step in the right direction.

“Fair enough, love. Unlike that overprotective barbarian inside, I’ve learned my lesson after the first time I crossed you. I won’t be idiotic enough to do it again. Trust at least that much.”

Her smile hit like the first rays of sunlight after a long, dark night. “Guess you’re not totally hopeless then, Cash.”

“I should think not,” I complained without feeling.

Watching her giggle to herself, I smirked because it was all I could do to keep from leaning in and kissing her sweet mouth. Instead, I grabbed her hand and snapped my fingers not presently tangled with a goddess. Magic swirled around us in a dizzying dance, taking us somewhere we could be alone.

Finally.

Chapter 17

Ruffling Feathers

Looking around, I took in the dark street with a confused sweep of my eyes. Beyond it, the distinct sounds of celebration was loud enough to carry everywhere I turned. Flashes of light painted the asphalt and buildings before disappearing, and I turned my head to catch sight of an overcrowded street beyond the alley we were in.

If anyone noticed us appear out of nowhere, they didn’t bother to call action to it. And after further inspection of the people ambling along the sidewalk and street, I wasn’t surprised we hadn’t been noticed. Many of them were already several strong drinks past drunk.

What the hell? Did this bastard take me to a college town or something?

When I opened my mouth to demand an explanation, Cash grinned in his impish way and dragged me into the hustle and bustle of a city I didn’t recognize. “Come along, love. He’ll be gone if we meander too long,” was all the Dark Fae said before walking with purpose towards a building located on the other side of the street.

Lights beckoned outsiders in. A thrum of music filled the air, a rhythmic quake underfoot. A line as long as the street itself wrapped around the building we headed towards, suggesting it wasthepopular spot in town.

I wasn’t dressed for a club, but then again, I never really was when Phillip didn’t have a say in it. Or Kate. Or Sloan. Or Jo. Fuck, every person around me was a busybody. But seriously, why the hell did it always have to be a club? Couldn’t it be a nice wine-and-dine restaurant, or maybe a cozy hole-in-the-wall diner every once and a while? Why did the supernatural have a thing for making clubs and bar haunts their location of choice? I’d even take a normal store at this point. Lord knows my ears would appreciate the change in synthetic sound.

I silently prepared myself for another long night. A club hardly offered a conversational air, so I had to hope there was a place inside that wasn’t going to blow out my eardrums. But based on past experiences, I was more likely to be disappointed.

It wasn’t even clear who the “he” Cash said we needed to find was. Granted, I’d learned how to cleverly talk the information out of the chaotic Dark Fae for that very reason. Like all the men in my life, he had trouble getting to the point.

If I had to make a guess, I’d bet it had something to do with Harmony. Cash had promised me answers about the elusive witch. If it was one thing I could rely on with the informant turned group nuisance, it was that he was ironically reliable when it came to promises he made to me. So, for now, I’d go along with whatever he had planned and nudge where I needed to nudge so he told me what it was I wanted to know.

Chatter filled the air, and shouts of excitement echoed down the street. I dodged something flying from a second-story balcony of one of the buildings we passed before capturing it in my hand. “Beads?”

“Marti Gras, dove. Have you never been to New Orleans?” My platinum-blonde companion seemed almost insulted by the idea.

I cut a look over to him, already agitated. “Need I remind you that it was only a year ago that I was in high school and just a regular, run-of-the-mill vampire hunter?”

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