Demon Moon

not about me, but Nani. If she’s deported, or even detained while I sort things out, it will be unbearably humiliating for her. She’ll lose all izzat . And not just her honor, but the restaurant, everything she’s accomplished here. Forty years ago she came with nothing but my mother, and worked like crazy to put her through medical school. Then she raised me when my other grandparents wouldn’t have anything to do with a little brown girl. She took in Hugh.” Pulling her hand through her short hair, she added, “There’s embarrassment, and then there’s humiliation. I won’t subject her to the second. Won’t even risk it.”
    Hugh crouched in front of her. “You know I would not, either. And last year, I would not have been in a position to help you, even if you had come to me. But I am now. Transfer to SI, and let us offer you our protection. Perhaps immediate escape isn’t possible, but we can remove you from this, at least.” He smiled. “And you’ll be able to ask plenty of questions.”
    “I don’t want to let you down,” she said quietly. “It’s true that I can’t hold a job for a long time.”
    Lilith snorted with laughter. “Oh, you won’t get bored. Identification for people who’ve been dead for decades, electronics to play with—garrotes to make. I’ll use the hell out of someone like you.” She shrugged. “And it’ll give us time to make certain that if you want out, you can get out. I’ll make inquiries, find out who we need to threaten—and if it was a demon. We won’t trap you there if you eventually want to go.”
    The matrimonials seemed to stare up at her. “It might be soon.”
    “That’s fine.” Lilith slid down from her perch. “Are you making dinner tonight? It’s been months since we’ve had your pulao . Hugh tries, but his doesn’t compare.”
    Surprised by the change of subject, Savi blinked, then reluctantly smiled. She’d never had a chance against the two of them. “Yes.”
    Hugh walked past her to the door. Sir Pup followed him.
    “Good. Colin will be coming after; he just got back from England.” Lilith was watching her carefully. “You can finally thank him for helping to provide your alibi.”
    Her smile froze in place. “Great.” She hadn’t seen the vampire since the night at the club, a month ago. He’d flown out the next day, when she’d still been in the hospital, out of her mind with fever. Two weeks, it had burned through her, had her hanging on a thread between life and death.
    And he’d left.
    Sense told her he’d been under no obligation to stay. Experience reminded her he’d done the same before. Reason stated his response had been a result of the venom and nosferatu blood.
    And the only conclusion to be drawn from the anticipation, dread, and hurt filling her in equal parts was that she must be a stupid, shallow lunatic.
    “Savi,” Hugh said from behind her. “There’s something else.”
    She turned, then barely ducked the short-bladed knife streaking toward her. It sailed over her shoulder, and Lilith snatched it out of the air. Hugh lowered his hand.
    “Jesus!” Her heart pounding, she looked between them. Her legs trembled. “What the fuck was that for? What if you’d hit me?”
    “Hugh’d be tending to your shoulder right now,” Lilith said. “But he isn’t. Accelerated reflexes, enhanced speed. Not near that of a vampire, though. How strong are you?”
    “I don’t know,” Savi replied stiffly. “I’ve been hoping it will go away, like the fever did.”
    “Until it does, you’ll be training with me,” Hugh said. His throat worked, then he cursed and slammed the door on his way through.
    It was unlike Hugh to swear. He probably thought he’d failed her.
    He hadn’t.
    “I can’t,” Savi said.
    Lilith’s gaze was not devoid of sympathy, but she shook her head. “You don’t have a choice now.”
    Savi’s teeth clenched. “How did you know? Did Michael tell you?”
    “Michael? No, Hugh could see it within a minute of your coming home from the hospital. I don’t know why you tried to hide it from us.”
    “I have to pretend I’m normal.”
    Lilith tapped her finger on the matrimonial classifieds. “We’ll teach you how to pretend , but you won’t be. Can you live with that? Can he?”
    “Yes. And he doesn’t have to know.”
    The dark sound of Lilith’s laughter filled the small room. “I’m the last person to tell you not to lie. But can you be happy lying?”
    Savi frowned.