Page 25

My eyebrows shot up. Crimson Kisses was a vampire bar in the Dark District. “You don’t need a night runner to go there. There’s no boundaries around the Dark District. It’s just part of the city.”

“No, but you are already my employee. Why would I send someone else?”

“Why not go yourself?”

He flashed me another smile. That smile would be pretty damn charming if I wasn’t getting to know the man behind it. “Lilith will be much more forthcoming to someone she can potentially bite.”

My jaw fell open. “Hey, no one said anything about biting.”

A couple walking by stopped to look at me. I gave them a dirty look in return and they continued on their way.

Sebastian leaned in closer. “I said that she willappreciate thepotentialof a donation. I hear celestial blood is quite divine.”

“I’m only half celestial,” I muttered. But he had given me another thought. Did celestial blood have something to do with it all? I wasn’t sure how much the other messenger had. Maybe I would have to ask Dawn.

“And you want me to ask this vampire about Celeste?” I questioned.

He watched a pair of werewolves walking past. You couldn’t tell it from looking at them, but the smell made it obvious. It wasn’t a bad smell, just a little bit like wet dog.

“No,” he said once they were past us. “I would like you to ask her about the two angelics who tried to kill you.”

And here I’d thought he was interrupting my investigation. Was he actually going to help me?

I doubted it. He had some other reason for investigating the angelics. They obviously had a vendetta against him.

“Why do those two care about the dealings of a devil?” I asked.

He shrugged, looking suddenly bored. “I haven’t the slightest.” His innocent smile was anything but.

“Fine,” I huffed. “Have it your way.” At least I could get information from this. And I could even get paid to do it. “How much?”

“How much what?”

I smirked. “How much are you going to pay me to talk to the vampire?

“As I’ve already told you, I will pay double your usual rate.”

“I want triple.” I examined my nail beds like it didn’t matter either way. “For the danger factor.”

His voice lowered an octave. “You are in no position to bargain.”

I smiled and lifted my eyes to his face. “Aren’t I? I may have made a deal to collect your debt, but we never spoke about a timeline. Maybe I’ll speak to Lilith tomorrow, or maybe next week.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Fine. Triple. And there will be no more discussion of timelines.Ever.”

I held out my hand and he took it, meeting my eyes. Another flash of flames made heat flare through me, that damn dream rearing its ugly head again.

He lifted a brow and I quickly tugged my hand away.

“I suggest you bring your roommate.” He stood. “Keep the other clientele from getting too… bitey.”

For once instead of disappearing, he just turned and walked away into the crowd.

I looked down at the silent goblin in my bag. “Ever go to a vampire bar?”

He simply shivered. I would give him the option of staying home—in fact I would prefer it so he didn’t need any protection—but I had a feeling the little guy had more bravery than he let on.

Plus, everyone’s first experience in a vampire bar leaves them with a lifelong tale to tell. How long that life is after the visit though, is always up for debate.