Demon Moon

appreciation for his raise, and Darkwolf’s quiet support had made the venture more of a success than Dalkiel’s escape warranted.
    “There’s Darkwolf,” Savi said quietly. Her margarita sat untouched in front of her; though she’d not taken much alcohol of late, Epona had discovered her favorite drink, and seemed bent on showing her gratitude for the position by continually supplying Savi with a fresh glass. Another success, and one that had kept her busy with an influx of requests for IDs and documentation.
    It was just as well; there was not much else she could do to flush out Dalkiel. Colin studied her face beneath the changing lights from the dance floor, the soft glow of the sconces above them.
    Though her shields were up and her gaze alert, exhaustion seemed to hang about her; a touch of lethargy deepened her voice. The stress of Dalkiel’s constant threat, combined with work and their nightly visits to Polidori’s? The change in her sleeping pattern?
    Or had he been taking too much? He’d not fed from her but once. There was little danger in taking a small sip while making love to her…except he’d made love to her with desperate frequency.
    A subtle tension gripped her; Colin glanced away from her face as she said in Hindi, “He has Fishnet Shirt with him.”
    Not in his Goth clothing any longer, Colin noted, but a pair of jeans, a heavy jacket, and a wide-brimmed hat…almost as if he intended it as a disguise. The vampire appeared haggard, hungry.
    Grief emanated from his psychic scent.
    “Ken Branning,” Savi reminded him beneath her breath. Her fingers played at her neck, hooking in the slim chain and around the pendant that doubled as an alarm.
    “Mr. Branning,” he said, and his gaze shifted to Darkwolf. “Do we need privacy?”
    “No.” Branning shook his head; his shoulders were hunched, his fists shoved into his pockets. “I’m going to say this and go.”
    Darkwolf slid into the adjacent sofa; Sir Pup lifted his head to make room for him. “He came to Arwen. She sent him here.”
    “She wasn’t close to Guinevere, but Arwen was the first when we came here to—” Branning choked, pressed his hand to his face. “Fuck, I can’t believe he did that to her. I can’t believe it.”
    “Do you know where we can find him?” Colin asked quietly.
    With a shudder, a clench of his fists, Branning nodded. “Yeah. There’s an office on Lawson—”
    “Between Funston and Fourteenth?” He saw the other vampire’s surprise, and sighed. Taylor had contacted him earlier in the day, reported that one of the Navigators had been parked in front of the building. Lilith had led the raid on the office and come away with two vampires, still caught in their daysleep.
    And when they’d awoken, Colin had found it difficult to punish them in wake of their effusive thanks for their capture.
    “And another in St. Francis Woods—a residence.”
    Colin felt Savi’s immediate interest. “Do you have an address?” She pulled out her cell phone as soon as Branning recited it.
    Castleford answered on the other end; Colin refocused his attention on Branning. “Will you flee the city?”
    Branning nodded, swallowed hard. “He’s told us too many times that he’ll kill us for deserting. I’ll go back to my first community—I’ve got friends willing to take me in until I can find…” His countenance smoothed, as if he simply couldn’t think of taking a new partner at that time, and pushed it away. “We heard about what you did. A few of us have been trying to get out, since things started going bad—they want to know if you can help them. Keep them safe if they run.”
    “Yes. It may require relocation until Dalkiel has been slain, but if they come in, we’ll provide them protection.” Colin held his gaze. “If they lie, or come to me with the intention of using my promise as a way to hurt anyone in the community, I’ll know it.” Castleford would question anyone relentlessly; they’d not be able to deceive him. “And I’ll not be merciful if they do.”
    Darkwolf waited until Branning had left. “Is he lying now?”
    “If he is, I’ll kill him; if he’s not, Dalkiel will.”
    “Lilith and Hugh are taking a few Guardians to check out that address,” Savi said, closing her phone. “You don’t think he’ll make it out of the city?”
    “Perhaps if he leaves immediately. The longer he remains and tries to contact those still following the demon, the lower his