Immortals After Dark 06 - Dark Desires After Dusk

striking faster and faster, but she was still able to parry.
    “No, no, no, you could have evaded that strike,” he said, just when she’d thought she’d given a particularly good block. “Never block when you can evade. And remember, your surroundings are key. Always keep them in mind. Anything can be a weapon.” He tossed a pillow at her, and she sliced it cleanly in two! Tufts of filler floated in the air—
    He smacked her bottom hard with his stick. Which infuriated her.
    “Don’t like gettin’ spanked? Then keep your eyes on your opponent.”
    Aggression flared, and she struck out with a yell. He shot out of the way, and the sword cleaved through the bed side table and phone.

    Holly’s eyes went wide. “Cadeon! I could have killed you! I’m sorry!” When he shrugged, she said, “You don’t think this is noteworthy?”
    “No. Slaying furniture is fun . I’m more concerned about the fact that we’re sparring, and you’re stopping to apologize . Where’s the heart of the killer? Where’s your merciless side? You’re acting like a skirt.”
    “A… skirt ?” she said in an incredulous tone.
    “Hey, here’s an idea. If you can draw blood before my premium pay-per-view show comes on in ten minutes, then I’ll get you your pills.”
    She gave him a look that said it’s on, then launched an attack. He deflected her next blow, but realized that she’d held back so she could strike a second time even faster. Quick little female. He barely got out of the way, letting a lamp die for him.
    She’s going to be one of the greats, he thought, but he said, “Is this all you’ve got?”
    Lips thinned, she slashed diagonally upward with stunning speed; he had to block with his stick—she sliced the end off.
    “Oh, dear, did I cut off the tip of your gladius ?”
    Cade winced. She was literally out for blood and was growing increasingly enraged. Again and again, they circled, with her striking and him dodging. Finally, he could say, “Your ten minutes are up, halfling. You lose—”
    Her sword whistled down, missing his shoulder by millimeters. “Holly, back the hell down. We’re done.”
    Eyes glowing silver, she said, “ I ’m just getting started.”
    He realized that if he couldn’t hurt her, he’d have to fight dirty. When she charged once more, he spun around to get behind her. He lightly kicked the back of her knee, sending her off balance.
    “Ooh!” Even as she staggered she swung a roundhouse slash. A picture on the wall fell victim.
    “ Now, are you done—”
    Banging on the door sounded. A deep voice outside said, “Open up, this is the police.”
    Her face went white, her jaw slackening. The sword dipped in her limp hand. “Oh, my God!” she whispered. “What are we going to do?”
    Cade himself was about to have a ball with this. “Duuude,” he murmured. “You are going-to- jail .”

24
    W hat do you mean?” she cried.
    “Jail, the big house, the two-legged zoo—”
    “I know that! But why am I going there?”
    Cade answered, “Your eyes are silver. And that demon brew gels in your blood for days . As soon as the cops break down the door, and see you amidst this destruction, you’re off to roll call, baby.”
    “Oh, God, oh, God! I’ve never even had a speeding ticket!” Biting her claws, she said, “This is all your fault! You started it!” Her panicked gaze darted around the room. “Quick! Help me clean up—”
    More banging.
    “No time, Holly. But you know, I could probably fix this.”
    “How?”
    “You let me worry about that.”
    He’d lived nine hundred years—surely he’d learned what to do in situations like this. Yes, Cadeon will take care of this. She gave him a grateful look.
    “But you have to do something for me as well.”
    Her face fell. “It figures that you’d put a condition on this. What do you want?”
    “You have to watch TV with me, a movie of my choice.”
    Where was the harm in that? She loved…“Oh! You mean one of those movies!” He’d told her he would get her to watch one before the trip was over. “Never, Cadeon. Not in a million years.”
    “Even when I can make this all go away?”
    From outside, the policeman said, “Open up! We’ve been getting noise complaints.”
    “Oh, God!” she whispered. “One scene. I’ll watch just one scene. If you can take care of this.”
    “Deal.” He turned for his room, collecting his hat and an envelope from his duffle bag. At the doorway between their rooms, he