Demon Angel

entertaining to see you flapping around outside a window."
    "It would shrink important parts of my anatomy to the size of a pin," he said, shuddering.
    Lilith smiled, resting her hip on the windowsill. "And when was the last time you used that part of your anatomy?" she taunted.
    Almost twenty-five days—yet another reason to slaughter the nosferatu. Colin stood and moved to the sideboard, refilling his glass. "More recently than you have."
    "I've never used yours ." Her gaze narrowed on the tumbler in his hand as he took a sip. "Animal blood; how long have you been drinking it?"
    "The better part of this month."
    Her focus shifted; she studied his length, and a brief psychic touch flitted over his mind. Colin didn't argue; admiration undoubtedly accompanied her exterior examination, and he rather liked it when she looked. When anyone looked.
    It was unfortunate he could not.
    "No tremors," she said finally. "And you've not yet descended into drooling stupidity. What is the other effect of prolonged pig-sucking?" Her eyes widened in mock surprise. "Ah, yes… no sexual drive. Want to see if that vital part of your anatomy still works? Tonight, with me?"
    He choked on a mouthful of blood; Lilith burst into laughter. When his coughing fit subsided, he gave her an admonishing stare. "Bloody hell. You did that on purpose," he said.
    "Maybe," she said, her dark irises sparkling with amusement. She tilted her head, resting it against the windowpane as she regarded him. "Did I scare you?"
    "Good God, the very thought inspires fear enough to shrivel me permanently." He paused, realizing that she had neatly turned the conversation away from her encounter with Hugh. "And I suppose I would just be a substitute for him."
    Colin knew it was a testament to the strength of their friendship that she didn't tear his head off for daring to suggest such a thing.
    "I'm not an idiot," Lilith said flatly. She didn't move from her place at the window, but her fingers clenched into fists. "I paid for my weakness once before, and no human is worth two Punishments."
    "But he was worth one?" He couldn't resist asking.
    "Colin…" she began warningly, then paused. On the floor, Sir Pup growled low in his throat. Lilith cocked her head to the side, as if listening; standing slowly, she put a finger to her full lips, gesturing for Colin to remain silent. Mischief lit her face.
    Whomever she'd heard probably had no idea of the trouble he was in.
    "You vampires," she said loudly, "don't know the joy of destroying lives."
    Playing along, he said, "I've ripped out a few throats in my time." He watched as she moved quietly toward the balcony doors, which had been left open after her entrance. A sword appeared in her left hand, a length of metal chain in her right. Wings sprouted between her shoulder blades.
    He pursed his lips in silent envy.
    "Throats?" Lilith forced a laugh, gazing intently outside. "You've got to go for the balls to really do some damage."
    "It's not as easy to drink the blood… there…" He trailed off when she and the dog disappeared. The crash of the French doors swinging against the wall signaled the force with which she'd opened them. He winced, mentally tallying up the cost of glass replacement for each shattered pane.
    A heavy thud against the roof rattled the chandelier. Colin eyed the swaying crystals, willing it not to fall. The house shook as something slammed into the side. A car alarm from across the street began blaring, followed by the crunch of metal. The alarm stopped.
    Moments later, a grinning Lilith hauled an unconscious Guardian onto his balcony, dragging her through shards of glass as she pulled the mass of white feathers and golden flesh inside.
    Colin rolled his eyes heavenward and sighed. Surely nothing good would come of this.
    Lilith crouched next to the Guardian, reaching down and lifting the head by the tangle of blond hair to look at her face. "Selah. I thought so." She chuckled, and glanced up at Colin. Her tone was playful—and wicked. "So, Colin… do you want a pet?"
    The Guardian's neck was long; the skin, smooth and unblemished. He touched his tongue to the tips of his fangs; the bloodlust was slow to respond. "Does Guardian taste better than pig?"
    Lilith grimaced, wrapping the chain around the Guardian's wrists. "I'm not likely to ever try either. And you're a freak, even for a vampire; so for all I know, their blood will kill you." She glanced at Colin, raked her gaze up and down his body.