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“Looks like we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” I whispered to Giguhl.
“No shit,” the demon replied.
“You’re supposed to bring demons in through the back entrance for the fights.” The bartender was a vamp with a thick neck and greasy copper hair. The name “Earl” was embroidered into his black shirt. He eyed Giguhl, as if he expected him to tear down the place any minute. Meanwhile, his gray dishrag made lazy circles on the bar.
“That won’t be an issue,” Rhea said reasonably. “I’m here to see—”
“Look, lady, I don’t have time for this. Demons aren’t allowed in the main bar. If you wanna stay, you’re gonna have to take him to the basement.”
Rhea slammed a hand on the bar, impeding the rag’s progress across the sticky surface. “I have an appointment.” Thus far I’d only seen her in her earth-mother guise, but I enjoyed this tough side to Rhea. She wore it well.
The bartender stopped wiping and glared at Rhea. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if you’re meeting the Queen of the Fae, lady. Take the demon outside before I do it for you.”
Giguhl snorted behind me. “I’d like to see you try, fang boy.” He’d lowered his voice a couple of octaves for effect. I tried not to roll my eyes at his posturing. Although, truth be told, I would enjoy watching Earl try to move Giguhl. But only if I had popcorn and a good seat from which to watch the fireworks.
Rhea leaned over the bar and grabbed the bartender’s collar. “I don’t think you’re using your ears. I have an appointment with The Shade.”
Tension crackled, and patrons swiveled their eager gazes to the standoff at the bar. I think I even heard a pin drop somewhere back near the pool tables.
Just then, a phone on the bar back rang. The shrill sound cut through the electric silence like a knife. Unlike most normal phones, this one had no buttons—just a single red light, which flashed maniacally with each ring.
“That would be your boss,” Rhea said quietly. She jerked his head toward the phone and released the bartender. “Answer it.”
Earl scowled but hurried over and picked up the receiver. As he whispered into the mouthpiece he looked across the bar and up at a large mirror in an ornate frame. It hung near the balcony on the second floor. Obviously, someone was keeping an eye on things. I sensed a presence behind the mirrored surface. I couldn’t see anyone, but I could feel eyes on me. I ignored the hairs prickling on the back of my neck and focused on having Rhea’s back in case this all went south.
The bartender hung up and came back over, looking sheepish. “I apologize for the misunderstanding. The Shade said you should go down to the locker rooms behind the fight pit to get ready for the duel. It will begin in half an hour.”
Giguhl leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Remind me not to cross Rhea.”
I nodded and looked at Rhea. The aggression she’d displayed a few minutes ago had evaporated. She flashed an easy smile to the bartender. “Thanks.”
The bartender looked at the mirror, hesitating. “He also asked me to tell you the demon isn’t allowed in the fight area. He’ll have to stay here.”
“Now, wait just a—” I began. Rhea grabbed my arm for silence.
“That will be fine,” she said. “Please make sure he’s taken care of while we’re gone.”
“Rhea, what are you doing?”
She put her mouth to my ear. “We’re not in a position to make demands here, Sabina. They don’t want you to sic him on anyone if you lose.”
I glanced at Giguhl. He shrugged. “It’s fine with me. Just don’t get yourself killed, okay?”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“I’m here to help.”
“Behave yourself while I’m gone, please.”
He tried to look innocent. “Who, me?”
Other than the altercation in Central Park with the Lone Wolves, I’d never fought a werewolf. Rhea, however, knew a thing or two and used the few minutes before the fight to give me some pointers. She led me to a small room, which looked like a locker room of sorts.
She held up a square package and a bottle of glue. “Silverleaf for your fangs.”
I frowned. “My fangs?”
She nodded. “Some vamps use silver caps against weres, but the leaf is better. When you break the skin, it flakes off and gets into their bloodstream.”
“Will it kill him?”
“No, it takes a major dose of silver directly to the heart to kill a were. But this will hurt like hell and slow him down.”
“Is all this really necessary?”
She shot me a look. “The full moon is a week or so away, so he won’t be in full were form, but even so he’ll be incredibly strong. Plus, he’s pissed you harmed members of his pack. You’ll need every advantage you can get.”
Sighing, I took the supplies from her. I wiped a finger across my teeth to dry them. Then I brushed some of the adhesive on both fangs. The fumes made my eyes water. Rhea helped me press the thin sheets of silver on the enamel. “Keep your mouth open for a sec so the glue can dry.”
While I stood there with my mouth open, she busied herself covering my chest, arms, and neck with more of the leaf. By the time he was done, I felt like the Tin Man. I finally closed my mouth. The glue tasted like ass, and the silverleaf had flaked off on my tongue. I choked as a few flecks tickled the back of my throat.
“It’s best if you can bite a vein, but just breaking the skin will help.”
I looked at myself in the mirror. With my new blinged-out fangs and metallic skin, I hardly recognized myself.
“I thought you were all about nonaggression,” I said.
She shrugged. “Normally, I am. But sometimes aggression is warranted, especially when it’s in self-defense. If you didn’t fight the Alpha tonight, his pack would hunt you down. At least this way, you have a fighting chance.”
I nodded at her practical approach. “What else do I need to know?”
“The fight is to the surrender. Since he’s the leader of his pack, surrender will mean he’s dishonored and they’ll kill him anyway. So for him it’s a fight to the death. He’ll be out for blood from the word go.”
“That’s comforting. What happens if I kill him?”
She frowned. “All his property will pass to you. But I would recommend you avoid killing him at all costs. This is about settling a debt, not murder.”
