Her gaze traveled over his body as if she were sizing him up for another fight. "You afraid of me?"
Hardly. He smiled. "Do you use underhanded tactics?"
"Absolutely."
He let his gaze wander over her leather-clad body, just as she had done with him. Her tight black shirt fit snuggly over her breasts, and he could vividly imagine the way she had slid her petite frame into those leather pants. If sin had a look, she would be the cover model. She defined the term. "My name is Azazel."
She barely masked her surprise. Giving her his name could have been a dangerous move, but he had heard her thoughts the night he met her. She didn't know the demonic language that was needed to command a demon. According to Luc, the one book that contained the spell had been destroyed centuries ago.
She held out her hand. "Alexia."
He didn't take it. Having recognized the fighter in her and respected it, he wouldn't push this trust issue too far. He hadn't lived this long to be taken out by a sexy vampire assassin.
She lowered her hand, and the edge of her mouth tilted up. She thought he had backed down, and perhaps he had, but standing at the edge of the roof and taking her hand wasn't something he was willing to risk.
"Let's go."
She nodded. "After you."
Fuck that. "Start moving."
She glared at him, unwilling to make that first move. He couldn't blame her. She knew who had the upper hand.
"You're the one who said you fall back on dirty tactics."
She raised an eyebrow. "When I'm fighting. I didn't know you and I were engaged in battle."
"Always."
She smiled, straight white teeth and fangs showing. "I concur."
They were one and the same, he and this woman. If he were in her shoes, he wouldn't toss his ass headfirst off the roof. Not until he had helped her friend, anyway. He passed her, once again giving the fighter his back. He was getting soft.
Her faint chuckle irritated him.
So it was to be like that? Without warning, he quit walking to the steps leading into the cathedral, turned around and wrapped her in a crushing embrace. Before she could struggle he had materialized them to an alley off the Avenue des Champs Élysées.
He released her and she stumbled to the ground. Vampires and humans became weak and dizzy when teleported to a different place. She would do well to learn not to mistake his consideration for weakness.
She sat on the concrete and cursed. What she was experiencing would make vertigo feel like an afternoon stroll. He dropped her dagger by her side. "You'll get your bearings in a minute or so." She had no comeback. She was likely fighting off nausea.
On the streets once again, he found himself lost in a variety of fragrances, both good and bad. Across the street a café lent its freshly ground coffee scent to the air around him. Coffee didn't sound so bad right now.
He poked her with his boot. "Coffee?"
She glared up at him, looking a little green.
"Suit yourself." He left her sprawled on the ground and crossed the street. The café had black iron tables and chairs sitting in front of their establishment. Various tourists and locals lounged at the tables conversing in low tones. Many conversations were cut short as he passed by.
He walked up to the counter and ordered. "Deux cafés, s'il vous plait."
He paid the woman and stood back to wait as those around him gave him a wide berth. Humans could sense evil, though most registered the evil far too late. By the time the hair on the back of their necks stood on end, or shadows caught in the corners of their eyes, evil was already smiling at them. The girl behind the counter handed him his drinks. He smiled as he took the two coffees. "Merci."
Alexia looked ten shades of pissed when she joined him at the table. He set her coffee in front of her. "Sugar and cream are inside. And don't even think about spilling this shit on me."
"Oh, what are you now, a mind reader?"
He took a sip of the hot, rich liquid. If only she knew.
He is tired of fighting. She has nowhere to run.
Cry Sanctuary
© 2008 Moira Rogers
Book 1 of Red Rock Pass series.
Keith Winston is tired of fighting. The war between werewolves and wizards rages on in Europe, but he's come home to Red Rock, Montana in hopes of finding a bit of peace. Instead he finds more strife as he struggles against the pack's dictates that he resume his place as the alpha's right-hand man.
When he rescues a new wolf on the run, he knows his instant attraction to her could cause trouble.
What he doesn't expect is to find himself embroiled in another battle that goes against all his instincts—and his heart.