Things swirled up in her breast, those cravings she kept locked down, always. He was too clever for his own good. The chance to indulge the succubus side alone was an offer almost too painful to resist. Adding the other…That got into some emotional territory, and she sure as hell wasn’t going there with a Dark Guardian, no matter how intuitive he was.

Sex didn’t matter, she reminded herself. Pushing herself away from the personal side of it, it was worth considering, a purely practical arrangement. She could turn the tables, get more control over the situation. Her intuition said hell no.

It pricked her pride, but her sanity was more important than her pride. “Thank you for the kind offer, but no. Pick one of the others, or make use of that strong knife hand of yours to jerk off. The hand’s cheaper.”

His lips curved humorlessly. She held fast before the intent gaze, not giving a damn what he did or didn’t see. The answer was still no.

“What if your consent would save the lives of those you protect?”

Her lips twisted. “You’d blackmail me just to make me have sex with you?”

“No. But if you think you’re doing it for them, then perhaps you’d do it for yourself.”

She tightened her jaw to hold on to the scathing retort. “I’ve given you your options,” she said coolly.

He rose. “I’ll take the bed solo. For now. A room with a TV is preferable. I don’t sleep much.”

She wasn’t surprised; the battle-readiness switch he kept on continuous low hum didn’t suggest he was the drowsy type. “Third bedroom on the right, second floor. If you change your mind, ring the bell in the room. Catalina will arrange things according to your liking. She’s the most suitable for your tastes.”

He lifted a brow. “Familiar with my tastes, are you?”

“It’s my job.”

She’d risen from the couch; now he stepped closer to her. “Then you already know she’s not the most suitable for them.”

He was sending a strong message with that one. He knew what she wanted, on a lot of different levels. She gave herself credit for not even blinking. “That sounds like a personal problem. Use the bell if you change your mind about Catalina.”

“I won’t. If you change yours, you don’t need to ring a bell. I’ll come to you. Good night for now, Raina.”

Said the spider to the fly, she thought. He gave her a surprisingly elegant old-world bow, where his eyes never left hers. Then he turned away. While his departure relieved her of his far too intense stare, it didn’t dispel the things he’d uncovered with that offer. She wasn’t going to be sleeping much tonight, either.

3

RAINA CLIMBED THE STAIRS TO HER ROOM. IT WAS IN the widow’s peak, complete with balcony, the best gravitational point to spin and reinforce enchantments on the house as needed. Her tea carafe was still on the warmer, the People magazine on the wedding-ring quilt bedspread. Candles flickered from the breeze coming through the cracked French doors. Opening them wide, she let in the moist night air, her enchantments warding off the swamp mosquitoes.

Hearing the rush of wings, she lifted her arm so Cathair had a landing perch. As the male’s talons gripped her arm, he made his rasping sound, flapping his wings.

“Ow. Cut it out. Some familiar you are. You bugged out like a big, black chicken.”

“Bite me, bite me,” he chirped at her.

“I’ll bite you. I’ll cook and chew you up in little pieces.” She let him move to his perch. It was where he typically slept, on the threshold between inside and outside. An additional protection for her, and his preferred roosting point.

“Did you find those ingredients I need for the moon ritual?”

He hopped from the perch to a permanent nest he’d built in one of her balcony chairs, ruining it, of course, and plucked out several long strands of foliage, along with two or three wilted florals. A couple dimes rolled out, a silver screw. “You really need to work on your addiction to shiny things,” she commented. Picking up the plants, she examined them with a critical eye, nodded. “Good finds. These will do perfectly.”

Despite her teasing, he’d performed as required, as he always did. There’d been no need for him during her interaction with Mikhael, and a good familiar knew when it was best to stay out of the way, let his witch have elbow room. But yanking his chain was one of her little rituals.

Actually, she enjoyed yanking anyone’s chain. Mikhael had reminded her of the dangers of that, there at the end. Still, she’d been perversely pleased at the faint flicker of irritation he’d shown when she thwarted his earlier plans.

He thought her too lenient with Isaac. Wrong assumptions could always be used to her advantage. When she’d rebounded that arc of power from Isaac, popped him with it like the snap of a single tail, she’d pulled a tendril of it into herself. Like Mikhael, she’d now know if the incubi left her property. Unlike him, she also had the organic energy of her house to aid her, so she’d get the news bulletin first. Probably not by a wide margin, but that extra minute or two might save Isaac’s life, if he was foolish enough to bolt.

She wasn’t worried about Mikhael trying to sneak off with him. There was nothing subtle about the Dark Guardian. If he changed his mind about their deal, he’d tell her straight out. Probably because he’d enjoy the fight.

When she glanced in her mirror, she realized she had a feline smile on her face. Yeah, part of her twisted makeup. Mikhael liked to yank chains, too. She thought of a length of chain in his hand, winding around her wrists, twisting over his fingers, a steel tether…

No restraints…except the ones I put on you myself.

She yanked herself away from that door. She didn’t discourage fantasies, because they were a much safer outlet than real life, but in this case, the craving was far too close to the surface, and dangerous. Someone who wanted to feed it was in the house.

Your true nature…

She needed a different kind of distraction. Pursing her lips, the smile returned. Time to yank someone else’s chain. Dialing Ruby’s cell, she glanced at the clock. One A.M. She shrugged. Time meant little unless client appointments were involved. Since Ruby traveled with Derek, there was no telling what time zone they were in tonight.

Plus, finding Ruby in bed didn’t mean any sleeping was happening, unless it was the postcoital kind, a woman sated and exhausted from a couple hours of sweaty pleasure. Derek was definitely a powerhouse in that area. Maybe because she’d turned Mikhael down, Raina felt an unwelcome twinge at the thought of her friend under Derek, his very substantial cock thrusting into her, catapulting her into climactic ecstasy. Bitch.

“What do you want?” The bitch sounded querulous and sleepy, the kind of sleepy that came from being woken at one A.M. Apparently they were in the same time zone.

“It’s the middle of the night. You could answer with a note of concern.”

“Says Peter about the wolf. You always call me at freaking ungodly hours, and it’s always absolutely nothing important.”

“That’s a matter of opinion. But if you feel that way, why do you answer?”

“The wolf did eventually try to eat Peter.”

“I can handle any wolf on my own. I think you answer because you’re so entertained by what I call you about.”

“Yes, I get so bored helping a Light Guardian save the world every other day. Oh, and having mind-blowing sex on the off days.”

“Does Derek know you’re having mind-blowing sex on the off days? With who?”

Ruby’s chuckle made Raina smile. As the tense coil in her lower belly eased a little, she realized she hadn’t called to yank Ruby’s chain. She’d needed a friend. Mikhael had stirred up some hazardous terrain, whether she admitted it or not.

“All right, what is it, you shrew?”

“It’s nothing, really.” Raina examined her glossy bloodred nails. Gina had done the manicure, and Raina liked the pair of tiny black triangles projecting from each cuticle like vampire fangs. “I have your old boyfriend Mikhael staying here. Other than pussy, what does he like to eat for breakfast?”

A clatter as something was knocked over, followed by an impressively creative oath. Before Ruby could say anything else, Derek had the phone.

“You want to repeat that?”

“I don’t see the need. Just because you can hear what’s being said a mile away doesn’t mean you should eavesdrop.”

“We’ll be there in a few minutes.” Static was already crackling on the line, because Derek couldn’t use cell phones without his magic aura screwing with them. She’d lose him in a moment or two.

“No,” Raina said sharply. “You won’t. This doesn’t concern you, Derek. I’m handling it.”

“What exactly does he want?”

“That’s between him and me. If I have problems, I’ll call Ruby and let her know I need her help. Not yours.”

She could almost hear Derek grinding his teeth. Music to her ears.

“Raina…”

She sighed. He loved her best friend. It was damn annoying. It put a damper on the whole chain-yanking experience. “Honestly, there’s no need. I just wanted to pick on Ruby about it. Plus I wanted to give her—and you—a heads-up he’s in town, and let you know it has nothing to do with her.”

“I wouldn’t have worried about that. I trust Ruby.”

“I wouldn’t trust any woman with a pulse around him. I’ve seen him. If you get a lull in your save-the-world plans, this would be the perfect time to give her an early birthday gift. Every woman dreams of a threesome with two hot guys, and—”

Click. Raina put the phone down with a saccharine smile. Ruby could thank her for that one later. Once a man’s testosterone got poked by that kind of stick, he’d have something to prove. Probably for another couple hours. Lucky bitch.

“Every woman dreams of a threesome?”