We reachthe back entrance to Hades House, and I know this peaceful time between us has come to an end. Even though we have moments of discontent, Diantha has remained charmed by me. I know that will not be the case after tonight.
Either she agrees to this plan and we enter into an emotional pressure cooker. Or she will be so angry she never speaks to me again.
Diantha reaches for the door handle and I close my fingers around her wrist. I feel that pretty pulse, powerful and quickened like a hummingbird’s wings. “Wait.”
She looks at me. In her high heels, we are almost the same height. Long, dark lashes frame her eyes, and even narrowed, they give away her age. I take her face in my hands and memorize her features. The slope of her nose, the pout of her lips, the angle of her cheekbone.
Just in case.
I bring my fingers to the underside of her jaw. Her skin is like ice beneath mine.
So much will be said tonight. For a moment, I want to feel our silence.
Diantha follows directions superbly.
When Leo meets us in the narrow hallway on the other side of the door, she gives him a cold nod, then threads her fingers with mine, squares her shoulders, and follows him into Alfo’s office, dragging me behind her like a designer lapdog.
Leo announces our arrival, and Alfo gives him a long look of hatred before dismissing the other gangsters in his office and waving us in.
Diantha sweeps into the room, a vision in black. The fabric of her dress catches the air and shows off the length of her legs as she settles into the chair opposite Alfo. She displays no signs of weakness; not even a quiver of an eyelash.
I take my place at her shoulder. “Thank you for meeting me tonight,” I say. “I wanted to introduce you to someone who I think can help cast a protective spell on the club. After Kat was almost killed last night, there have been rumors spreading around campus and town. We need to get ahead of that, sir. I believe Diantha is our solution.”
Alfo’s stiff, overly Botoxed eyebrows attempt a jump to his artificial hairline. “You brought awitchinto my club?”
“No, sir. Diantha, tell them, darling.”
She carefully crosses one leg over the other, letting the black fabric spill away from the decadent curve of her thighs. Muscular, thick, and tan, they are perhaps our greatest weapon. “I have no idea what I am. My mother was a clairvoyant and a psychic, but she…she is gone. She could cast simple spells—mostly protection over an item.” She shrugs. “Orfeo says he sees my magic. I don’t know how todoanything, but I can try.”
Nisos pushes off the wall and lets out a laugh. “How fucking foolish do you think we are, bloodsucker?”
His vitriol catches me off guard, and for a moment all I can do is blink. “Excuse me?”
“Trying to buy good faith with your owner by bringing a fucking witch in here? A witch who doesn’t even know magic?” Nis laughs, but there’s nothing in his eyes. His skin looks waxy and tight, and his teeth appear more rotten than usual. “What are the odds.”
Diantha’s lip twitches, and I quickly rest a hand on her shoulder.
“You must need to get your eyes checked,” I say calmly. “Look at this woman. She radiates magic. Her aura is electric. She doesn’t know if she can, butwecan tell.”
Leo steps forward and leans down, whispering something into Alfo’s ear.
He doesn’t immediately shove Leo away. Instead, he locks his eyes on Diantha’s breasts and runs his thick, gray tongue over his bottom lip and veneers. His breathing is loud and labored. He’s so fucked up on booze and drugs he’s having a hard time keeping up his human facade.
Leo steps back and Alfo grabs the remote control, shutting off the TV that’s been warbling behind him. We are pitched into an uncomfortable silence.
“I can smell it,” he says. “I can smell her magic and her stupidity.” I cast my eyes downward and catch Diantha’s jaw clicking with suppressed rage. “Do you know any others like yourself? Are you in a fucking coven?”
She shakes her head. “No coven. I know a kitchen witch but…I mean, I love her. I’m just not sure she has a real gift for spell work, and we are definitely not in a coven.”
Leo keeps his mouth twisted into an impassive line, strong arms crossed over his chest. “She’s telling the truth,” he says quietly. “There’s no scent of betrayal.”
Alfo grunts. “And how do I know you won’t turn on me?”
“Ostensibly,” she says slowly, eyes scanning from demon face to demon face, “you’ll pay me or something? I’m not going to do this out of altruism. If I agree, it’s because I like fucking Orfeo and he asked me to…andbecause you will givemesomething.”
I press my lips together, hiding a smile.Brilliant, brilliant girl.
“Of course,” Alfo snarls, cracking his knuckles. “What do you want then? Your memory wiped? A smaller nose? Not bigger tits, I hope.” He grins, leaning toward her. “Because they are immaculate.”
