Immortals After Dark 06 - Dark Desires After Dusk

she might forsake her old life.
    No demon, no temptation, no dark side.
    Pasting a smile on her face, she asked the group, “Whose turn is it?”

19
    I ’m only here for business, dove,” Cade said when Imatra poured drinks for them.
    “You know it’s bad luck to turn down demon brew. And it’s rude to keep your sword on, like we’re enemies.”
    He took the glass, none too subtly glancing at his watch. Ten minutes had already dragged past as she’d asked questions about the other factions out for Holly.
    “Just need my directions, and I’ll be off.”
    Cade couldn’t imagine how Holly was faring out there. But he also had confidence in her, assured that she’d use that head of hers to stay out of trouble. He’d been impressed at the good job she’d done masking her amazement in the face of so many new Lorekind.
    There’d been fey, demons, and Lykae, but fortunately, there were no Valkyrie. He knew all his plans could come tumbling down the minute she found out there was no turning back to human.
    “Why the rush, Cade? Would it be so terrible to have a drink or two with me?” Imatra let her robe slink down her shoulder.
    Cade believed most would think Imatra was beautiful, but he found her overblown and lacking compared to his halfling. “My asset’s out there in a roomful of demons. She was human two days ago. There’s a time element here.”
    “No one would dare hurt her.”
    No, but they might frighten her. “Then I’m keen to get to the next checkpoint, which should please your master.”
    “He wishes to inquire about the health of the Vessel.”
    Cade hated to hear Holly talked about that way, so impersonally. Groot would never see past what she could provide to discover what she was like.
    “Holly’s fine.”
    “We didn’t expect you to be traveling alone with her.”
    “Wouldn’t be. ’Cept for the fact that Groot and Omort’s sister Sabine, that little bitch, captured my brother.”
    “We hadn’t known if you were aware of that.”
    The idea of Rydstrom’s imprisonment seethed inside Cade, but he strove to block it out, realizing that negotiating this checkpoint might not be as simple as he’d anticipated. Imatra seemed capricious. She could make trouble. He didn’t want to blow this deal because he got impatient with her.
    Imatra said, “I suppose everyone will know soon enough with the way Sabine’s been bragging about her new plaything.”
    Cade ground his teeth. “Where is Rydstrom?”
    “You expect me to tell you when you won’t even take off your sword or share a drink in politeness?”
    He dutifully shrugged from his sword sheath, laying it on a chair, then lifted his glass.
    With a pleased smile, she sat on the edge of her desk, making sure the slit in her skirt rode up to her hip. This female was trying to be sexy—it was her whole persona, but it wasn’t natural. She had to work at it.
    And she still couldn’t hold a candle to Holly, who couldn’t care less if males found her attractive.
    “Where’s my brother, Imatra?”
    “Likely in Tornin, but we can’t say for certain. I’m sure more information will come to us—information we might share if this transaction goes smoothly.”
    “Why wouldn’t it?”
    “How can we know you won’t sleep with the Vessel?” Imatra asked.
    Good question. “The same way my clients have known I’d never fuck with whatever asset they’ve entrusted to me. Bad for future business. Besides, the chit is absolutely not my standard fare.” My standard fare was shite compared to Holly.
    The demoness studied him, as if determining whether he were lying. Were they suspicious? If so, how? No one but Rydstrom, Nïx, and Rök knew what Holly was to him.
    “If you decide to get clever and try to have the sword and the girl, you will fail,” Imatra said. “First of all, Groot is an incredibly strong mind-reader. You might be able to block his probes, but she’d have no chance. Secondly, the exchange will be made within Groot’s fortress, which is mystickally protected, rigged with traps, and guarded by revenants. A forest of Wendigo surround it. You’ll get her killed if she runs with you.”
    Cade hadn’t realized until this very second that trying for the sword and for Holly had been an option in the back of his mind.
    A favored one.
    Now he felt his hopes plummeting.
    “A lot of obstacles,” Cade agreed. “How can I be sure that I’ll even get out alive?”
    “Groot has vowed to the Lore that you’ll have