Page 10 of Demon's Desire

Rowan nodded, setting his empty glass down. “Noted. I’ll discuss this with my coven and see if we can decide where to start getting word out, emphasizing the exodus, not mates. Passing things along to my allies here and overseas will be easiest, and Nico, if you could talk to the Lockwood Coven, that would be helpful.”

“They’ve been having a hard time lately, but I’ll see who I can speak with.”

Onyx hadn’t heard of the Lockwood Coven. Until recently, he’d kept almost completely out of the magic world.

Which reminded him.

“I don’t want people knowing who I am.” Onyx straightened his posture, letting his eyes burn in Rowan’s direction. “I suppose some of your coven saw me come in, so that cat’s out of the bag if they’re also aware I own Gallery Four. But no one else.”

“Not a problem. My coven will keep your visit and identity confidential.”

“Thanks, Rowan.” Nico stood, and the vampire followed suit. Onyx hurried to follow. “Let me know how talking to your coven goes and when you plan to start passing things along.”

“Of course.” Rowan clapped Nico on the shoulder, winning a small smile in return. “I’m happy for the Valeros to be the point of contact here in the city, and won’t spread around that you’re in contact with Hounds—uh…” He looked apologetically at Onyx. “What do I call you and your brothers?”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t refer to us.”

Nico let out an irritated sigh.

“Right.” Rowan only nodded. “Shall I contact you through Nico if I need you?”

Onyx gave him a look that told the vampire not to need him. “Sure.”

“Excellent.” Rowan led them toward the door. “Poker this week?” he asked Nico.

“I’ll be there. If I’m not, Leo will hunt me down.”

Rowan chuckled, and irritation flared in Onyx’s chest, his hunger growing from a pit to a chasm.

He couldn’t believe these two were actually friends. Why was Nico so cozy with a mobster-esque vampire? The two were nothing alike. Nico had stains on his jeans and obviously fretted about Ollie and Harper—given his opinion of mates—while Rowan was busy building his empire. He clearly had a lot more going on than a strip club and whatever else was in this building, talking about allies like he had enemies.

Nico should have better friends.

“As Leo should. We’d miss you otherwise. And, Nico”—Rowan paused at the door—“if you start getting a lot of requests after this comes out, let me know.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be fine. We aren’t advertising my connection to the demons.”

“Still. People come to you.”

Onyx’s pulse thumped. They were acting like he wasn’t even there, and this was the second time people coming to see Nico had been mentioned. Was he so accommodating and helpful that he let people ask him favors all the time? Would they come to him if they heard about demons, not even knowing Nico was connected to this mess? How infuriating. Onyx wouldn’t stand for anything like that if it were him.

“I have to get back to work,” Onyx announced, refusing to be so easily forgotten. “It was interesting to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Rowan grinned, showing fang for some dumb reason.

“Talk soon.” Nico turned and headed into the hall.

Onyx followed, the door shutting behind him.

Nico continued down the corridor without waiting. “Didn’t you agree to help because you were good with people?”

Onyx made a face at his back. “No, you said I was good at moving between worlds. And I am. This wasn’t ahuman nicetiesconversation. Rowan was posturing from the get-go. Acting meek isn’t how I work.”

Nico huffed. “It’s not meek to be friendly.”

“Agree to disagree, witch.”

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