Page 6 of Samhain Savior

I supposed being the embodiment of unending rage would do that to a woman.

“There’s a first time for everything,” she sniffed, crossing her arms over her ample bosom as she glanced around her club. Alecto ran the most exclusive establishment in Pittsburgh; a strip club and brothel staffed entirely by sex demons and other lesser hell-folk. She used sex and desire like an artist used a paintbrush; masterfully. “And with a house full of incubi tonight, I’m not taking any chances.”

“Someone giving you trouble?” I asked, my shadows starting to creep out as they sought to read the room. Meandering between the tables and over the stage, they flowed, seeking out anything that didn’t belong. I closed my eyes, allowing their senses to become mine, but I didn’t feel any ill intent, only a shit-load of lust.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Alecto replied indignantly, and I opened my eyes to see her drumming her fingernails against her arms impatiently. “Everyone knows better than to cause trouble in my house.” She paused, considering. “But maybe keep your ears open, yeah? There’s trouble on the wind these days, and no one’s resting easy. My sisters are reporting restlessness wherever they go, and even the lowest demons can feel the ripples of change.”

“Secrets upon secrets,” Vine muttered, his gaze still on the dancer. I stared at him, draining the last of my drink as I considered his words.

We’d come across two more witches in the week since we’d dispatched Hestor, both of them in the midst of attempting to perform summonings, and both of them bound by a powerful spell. I’d managed to find some restraint with the second, keeping her alive far longer than the previous two, but while she’d offered up plenty of screams, she’d given me no answers.

It was a puzzle I was becoming increasingly frustrated with.

“I’d appreciate if you kept me informed, Alecto,” I said, opening a Rip and reaching inside. The small tear in space and time—a hole in the fabric of our reality—opened at my command and was where I stored my most important possessions. Rifling through, I reached beneath my bow and quiver, setting them carefully aside, then withdrew the item I was after: a perfectly polished ruby. About the size of a quail’s egg and as red as virgin blood, the ruby shimmered in the dim light of the club. Letting my Rip close, I held it out to Alecto in offering. “Consider it a personal favor to me. You are the eyes and ears of Pittsburgh. If anyone can discover information about what’s happening, it’s you.”

Alecto eyed the gem, lips parted and eyes wide with anticipation as she reached for it.

“Anything for The Archer.” Ignoring the mild undertone of sarcasm, I dropped the ruby into her palm, smirking as she tucked it securely between her breasts, likely dropping it into a Rip of her own. Offering a small nod of her head, Alecto fled our table, and I watched her go, my gaze following as her hips swayed enticingly with each step.

“Don’t even think about it,” Corson said, his hulking form appearing beside me and dropping heavily onto thesofa. “Last time you and Alecto decided to fuck, we didn’t see you for eleven days.”

“What did you evendofor eleven days?” Vine asked, actually looking at me since the dancer had moved on to the other end of the stage.

“If you don’t know already, you’re too young.”

“What?” Vine gaped at me, and I laughed. “I’m practically the same age as you.”

“Practically is not exactly.”

“Besides,” Corson added, reaching for the decanter and pouring himself another whiskey before topping mine off again. “If you recall the state of his back when he finally surfaced again, I’m not sure we want to know. Alecto is scary at the best of times. I can’t imagine what she was like in bed if she left claw marks like that on your flesh.”

“They healed,” I said with a shrug.

Theyhadhealed, but they had taken a fuck of a long time.

It had been worth it, though.

“But I still don’t understand—”

“Focus, please, Vine.” Pouting, Vine sat back, his knife balanced on the end of his finger and rotating slowly. “Mal will be back any time now, and you know how cranky he is when he’s been flying.”

“Ugh. Mal.” Vine groaned, rolling his eyes as he flopped back in his chair, his golden hair glowing under the flashing lights as another dancer took to the stage. Turning his head to stare at her, Vine muttered, “He’s such a downer.”

“Good thing I don’t live to please you then, Vine.”

Malphus’s deep, gravelly voice rolled across the room, and Vine practically leapt out of his chair.

“What the fuck, Mal?” he cried, pressing one hand to his chest as he heaved in rapid breaths. “I told you not to sneak up on me like that. You know I hate it when you’re all creepy and shit.”

Mal only grinned in response, his wickedly sharp fangs on display.

“What news?” I cut in, wanting to keep on task. Mal had been gone for over two weeks, scouring the skies in his raven form, looking for any signs that might lead us to the source of all these disruptions.

I didn’t like disruptions. They pissed me off.

“The church has been ransacked.”

“Which one?” I asked, leaning forward.