Holy shit. Holy freaking shit.” Pearl let out an expletive, then a whistle. Ruby shushed her, but a small smile formed on the younger woman’s lips.“Holy shit indeed,” Ruby mused. “Who is he?”“A wonderful man,” Mabel said honestly. “A magic who defies what the books say about Fae folks and…everything.”Panic blossomed. Giddiness rushed at its heels and she took their hands, unable to stop her affection from flowing—and heavens, it was all Brian’s fault and she loved him for it too.“I have to go back,” she repeated, grinning when they did. “Oh, heavens. I made him believe I was fine leaving him when I wasn’t. I have a lot of explaining to do. What if they don’t accept me back? What if he’s moved on already? What if—”Pearl squeezed her hand firmly.“Mabel, calm down. Don’t panic. You got this. And if he’s moved on already, then he will find out what the Sutton siblings’ wrath is like.” But the smirk died from Pearl’s lips. “But let me tell you that going back to La Fleur is difficult

By killing lunatics like you.”A blast of energy wrenched his soul, then battered him inside out. Screams ensued. Belatedly, it dawned that the pain was dimming and his vision was returning. Then it registered that he knew that energy deep in his heart, and that was enough to kickstart his fighting spirit and rouse him back to awareness. There was so much brightness at first, making it hard to determine which way was up, but a hand clasped his and Alicia drew closer.“Heads up, Brian,” she ordered.Alan stumbled into view, face purple and eyes bulging red. Before the man could reach them, Alicia lifted their joined hands—and instinct drove into Brian, prompting him to do the rest as he swung their hands forward. Their energy formed to ice, sharp and brilliant…slicing straight through Alan neck until the man’s head detached from his body and rolled to the ground. The body followed, crumpling with a heavy thud, and a stone clattered beside the bleeding form.Alicia bent over to examine

Sitri grinned down at his hand across the table. The pot was overflowing with ancient jewels, stacks of money from around the world, and sets of keys to cars and townhomes.We’d been drinking, smoking, and gambling for hours, and only three of us were left at the table in the private casino room. Ezequiel had taken his leave with a human he had brought for company. Without their constant cooing and flirting, Sitri was more alert and had won the last two hands.“It looks as if you have run dry, brother,” Brian balked from beside me, his tell.He had nothing, but the pot was full of my gold and cash.Between the three of us, Sitri likely had the best hand but was giving no indication if he would fold or hold out to see what Brian would wager.“I have a few tricks up my sleeve, don’t you worry,” I said. “What will you be betting? Your chips are gone, your pockets are bare, and your fingers have been stripped of their adornments.”I flicked my fingertips over the edges of my straight flus

Of course, Carl. She will never know.” His shoulders relaxed at my dark voice and his expression softened to a dreamy relief.“Last night was”—He looked from me back to the bed to the naked woman now on her knees—“incredible.”She winked at him, sending him back into his panicked escape. His pale face became as pink as a pig's backside. He pulled the rest of his clothing into his chest and scooted past Sitri and me. His eyes stopped on each of us for a moment before he headed to the elevator, not daring to look back again.Sitri huffed his amusement and swung his attention back to the woman on the bed. “By chance, do you know how to tend bar?”She giggled and brought a knuckle to wedge between her teeth, “Sorry. Not my specialty.”“Pity,” he returned.“Give me an hour and I’ll meet you at The Deacon,” I told him before he nodded and disappeared into the void.I turned back to my remaining bedmate from the evening. She was pulling her dress up her body and settled the straps on her sho

What better way to torture the scum of the Earth than trapping them with only their own mind to keep them company?“The employee turnover is going to start the rumor mill.” I sat on a stool a few feet away from Ezequiel, and Sitri slid a glass of something pink and fruity toward me.“You worry too much,” the Watcher said, not at all putting my worry at ease. “This industry is full of fair-weathers who’ll neither call nor show up for their shift for the opportunity to follow the latest pop singer on tour. That’s the beauty of Los Angeles.”The Deacon was more than just a nightclub and investment. It was where, on any day of the week, desperate souls could be harvested. People clambered for just one moment of happiness and freedom on the dance floor. For the chance to meet a stranger for a one-time tryst to recount at parties.The nightclub was also a place for the princes of Hell to converse on an even field.Yes, Sitri was the owner and main operator, but it was one of the last demon