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“Then we shall await them with you,” Gun replied.
The swan whooped.
CHAPTER9
Ispotted the blackbird as I parked outside the gates of the Castle. I pretended not to notice as I emerged from the truck and started toward home. The bird flew down from the iron finial to intercept me. Black wings stretched and its feathered body smoothly morphed into the striking figure of Kane Sullivan.
I sidestepped the demon. “My shadow is much bigger and better dressed than it has any right to be.”
His eyes were colder than the air around us. “You had lunch with Vincenzo Magnarella.”
“I did.”
“You didn’t heed my advice.”
I continued walking. “I asked you for information. You gave it. I made a decision.”
He didn’t seem happy with my response. “You were at his compound early this morning. May I ask why?”
I stopped on the bridge and turned to face him. “May I ask why it’s any of your business?”
“Did you spend the night?”
I laughed. “Wow. Ever hear of boundaries, Sullivan?”
He closed the gap between us. “You know what he is.”
“An extremely hot vampire with enough money to purchase Manhattan? Yes, I’m aware.” I wasn’t sure why I felt compelled to press his buttons. Probably because he was so good at pressing mine.
The demon sighed. “He’s the poster boy for bad decisions, Miss Clay. Surely, you’re intelligent enough to glean that fact.”
“Doesn’t that mean the bad decisions are his, in which case, you’re insulting me?”
“It’s an insult either way. Why are you spending time with him?”
“Because he invited me. Why are you stalking me?”
“I wasn’t stalking. I happened to be flying overhead in my blackbird form when I recognized your truck at his compound.”
“You mean you recognized it because you’re stalking me.”
“That decrepit machine is impossible to miss. It doesn’t exactly blend in with the luxury vehicles on the premises.”
I held up a finger. “First, never insult my truck. Gary is very sensitive. Second, let’s assume for a second that you’re telling the truth about the coincidental nature of your flight. Why does it matter to you?”
“Because he’s bad news, Lorelei. Nothing good will come from an association with him, however fleeting.”
My muscles uncoiled. “You called me by my first name. That’s twice in one week.”
He bowed slightly. “A minor slipup. It won’t happen again.”
“I never said you had to be formal with me. That was your decision. I believe I told you to call me Lorelei.”
His eyes glinted with an emotion I couldn’t quite discern. “Yes, you did.”
We continued to stand on the bridge and stare at each other. Terrific. A standoff between two stubborn supernaturals; that always ended well. I couldn’t tell him the truth even if I wanted to or I risked getting Gunther and Dusty in trouble. I had no intention of helping them out of the frying pan and straight into the hellfire.
“You’re hiding something from me, Miss Clay. Something important.”
