Page 33 of A Fury Of Shadows

“What?” she’d said defensively.

Serena had glanced at Brimstone and Hellreaver. “Looks like you share a common trait with Artemus beside your demonic bonds.”

They’d left while Jared was dealing with the local cops and had dropped Regina, Erik, Isabelle, and Anya off at their hotel.

Cortes and Vlad had reinforced security in and around the building. Though the chances of the Dark Council attacking them again were slim, everyone had agreed it would be better to take extra precautions than be caught off guard.

As for Anya, the witch had maintained a frosty silence around her boyfriend ever since the accidental revelation of his exact role in the infamous Columbian cartel.

“I really want to shoot that guy,” Cortes muttered for the twentieth time as they rode the elevator to Bryony Cross’s office.

He glared at Tom Bright. The super soldier shuffled guiltily behind Lou Flint.

“She was going to find out sooner or later,” Vlad told Cortes.

Mae pursed her lips. Despite the sabbatical the mobster’s superior had granted him to decide where his alliances lay, his reputation preceded him wherever he went.

“To be honest, I’m surprised your secret lasted so long,” she said critically. “I mean, what do the two of you talk about in bed?”

“We don’t do a lot of talking in bed,” Cortes replied gruffly.

Violet sucked in air. Lou raised an eyebrow.

Popo puffed his chest out proudly. “My Enrique is a—”

“Don’t say it,” Cortes growled.

Mae studied the parrot and Cortes leadenly. “Sure. Just rub it in, why don’t you?”

“You’re living with an incubus,” Cortes said stonily. “If you want some action, all you have to do is ask.”

“Yes, former queen of my heart,” Popo enthused. “You must obey the call of your loins.”

Lou made a face. “The call of your loins?”

A sinful smile curved Vlad’s mouth at her surreptitious glance.

“You know you only have to say the word, Princess,” he drawled. “I’ll satisfy your every wish.”

Mae’s cheeks warmed. She caught Serena’s shrewd look.

“It’s not like that,” she protested.

“I didn’t say a thing.”

They entered the meeting chamber of the New York coven a moment later. The tension melted from Bryony’s face when she saw them. The witch rose and came around the conference table, her cat Penley padding silently beside her.

“Serena.” She hugged the super soldier. “It’s good to see you again.”

Serena smiled. “It’s good to see you too.”

Bryony acknowledged the men beside her with a brisk tilt of her chin. “Lou, Tom. It’s been a while.”

“Bryony.” Lou strolled to the large windows overlooking Madison Avenue and Central Park. He whistled softly. “This is some view.”

Tom plopped himself in an armchair and crossed his ankles on a coffee table as he looked around the impressive space. “Man, if I’d known you had such nice digs, I would have dropped in for a visit earlier.”

Bryony and Serena looked pointedly at his boots. He took his feet down hastily.

---