Page 33 of Loup Garou

“You lie,” the demon hissed. “You do not have the power to call upon—”

“I don’t? Really? Hmm, news to me.”

I used my power to change the music. The sound of monks chanting filled the air, as did the sound of thunder. The demon looked around, hissing and snarling, clearly taken aback by the newest revelation. It threw a handful of snakes at Exavier. I shot another bolt of electricity out, unsure how I was controlling it as well as I was but not really caring.

Myra looked up. “Gina, isn’t this the same chanting music that kept playing while Lindsay was healing from the accident?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

Exavier put his hand on my shoulder. “It’s an ancient chant used to call upon the protectors of good, of life. It asks them to protect the ones you love and to keep them safe from the evil that surrounds them.”

We all glanced at him. He shrugged. “Music lover.”

I laughed. “It’s gibberish. Something that a little boy I once knew taught me. It’s not Latin it’s—” I stopped just short of saying ancient Fae.

Myra stood tall. “Same guy I sent a guitar to? Same guy who taught you about creepy shit? Same guy who is named Exavier too?”

“Yes, why?”

She snorted. “What do you mean why? You wrote a note with this on it for him. I stuck it in the package with the guitar.”

“Note?” My eyes widened. “No, Myra. That wasn’t my card to him. That was something I dreamt about. Something I couldn’t stop thinking about. Not… Oh, shit, you sent him that?”

The demon tried to go to black mist again. I thrust another bolt of energy at it. “I’m trying to talk to someone here, asshole. I get that you have no respect for anything but you will stand there and allow me to finish. Understood?”

“Who are you talking to?” Jay asked, holding his off-duty weapon. “Just point in the general area. The last thing I want to do is carry yourlimp body out of here tonight, Lindsay. I can guarantee Exavier doesn’t want that either. We spent the afternoon getting to really know each other. Trust that he can handle whatever comes our way—mentally and physically. Please, just glance at the damn rat. All I need is a hint.”

Ignoring Jay, I stared at Myra. “Tell me you didn’t send that with it.”

“Why? It’s nice. Kind of pretty.”

“In an embarrassing sort of way. Sure. You’re right.”

“Lindsay Willows, how is this more important than the other thing?” Jay asked, clearly annoyed with me.

The demon hissed. “The prince now, bitch.”

“Bitch? Me?” I rolled my eyes. “Oh please, Gina calls me worse by the time I’m through my first cup of coffee in the morning. Be a bit more original.” I could feel my power waning. Drawing in a deep breath, I readied myself for what I needed to do. “Myra?”

“Yes?”

“Battery’s about out of juice.”

She, Gina and Jay did a collective deep breath and Myra lunged for me. The demon extended its arm. Snakes reached from it towards Myra. She came to a grinding halt. “I hear hissing.”

I did the only thing I could think of, I began to speak in Fae to it. “No. I’ll take you to him but if you harm any of them, the deal is off. I will see to it that you’re in a place I’ve been told he roams. You have my word and my life should I forfeit.”

Exavier thrust an arm out and seized hold of my waist. I glanced at him and smiled. “What’s wrong?”

His expression didn’t lighten. If I wasn’t positive that no one but a fellow fae and the demons that hunted them could understand ancient Fae, I’d have thought he understood me.

“Why is Lindsay speaking French at a time like this?” Jay asked.

“That’s not French,” Myra said, glaring at me. “What did you just say?”

The demon backed away from Myra. “I shall follow you. You are now bound to honor our agreement.”

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