Page 44 of The Demon's Fire
“What’s the River Am?” asked Skyler.
“The present, past, and future. An evil, wet snake sent to vex me. Futures are the worst. Maybe that one. No, look. Maybe that one.” Indigo threw her arms into the air, her shitload of bracelets jangling. “How am I supposed to know which one will become the present? A whole bunch of maybes. Get my drift?”
Indigo tapped her own head with her fist.Tap, tap, tap.Alarik grabbed her hand.
“Thanks, bro. Say, what did the Cruor think of you? He sees possibilities, too, but he seems wrapped tight.”
Before Skyler could answer, Indigo spun around. “Hold it, buddy.” Mid-twirl, she snagged a glass off a passing tray. “When you see me, always offer a drink. Otherwise, I might have to give you a permanent case of the crabs.”
His expression dry, the waiter said, “I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Oh, I’m only messin’ with ya.” Indigo smiled, winking at him while she took a huge gulp. “There. Much better. Where were we? Oh, yes. I was talking about… Boyo.” She pushed through the group to her nephew.
“Auntie.” Rein wrapped her in a warm embrace. “You’re going to cause a stir, aren’t you?”
“Only if I can, Boyo.” She grabbed another drink from a passing tray. “This female needs to rethink her choices.” She jerked her head in Skyler’s direction.
Skyler’s eyes widened. “What choices?”
“Why all of them, dear, but you aren’t gonna listen to a word I say. Nobody ever does.”
Spotting Kole, Indigo sidled up to him, dropping her empty glass on the floor where it shattered. “Hiya, handsome.” She arched a brow at Skyler before she rose onto her toes to give him a peck on the cheek. “Gotta dance. Ta ta.” Indigo twirled toward the ballroom, a new drink in hand.
Skyler looked at Kole, who shrugged. “She’s a powerful witch with a big heart and great intel from the River Am. She’s also Director Alarik’s sister and Rein’s aunt, as you likely guessed.”
Interrupting, the Temple of Justice warlock, Dolph, approached the group. He bowed slightly. “May I have this dance, Chief Maxwell?”
When she accepted, he whisked her toward the ballroom, a hand low on her back.
Kole tamped down the heat threatening to blast from his fingers. He barely noticed Fera moving away to chat with another group. He lost track of the conversation. When Skyler disappeared among the crowd, his focus returned.
Braelyn pulled up alongside Rein, herfingers trailing from one of his shoulders to the other, which in every female’s vocab meant she wanted something.
The vampire-mix warrior popped fangs as his lips spread into a smile, his large hand covering his mate’s.
While they made goo-goo eyes at each other, Kole excused himself. He wandered into the ballroom. Of all the dancers in the room, his gaze sought Skyler. Justice Dolph, his arm wrapped around her waist, swept the chief along the floor while her dress swayed in rhythm with the music. Kole’s jaw clenched as Dolph’s other hand pawed her bare back. The warlock leaned close to her ear, his nearness betraying more than admiration. The mutherfucker was hitting on her, just like a common wand waggler.
Skyler smiled at the justice, but Kole recognized the expression. It was artificial, put on with her makeup.
When a waiter walked by with a tray of drinks, Kole grabbed a whiskey in each fist, draining them with a toss. Trying to get somewhat drunk seemed a good idea. He stared at Skyler in the male’s arms.
Let her dance with the idiot. If she’s set on bothering me with another male, she can have at it.
A hand tapped him on the shoulder before he could escape the ballroom. He blinked twice before recognizing the young Firebrand Chay. With his long, dark hair pulled into a braid, he looked less like a warrior and more like an innocent ylve. Until his wild, playful smile turned up the corners of his lips. Kole had paired him with Rein because one talked too much and the other hardly at all.
“Comm, this is Anjeli, my guest this evening.”
Kole nodded at a demure strawberry-haired ylve who cast shy eyes away when Chay introduced her. In a soft, whispery voice, she said, “Nice to meet you, Commander.”
“My mother hooked us up.” Chay’s attention strayed to a passing succubus who flashed a willing smile. The ylve cleared his throat.
Just then a female ylve with raven hair passed, a hand linked to the crook of a friend’s elbow. When she saw the young Firebrand, she giggled, whispering something to her companion. Chay winked but looked back at Kole, folding his arm over Anjeli’s shoulders. “Her father owns a ranch in the Rainse region of Aerilon.”
When a passing guest called Chay’s date away, he walked with Kole toward Nace and Jarek, confessing, “I think Anjeli might become my mate.”
“Splendid.” Kole smirked. He slapped Chay on the shoulder, rejoining the other Firebrands while his young warrior hustled off. “A match made in heaven.”
“Who’s the woman, er … female, with Chay?” Braelyn squeezed Kole’s arm.
