Demon Moon

hair, mullet, thirties, white male. Black or navy jacket, red tie, white shirt.” She blinked and focused on him again. “That’s a sixty-thousand-dollar SUV. It shouldn’t be difficult to track him down even if the name on the registration is bogus. That kind of money stands out in a community where a vampire’s lucky to hold a job at a twenty-four-hour convenience store.”
    He couldn’t answer. Astonished, he stared up at her. Demons had complete recall, but they’d been angels once, their minds different from humans’ and halflings’. And in two centuries, though he’d heard of such, he’d never met a human with the ability. Nor any Guardians or vampires; transformation drastically improved memory, but couldn’t make it perfect.
    If it did, Colin wouldn’t have possessed a gallery of self-portraits.
    In sudden realization, he drew in a sharp breath; she would never forget his face. Never let him fade into a dream.
    “Don’t look at me like that.” Her lips firmed, her hands clenched. “It makes me feel like a monkey. ‘Savi, what a neat trick. Do it again. Tell me what you had for lunch on November third, 1989.’”
    Bitterness filled her voice; little wonder, if that was the type of response she usually got. What a fucking ridiculous question. “My sweet Savitri, I’m simply astounded by the revelation that I’m being chased by a vampire sporting the horror of a mullet.” The same manner of hairstyle worn by the partner of the female Colin had slain. Bloody hell.
    The tightness around her mouth eased. “Do you remember it all?”
    Colin belatedly recalled the phone in his hand. Castleford probably grew impatient. “Yes. Four-A-V-X-seven-eight-five?” Different vehicles.
    “Yes. Tell him I’ll do a search on it tomorrow. Unless you need the info tonight?”
    He shook his head, forced himself to speak evenly. “It’ll wait.” As long as Auntie was safe, the rest could be pursued after he’d had Savi, and bound her to him with pleasure.
    Even more important that he did so now.
    “You’ve rebuilt your shields. Have you reconsidered your decision to leave with me?”
    “No.” Her dark gaze searched his for a moment, and the uncertainty there prevented his relief from overwhelming him. “I wasn’t trying to be nosy when I asked you why you wanted me to look. I have to focus on a few details or there’s too much to see. You wouldn’t want to be in my head when I’m narrowing down to that point—and the strongest emotion I use as my connection to the memory lingers for a few minutes. That’s why I’m blocking now; I’ll let them down again when it goes away.”
    His brows rose, and amusement curled his lips. “You can let them down now. There’s nothing in you that can shock me, my sweet Savitri. There’s very little I haven’t experienced.”
    “I know. I imagine you know what this feels like all too well.” She wrapped her arms around her middle; her fingers were trembling. How long had they been so? He’d only been attending to her facial expressions.
    His throat closed with sudden dread. His teeth clenched together in denial, but he knew what she’d say next.
    “My memory in the car centers around you. To get there, it’s like walking along the threads of a web, from one memory of you to another.” She released a shaky breath. “And my strongest link to you is what you gave to me in Caelum.”
    Terror. Despair. His chest constricted; a painful, leaden weight settled in his gut.
    She’d never forget that, either.

    She’d apparently picked up a dramatic flair from Lilith, but what she really needed to learn was when to stop.
    At the front counter, Savi bit her lip and cast another glance at Colin. He stared unblinkingly out the window, his jaw set. He’d only looked up once, just after she’d lowered her shields.
    He’d turned to her with a disbelieving arch of his brow, and then resumed his brooding.
    “You’re acting just like Hugh,” she said softly.
    His head jerked around, and his offended stare pinned her to her seat. For two men who had vows of protection and loyalty between them, there also ran a mutual antagonism. Entertaining at times, and useful.
    Her eyes narrowed. “It’s true. He used to mope around, ‘Woe is me! I’ve done something terrible to the woman I want to screw!’ It’s stupid.”
    “Are you talking to yourself, naatin ?”
    Savi’s mouth snapped closed, and she flushed. Colin turned to look out the window again, but his