Page 7 of Darkness Rising
“Do you really want to have a pissing contest with the most powerful woman in the Court of Darkness? We get it, your dick’s bigger than hers. Let’s move on.”
The deep blue in Nollix’s eyes flashes with refrained magic, turning the pretty color into a darkness that threatens to black out the whites of his eyes. The evil that lays hidden away within him flashes through his inky gaze. What Nollix doesn’t tell people, is that he’s half Demon. Half Fae, half Demon. It makes for a dangerous man.
I wait for him to make his decision.
When the tension in his body relaxes, and Link’s hand falls away from his friend’s shoulder, I walk away from them.
This is how our lives have been; Nollix and I circling each other, waiting for the other to make a move and lash out, while Link works hard to keep a sense of peace within our little group.
For the last three years I’ve been quiet but not passive.
And don’t even get me started on how many times Jeriko’saccidentallytried to end my life.
At least this is normal. As normal as I can get, I suppose.
Chapter Four
The Lap Dog
“What are we supposed to do with him?” Link asks as we step out into the cool night air.
I pause and look back at my shadow. Cameron trails behind me and I watch him as he empties his pockets on the steps of the Dark Palace. A guard at the door quietly monitors the scene.
Coins clatter to the ground. A ruby necklace clinks hard next to the money. A few skeleton keys fall as well. Folded documents drift through the night air as he tosses them down. Deeper he digs until two golden forks tumble out of his jeans. A dagger engraved with swooping letters hits hard against the pavement. Three watches, an encrusted goblet, my mother’s favorite pearls, and a serving saucer rolls down the street as he empties his pockets.
“Guess that’s all of it,” he says with a nod.
I pause, my gaze drifting down to the front of his jeans. They’re tight. If I looked closer, I’d probably see an interesting outline that’d make my heart stumble from the thought of it.
Fuck, maybe the outline would really be a tiara instead of his dick because this thief is in it to win it. He just unloaded more money than I’ve ever seen.
“Are you sure? Nothing else you forgot to return?” Jeriko steps into the man’s personal space, breathing down on him with his hostile demeanor.
“Well, now that you mention it.” Cameron pushes his hand into his pocket and all three of us peer around Jeriko to see what else the thief is hiding. He struggles with it for a moment, seeming to wrestle whatever it is out.
He finally pulls his hand back out of his pocket and raises his middle finger to Jeriko’s brooding face.
“There, that’s the last of it.”
My lips part with a surprised breath just as Jeriko slams his fist into Cameron’s jaw.
With a change of the wind, I swirl in between the two men. It takes less than a second for the magic to filter me into a solid form.
Jeriko’s fuming gaze falls on me as I press my hands against his chest. The tension in his body settles and confusion falls across his face. Cameron’s chest pushes against my back and I try hard not to squirm between the two men.
“That’s enough.” My voice is steady as I glare up into the Fae’s eyes. “My mother expects gentlemen at her table tonight for dinner. She is not used to shit-bag Fae men like I am.”
Jeriko’s jaw tics.
“For three fucking years you don’t talk, and then when you do I feel like you haven’t shut up for an eternity.” Jeriko shifts his weight, waiting.
It takes all my willpower not so sucker punch him like he just did Cameron.
“Yes. I can talk, Jerry. Get the hell used to it. And don’t insult my mother tonight by being an asshole.”
I breathe out a sigh and storm down the empty street.
The moonlight shines against the wet brick and it takes a second for me to realize that Cameron is walking silently behind me. With my arms folded tightly across my chest, I look back at him, his dark eyes meeting mine.
