Sebastian

shop?"
    Mr. Finch shuddered. "One of them came in, and she made me feel so… strange."
    Sebastian looked at Teaser.
    "Two succutits and three incubi strolled into the Den after you and Lynnea left. They're… different."
    Teaser took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "Don't know how to describe it."
    "They smell musky," Mr. Finch said, his voice trembling. "Like wild animals."
    Sebastian tensed. Musky. Had one or more of these newcomers spent time in his cottage?
    "Yeah," Teaser said. "Saw one of the incubi snare a woman. I spent a little time with her last moon. She's a hard-edged bitch and not generous in any way. But even from where I was standing, watching him reel her in, I could tell there was something about him that scared her but she just couldn't resist the lure."
    "What happened?" Sebastian asked.
    Teaser shrugged. "Dunno. I saw him trolling again a few hours later, but I didn't see her."
    "They've been asking about you, Sebastian," Philo said, refilling his glass and handing it to Mr. Finch, who gulped down the whiskey.
    "Yes," Mr. Finch said, gasping. "When is Sebastian coming back? That's what they ask."
    "Why the interest in me?"

    "Dunno," Teaser replied. "I found one of them rubbing her hands over the door of your room and licking her lips like a cat that's cornered a particularly tasty bird. She seemed amused when I asked her what she was doing. She said something about wondering if you'd had any interesting dreams. When I went downstairs later, I found the other succubitch trying to persuade the desk clerk to give her the spare key to your room. That's when I took your spare and mine off the hooks and made sure the doors were always locked."
    Sebastian drained his glass and set it aside. "If you could make those sandwiches, Philo, I'd be grateful."
    Philo nodded, then looked at Mr. Finch. "I'm closing down for a few hours of rest time. I've got a spare room if you'd rather not stay at your place alone."
    "Thank you, Philo," Mr. Finch said.
    Time crawled while Sebastian waited for Philo. Teaser dug in to the bread and cheese, but the thought of food knotted Sebastian's stomach. He wouldn't feel easy enough to eat—or do anything else—until he was back in his room with Lynnea.
    As soon as Philo came back with a basket, Sebastian took his leave and strode to the bordello, watching the street, watching the people.
    Not as many visitors as usual, and all of them moved with hurried purpose, as if they sensed danger but couldn't locate the source.
    When he reached his room, he saw Lynnea standing in the open doorway, looking confused and stubborn… and blurry. As if he couldn't quite bring her into focus, not when the gorgeous woman standing on the other side of the door turned and smiled at him. But there was something about the succubus's smile that made his skin crawl—and also made him want to unfurl the power of the incubi and take her.
    "Sebastian," the succubus purred.
    The sound of her voice shivered through him, full of hot promises.
    She gave Lynnea a scathing look. "Is that the best you can do?"
    Anger burned out lust when Lynnea winced at the insult.
    "What do you want?" Sebastian snapped.
    The succubus's smile sharpened, became surly and yet malevolent. "I can give you dreams you can't even imagine."
    He looked her up and down. "I can imagine just fine what kind of dreams I'd get with the likes of you."
    Fury flashed in her eyes. This one wasn't used to being resisted. She moved, which brought her a little closer to Lynnea.
    Sebastian raised his hand, felt the rush and tingle of power flowing through him. Wizard's power. He didn't want to call the lightning, not when he still didn't know how to control it, not with Lynnea standing so close. But the succubus must have sensed the power—or understood she was being threatened in some way. She bared her teeth like a predator who had just discovered its prey wasn't as helpless as it had thought. Then she backed away.

    Sebastian watched her until she was far enough away for him to get into the room and lock the door.
    Leaning against the door, he waited for his heart to slow to a normal beat.
    Lynnea looked uncertain. "It was rude not to let her in, but—"
    "No, it was smart." Sebastian set the basket down. "I'm betting she's one of the newcomers who showed up recently."
    Lynnea frowned. "She smelled… odd. That's what made me uncomfortable about letting her in. She smelled…" Her eyes widened. "Like the cottage."
    He nodded. "If it