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“What’s up?” Erron nodded a greeting.
Alexis crossed her arms. “Um, I’m not so sure about traveling magically.”
“Ah, it’ll be fine,” Giguhl said. “You might hurl, but it sure beats taking the red eye.”
“Whatever,” Alexis said.
“Just tell me where you are and I can be there in a couple minutes,” Erron said.
While Alexis filled Erron in on their location, I took a deep breath and glanced at Adam. His jaw was clenched and he stared at Slade through the screen like he wanted to throttle the dude. Looked like it was a good move on Slade’s part to decline joining our little party.
“Now that the travel arrangements have been sorted out, I’ll sign off,” the Queen said. “But, Sabina?”
“Yes?”
“We expect another report tomorrow night after you meet with this Tristan. Also from Alexis on the Persephone situation.”
“Right,” I said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Alexis added.
“And, Slade?” Rhea said. “Let us know if you make any headway with the Undercouncil.”
“Will do.” The vampire grinned into the camera, charming as ever.
“All right,” Rhea continued. “I know this goes without saying, but everyone be careful out there. Cain’s still waiting for you to let down your guard.”
We all fell silent as this sunk in. I’d been so busy scrambling I’d almost forgotten that Cain could jump out from any dark shadow I passed.
“Let him try it,” Alexis said, all bravado as usual.
“Oh,” Giguhl said. “You can bet your sweet ass he will.”
Alexis and Erron returned about an hour later. One second, Adam, Giguhl, and I were poring over a map of the Spanish Steps and the next they appeared in the living room.
Alexis wore her trademark black leather pants, a black bustier, and knee-high stiletto boots. Hardly proper attire for any situation, but especially not for the chilly Italian February. But before we addressed that issue, there was the little matter of her green complexion to deal with.
“Bathroom,” she barked.
Adam showed her to the bathroom. A few seconds later, the gut-clenching sounds of gagging echoed through the penthouse.
“Virgins,” Giguhl muttered.
I shot him an annoyed look and went to Erron. “What took so long?” I demanded. They’d been gone almost an hour on an errand that should have taken five, ten minutes tops.
The mage dropped a paper bag onto the couch. “We made a pit stop to get some bagged blood. I figured you wouldn’t want Alexis feeding off the tourists in the lobby.”
I pulled back and relaxed my shoulder. “Oh. That was smart thinking. Thanks.”
Erron nodded. “I’ll just go put it in the fridge. She’ll probably need some to help recover from the stress of the trip.”
Alexis came out of the bathroom then. Her skin was paler than usual, but she wasn’t green anymore. “I’d rather be stuck in the back of a plane with three squalling mortal babies than repeat that magic-travel shit again.”
“Ah, c’mon,” Giguhl said. “It’s that bad?”
I shot him a look. “Please. You screamed like a girl your first time.”
Giguhl’s complexion took on a decidedly red cast. He adjusted his sweatpants carefully and avoided all our gazes. “That must have been the wind whistling in your ears.”
“Whatever,” Alexis said. “Anyway, I’m here. What now?”
I stifled a huge yawn. The horizon was already pink and yellow, indicating the sun’s imminent arrival. “Now we sleep.”
I’d like to say that after my declaration of bedtime, we’d all docilely turned in. However, an argument ensued until the sun’s inevitable rise forced a decision. Which is how, at five p.m. the next evening, I woke with Alexis Vega’s arm draped across my midsection. Her face was only a few inches from mine, so when she murmured Slade’s name, I got a blast of vampire morning breath.
I pushed her until she rolled over and got out of bed with a disgusted sigh. I couldn’t muster up too much indignation, though. At least I didn’t have to sleep on the couch like Adam.
The night before, Alexis had refused to share a room with a demon and a mage. I couldn’t really blame her. I wouldn’t want to share a room with those two either. But for Alexis, the discomfort came from an inherent mistrust in all magical beings, which was bred into every full-blooded vampire from birth. Adam had tried to suggest Alexis take the couch instead, but I nixed that idea. With the bank of windows facing east, she would have been fried while she slept.
And that’s how I ended up sharing a bed with Alexis and the mancy got the couch. He could have slept with Erron and Giguhl, but he flat-out refused to subject himself to Giguhl’s randy nocturnal activities.
After I grabbed a quick shower, I rudely woke my bedmate and told her she had thirty minutes before it was time to head out. Then I left her and went to join the others. Erron sat on the couch plucking away on his guitar. I greeted him as I passed, but he seemed lost in the song, so I continued to the kitchen. Giguhl and Adam were at the table, drinking coffee.
I grabbed a mug and had just settled in when the demon leaned across the table like a conspirator.
“So… is it just me or did anyone else pick up some major sexual tension between Alexis and Slade last night?” Giguhl said.
“Totally.” I nodded. “Alexis said his name in her sleep last night, too. Not surprising really. They totally did the deed in New York before we left.”
Adam’s head jerked up. “Really?”
I shrugged. “Yeah.”
“And you’re not upset?”
I set down my coffee and looked him right in the eye. “Of course not.”
He held my gaze for a moment. “Good.”
I nodded. “Good.”
Giguhl sighed and made a clucking sound with his tongue. “Jesus, you two are idiots.”
“Hey!” Adam and I said in unison.
“I’m just sayin’.”
The demon was saved from a cutting retort when my cell phone started jumping around on the table. I picked it up and didn’t recognize the number. My heart picked up its pace. Was Tristan calling to cancel the meeting?
I clicked the button to answer. “Yes?”
“Sabina? It’s Georgia.”
Relief flooded through me. I’d totally forgotten I asked Georgia to check up on Nyx for me. “Hey, Georgia. What’s up?”
