Page 48

I chuckled. “Relic looked a little green around the gills.”

“Better him than me,” Rome said and gave me a little nudge before he headed for his bike.

I loved Rome’s bike, it was all chrome and leather, and had a metallic, gunmetal-gray gas tank with chrome skulls on either side. I pulled on Mags’s jacket while he started it up.

I was about to get on when the door to the clubhouse opened and Ren strode out. He turned our way and stopped suddenly, his eyes darkening.

I froze under that hard stare, my feet rooted to the spot.

“Get up, babe,” Rome said.

I jolted out of my stupor, flicked a wave in Ren’s direction, and quickly climbed on. I rested my hands at Roman’s hips, and he reached back, grabbed my hands, and pulled them around his waist, making sure I was hanging on tight, and because of his size, that meant my front was plastered to his back and there was nothing I could do about it. I’d ridden with him before and hadn’t been worried, but now, with Ren watching, I wanted to pull away and jump right off the back of the bike for some reason.

“Where to first?” Rome asked.

I told him the address, then we were moving, rolling through the gates. As Rome checked the way was clear, I couldn’t stop myself from glancing back at Ren. He was striding in our direction, a thunderous expression on his face.

We roared out onto the street, and I shivered, not from the cold air instantly soaking through me but from the look on Ren’s face.

A short time later, we pulled up outside the first house on the list. I looked up. The place was tall and narrow and had two levels. It was painted pink with white trim and had wisteria creeping along the narrow veranda. In summer it’d be absolutely covered in gorgeous mauve flowers. It was quirky and cute. When I was younger, this would’ve been my dream home. Who was I kidding, it still kind of was.

I climbed off and Rome did as well. “You can wait here, I’m fine.”

“Not happening,” he muttered and swaggered up to the porch and knocked on the door.

I rushed up and muscled in front of him. “If she looks out and sees you, she’ll never let us in.”

“Females love me,” he said with all the arrogance in the world.

I honestly hadn’t met a hound who wasn’t arrogant, and yes, females loved them, but outside of the clubhouse, most people, male or female, who had even a grain of self-preservation gave these guys a wide berth.

“To anyone looking, you’re a seven-foot-tall, long-haired biker with bulging muscles covered in tattoos, and freaky eyes. The only females who love you guys on sight are females looking for a walk on the wild side. The rest of us need a minute.”

He grunted and took a step back. “My eyes aren’t freaky.”

I knocked again. “Yes, they are. You’re just used to them.” They looked human, yes, but the color changed and sometimes got all swirly, depending on the male. When their inner hounds came closer to the surface, which happened a lot, they flashed red.

“Haven’t had any complaints,” he muttered.

“’Cause the females you’re with aren’t looking at your eyes.”

He chuckled as the door opened.

A tall, slender female stood there. If I had to guess, I’d say she was in her early fifties. She was stunningly beautiful, had a mass of black curly hair streaked with gray, and dark brown skin. Her rich brown eyes sparkled as she took us in. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure what she was. I thought I sensed demon, but there was more as well. Human. I was sure of it. Zara Harris was a demi-demon.

“Can I help you?” she asked in a cultured British accent.

“Hi, are you Zara?”

“Who wants to know?”

“I’m Jasmine Thornheart. You don’t know me, but I was wondering if we could have a chat?”

“About?”

“Soul summoning. We were told it’s your expertise. I’m hoping you can help us?”

She held my gaze and her head tilted to the side. “You’re a medium as well.”