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"Even though he's taken the Nectar of Life, he's stil not your type. He'l come to resent you eventual y. I'm not questioning whether he loves you," he said, holding up his hand. "What I am questioning is the long-term viability of a relationship with someone not born into your world. I think you stepped outside the box too far. You're simply not human enough for it to work with an FBH, long-lived or not."
"Do you think Smoky wil regret being with Camil e? He's dragon, and they're as different from the Fae as we are from FBHs." I wanted to hear his answer.
He frowned. "Probably not. They are soul bound, and that makes a huge difference. But you know--as wel as I do--that a ful -blooded human cannot bind souls with those from other worlds. They can only soul-bind to themselves. You and your sisters only have the ability because of your father's bloodline."
I pressed my lips together. The same thought had eaten at me since the beginning of my affair with Chase. I loved him in so many ways, but sleeping with Zachary had unleashed a need in myself to mate with someone who understood my predator nature.
I wasn't just a woman who put on a catsuit once in awhile. I was part-Fae, part-human, part-feline, al Death Maiden. I was as much myself when I was a panther or tabby as when I walked on two legs.
As we pul ed up in front of Exo Reed's hotel right then, I silently leapt out of the car. Vanzir let the matter drop, and we raced forward. Camil e and her crew joined us, and Menol y and Roz fel in stride.
Camil e tapped me on the arm. She looked beat. "Kitten, I'm dead meat on the hoof, and I just can't deal with keeping things straight. Take the lead tonight?"
I grinned at her. "You are anything but dead meat, but yeah, I don't mind taking charge." I pushed in front and led the way into the hotel.
Chase and a group of officers from the Faerie-Human Crime Scene Investigations unit were waiting just inside the door. I paused, waiting for him to notice us. As we stood there, loud crashing noises came from the stairwel and the floor above us. Crap, it sounded like a brigade on riot patrol.
Chase glanced over, saw us, and motioned us closer. As I stepped into the light, he blinked. "Your hair." He stopped, then he saw my tattoos as I pul ed off my jacket. "Your arms . . ." He shook his head, then said, "Time enough for that later. Thank God you're final y here. We've got mayhem going on, and people are hurt."
I glanced back at Camil e and Menol y, who both straightened their shoulders. We were in for a fight, so it was time to pick up the energy. Camil e accepted a candy bar from Morio, who handed me one, too. We scarfed down the sugar for an extra boost of energy.
"What have we got?" Tril ian asked, fingering his short sword.
Chase frowned. "For the most part goblins. They're tearing up the joint." He motioned to Exo, who was standing by his side.
"About half an hour ago, bunch of goblins came bursting into the lobby and decided to make themselves at home," Exo said. "I told security to keep an eye on them, a good thing. The brutes got drunk and tried to carry off a couple of the beta werewolves--and not the women."
"They tried to carry off beta males? What the . . . ?" That was odd. Goblins usual y went for women, whom they could sel on the slave market back in Otherworld.
"Yeah--go figure. My bouncers put a stop to it, and the brutes started tearing up the joint. A group of them headed upstairs, and the rest are in the lounge, tossing tables, breaking anything in sight, and drinking al my booze. My security guards can't handle them. I've got one man down. I think he's dead."
"Damn," I whispered.
"It gets worse." The look on Chase's face stopped me cold. "Exo said they're led by a couple of Tregarts--the demons went upstairs."
He closed his eyes for just a second, but I saw the worry in his look. Tregarts had nearly ended his life and were ultimately responsible for us giving him the Nectar of Life. One of the demonic human look-alikes had ripped Chase to ribbons with a blood dagger, a blade specifical y enchanted to keep the victim's blood from clotting. We'd almost been too late.
And then it hit me: Chase was afraid. Which meant he'd be a hindrance in battle. I tapped him on the shoulder.
"Would you coordinate the troops? And get as many people out of the hotel as you can. Take some of the less seasoned officers and start evacuating the areas you can safely reach."
"Bul shit. You're giving me make-work." Pausing, Chase cocked his head. "I guess I am a liability," he said softly. "I'l do as you ask, but Delilah, don't soft-pedal me. I may be fucked up, but never patronize me again." He flashed me a dark look.
I bit my lip, piercing the skin with one of my fangs. Shit. But there wasn't any time to argue. I swung around to the others.
"Split up. Camil e, you, Morio, and Smoky come with me. We'l tackle the lounge. Tril ian, you, Roz, and Vanzir fol ow Menol y and head upstairs." I didn't want to separate Camil e and Morio--they were becoming more and more bound with their magic, and together, they made a formidable foe.
The others nodded and peeled off, fol owing Menol y toward the stairs. I turned to the double doors leading into the refurbished lounge. Last time we'd been here, it had been a psychedelic nightmare.
"You guys ready? With al the screaming and thumping there, I doubt they've heard us."
"Ready," Camil e said, and as I watched her, I could feel the swathe of energy descending around her. But it wasn't from the Black Unicorn's horn--she had so thoroughly discharged the horn when she was in Otherworld that it was taking two ful dark moon cycles to recharge.
Morio put his hands on her shoulders, steadying her. He arranged his bag so that it was out of the way--he carried his skul familiar wherever he went because without it, he couldn't return to human form when he turned into a fox--and nodded. Smoky cracked his knuckles and gave me a thin smile.
"Let's go. And remember: No mercy, no compassion, because the goblins won't have any." I slid Lysanthra out of my boot sheath and glanced at them, then slammed open the door.
As we burst through the opening, I scanned the room. It was fil ed with shadowy figures il uminated by what remained of the dim light from broken sconces and overheads. From what I could see, we were facing a good twenty figures. Goblins. Drunk goblins. Oh goody. Sober goblins were bad enough, but hyped up on booze, they'd be feeling their oats. Goblins with an attitude: so not attractive.
