Demon by My Side(8)

The demon stood by the shattered frame, watching her with hooded eyes. Darcy swallowed. She knew how easily he could have caught her if he’d wanted to. Why had he let her escape?

Didn’t matter. She had no intention of being around if he changed his mind. After swinging into the car, she stomped on the gas.

As she sped away, she glanced in the rearview window to watch the demon, but the broken frame was empty and dark.





Chapter Three


“You let her live?”

Jaral lounged on the sofa of his far too expensive suite. Across from him sat the owner of the Rex, the only demon-run hotel within the city limits. Most of his kind didn’t bother taking up lodging when they visited this world, too concerned with feeding and enjoying themselves. They’d sleep in whatever alley or derelict building they could find. Demons able to afford a higher class of living, however, headed here.

“It’s not important,” he replied, reaching for his wineglass. The liquid sloshed against the side, proving itself far thicker than wine. A sharp, metallic taste hit his tongue, both salty and sweet. He closed his eyes for a moment to savor the treat. Human blood was rare in the demon realm, even bagged blood such as this. As long as demons had a few sips of blood a day, their bodies functioned much like the humans’. But that blood didn’t have to be mortal. Indeed, it was one of the few perks a trip to the human realm could afford.

Liam leaned back in his chair. “Not important?”

There was no mistaking the humor in his voice. Jaral eyed his guest. It had been years since he’d crossed paths with Liam. He was one of the few demons he could stand, at least in small doses. Irreverent, perhaps, dangerous, certainly, but he knew how to collect information better than anyone else Jaral had ever known. If he wanted details on his blonde hunter, Liam was his best shot.

“I need a name,” Jaral said.

Liam inclined his head. “Did you happen to take a picture while the mortal was slipping through your fingers?”

“I didn’t need to. Have you forgotten who you’re talking to?” Pressing his palms together, Jaral pulled up an image of the girl in his mind. It was no hardship imagining her wide green eyes or slightly parted lips as she’d stared up at him, their bodies pressed intimately together. Slowly he pulled his hands apart and allowed the memory to materialize in the air between his palms.

Liam leaned forward to examine the picture flickering like static.

“Hmm,” the other demon murmured, a smile on his lips.

“Do you know her?”

“What do you think?”

Jaral let the image dissipate as he lowered his hands. Of course Liam knew her. The roguish demon was well-known for his veritable library of files on everyone of note in the country. Some even whispered the world. Jaral had never quite figured out what his friend’s powers were but they were impressive enough that he’d wondered more than once if Liam had some royal blood running through his veins. It wouldn’t be a stretch. He certainly looked the part with his dark hair and eyes.

Liam lounged back in his chair. “Interesting choice of memory, my friend.”

“Will you help me? A name is all I require.”

“Darcy,” he replied. “Darcy Snow.”

Darcy. He liked it. The name suited her. “Do you have a file on her somewhere in this place?”

Liam grinned. “Yes. However, I don’t think I’ll be sharing it.”

“You want something for it?” he replied, arching a brow. He knew very well Liam wouldn’t part with such information cheaply, but the bargain might be worth it.

“No.”

Jaral didn’t move a muscle, refusing to allow his face to betray his surprise. “Why?”

“Because some things you need to discover on your own. It wouldn’t do to walk into this with an encyclopedia on your mate. Might make her a bit testy.”

Jaral rolled his eyes. “I have no mate.”

“And yet you didn’t kill the hunter when you had the chance.”

“A moment’s weakness, nothing more.”

Liam took a sip from his own glass. “Ah,” he murmured. “So you won’t be seeing her again.”

“She was at Kerilyn’s house. Our paths will no doubt cross.”

“And when they do, will you let her get away twice?”

Jaral stiffened. “Careful, Lee.”

“How many hunters have you failed to kill after engaging them in battle?”

Only her. One mortal waif with eyes too big for her face. He knew what Liam was getting at but pushed the absurd thought away. Darcy Snow was an attractive woman, for a human. While he wasn’t in the habit of taking mortal lovers, he’d make an exception for her. Which meant she had to stay breathing. It was no more than lust.