CHAPTER TWO

I stilled. I knew that voice. Liam.

I shifted my weight, putting most of it on one foot and in my arms as I peered down. Liam’s impossibly blue eyes stared up at me.

I caught my breath, suddenly feeling like I’d been punched in the chest. He always did that to me. He had the sort of charismatic presence that eclipsed any notion of beauty, the sum of his parts totaling to much more than what each feature would be if taken separately. Not to say he wasn’t handsome. He was. His face possessed the strong lines and rugged features you’d imagine on one of those billionaire CEOs featured in romance books.

But a pretty face wasn’t the only reason he drew women like a moth to the flame. No, it was the power he wore like others wore clothes. It was the confidence in his movements, as if the world only existed to please him. Nothing and no one would ever successfully thwart him, at least not for long.

The sight of him, hearing his voice after several month’s long absence caused an avalanche of conflicting feelings I didn’t want to deal with. Not now or at any point in the future.

He wasn’t quite smiling as we stared at each other. My expression had gone blank.

“So, you’re back.” 

He dipped his chin once.

“I won’t keep you,” I said before turning back to the wall and climbing again. “I’m sure you have many important things waiting for your attention.”

There was a small sound behind me, then a powerful force lifted me up, yanking me from the wall. My stomach dropped.

Seconds later, I was set on my feet in the middle of my living room.

I blinked. If I’d ever needed a demonstration of the difference in power between the two of us, the speed, agility, and strength he’d just demonstrated would have brought that point home very nicely.

My lips parted, whether in rebuke or something else, I’ll never know. In the next moment, Liam yanked me to him, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly power, his fangs denting his lower lip.

His mouth descended on mine, forestalling any comment. Passion rose, threatening to swamp my better judgment. Someone’s fang, I don’t know if it was his or mine nicked flesh, and suddenly the rich decadent copper of his blood filled my mouth.

Just like that, the whirlwind feelings his presence had caused disappeared, leaving me consumed with need.

A moan filled the air, I wasn’t sure it if was his or mine. Our bodies pressed together as if we were trying to climb inside the other.

His hands were on my back even as mine fisted in his hair. With a little hop I jumped up, his hands going to my ass to support me as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

Our bodies became a tangle of limbs as each second pushed us higher. My skin felt flushed with need.

I panted as he broke the kiss to rain small pecks down my neck and shoulder. I tried to grab hold of a thin thread of logic, but his lips covered mine again.

Several minutes passed where only the small breathless sounds we made could be heard.

He was fire and fury against me. I was the push and pull of the ocean against him. Tangling and dueling, each of us exalting in the battle of desire.

A crash in my bedroom brought me back to the present. Reason cascaded down on me like ice cold water, reminding me of why this, me and him, was a horrible idea.

He’d left without a word of warning. Just picked up his things one day and was gone, like a ghost. There wasn’t one word of goodbye.

He didn’t owe me anything. We hadn’t embarked on a relationship. I knew that. Still, I thought we’d been heading down a certain path. To have him up and disappear like that had brought the cold grip of reality back.

Liam was vampire. Not just clan, but an enforcer for their council. His agenda was not mine. I couldn’t trust him or his reasons for taking an interest in me.

For that, I was grateful he’d left the way he did. It reminded me of the facts of life, before I got too invested. 

I lifted my head and stared down at him, noting the otherworldly glow, the slightly unfocused eyes, the softened expression. The sight made me waver in my decision. He looked at me with the single-minded focus and intensity of a man who hadn’t had a drink in a year, and I was a cool glass of water taken from a mountain spring.

I pushed away, my body suddenly stiff as I unhooked my legs.

He was slow to let me go, his expression fierce and watchful.

His hands lingered as he helped me down. I stepped back, avoiding his gaze. I turned and saw the bike he’d somehow unlatched from the harness without me even noticing. It lay half on the couch.

I headed to it, lifting it up and wheeling it over to the bike rack I kept near the front door.

“So, you’re back,” I said in as steady a voice as I could.I’d said it before, but it was worth repeating, as I busied myself with getting the bike situated on the rack.

He watched me, his expression closed off, the passion of moments before gone. “Yes, my business finally wrapped up.”

“That’s good,” I said. I was grateful he was willing to gloss over what just happened, but it still galled me that it seemed so easy for him.

“I thought we’d made progress,” he finally said.

I could feel the weight of his stare on my bent head.

“I’m still attending my weekly lessons,” I responded, choosing to misunderstand.

Frustration flickered on his face. “I know. Nathan’s kept me informed of your progress. That’s not what I meant.”

Ah, so someone in vamp headquarters had been able to keep in touch with him. Good to know.

He stared at me for a long minute. I kept my head down, intent on fiddling with the bike as I fought to keep my face bland, every emotion that might give away my turmoil carefully hidden. The fluttering in my belly and slightly unsteady feeling didn’t make it easy.

I didn’t know what he expected of me, but I was determined not to give it to him.

His sigh was long and angry. He rubbed one hand through his hair before he nodded and straightened.

His mouth tightened and he drew himself upright, his face settling into authoritative lines. “Why are you back here?”

I stood up. “This is my home. It’s normal to live in the place you call home.”

He arched one eyebrow, turning his attention to the still open door, his message clear.

I shrugged in answer. The lack of stairs was a nuisance, but I hadn’t let that stop me.

“I know Thomas offered you a place in the mansion until the renovations of this building were complete,” he said.

That was true, and I’d even taken him up on it for the first month. Very mature of me I know. However, once I learned the extent of the renovations and calculated just how long I would be away from my apartment, I decided to rethink that plan. You see, Thomas had so many things he planned to do to this place, and my apartment in particular, I would have been out of my home for a year or more.

Liam would know that. Or he should. He was more versed in Thomas’ shenanigans than I was.

“It was taking too long.” There, that was diplomatic enough.

He was quiet, his gaze thoughtful as he looked over my apartment. I struggled not to feel defensive over what he might see. My home wasn’t filled with name brand stuff. It was mostly things I’d gotten at yard sales or hand-me-downs my family had grown tired of. As a result, it was a mishmash of a dozen different styles. Despite that, it suited me. The rooms felt lived in, like they’d seen endless amounts of joy, pain and sorrow.

I was very aware after staying in the mansion, that it looked a little threadbare and worn, in no way comparing to the magazine quality rooms there. Still, it was mine. My first home post-military, and something I’d created through my own hard work.

He seemed to come to a decision, his gaze piercing as it shifted to me. “Be at this address tomorrow night,” he said, pressing on the screen of his phone.

From my backpack, my phone chimed with a text. I made no move to pick it up or look at it.

I stiffened, some of my natural antagonism at being ordered around rearing its head. With effort, I forced it back down.

This man had a habit of getting under my skin. He could do more with a simple shift of expression than most could with carefully crafted barbs. The only other people capable of inspiring such reactions in me were my family.

In my head, I knew I should be an adult. Mature. Act my age. Not let him see how he got to me.

What came out was. “Nope. I have work.”

“Call off.”

“Can’t.” I didn’t bother explaining my money issues or the fact rent was due in five days. I needed every hour of work I could get. Even if that hadn’t been the case, I probably still would have refused. Half of it was due to my genuine hurt over his disappearance. The rest was just the primal need to battle it out until I came out the victor.

“I’ll pay you triple what you would make there,” he said with forced patience.

That wasn’t the incentive it should be. I made an idiotically low wage for a night’s worth of work.

“It’s not about the money,” I told him.

I needed this job. Yes, I could call off. Josie did it all the time. I would probably keep my job, but the risk wasn’t worth it. A higher paycheck tomorrow night might be nice, but what about in a week or a month? I needed steady paying work, not to dance at some vampire’s whim.

“You’ll be there,” he said, his expression smug.

“That’s an arrogant assumption.”

He sauntered closer, stopping with the barest of space between us, forcing me to look up to see his face. I wasn’t a short woman, just over average height at five feet seven inches, but Liam made me feel petite.

He leaned down, cheek sliding against mine as he whispered into my ear. “You owe me.”

His message delivered, he straightened and gave me another lazy smile, one that widened as he caught my fulminating look. “An hour after sundown. I expect you won’t be late.”

I didn’t answer as he slid past me, too busy glaring at the wall. His exit was silent.

Sneaky vampires and their stupid games.

I’d be there, whether I wanted to be or not. Because he was right. I did owe him. Ten nights to be exact.

Guess he was calling in the first of those.

I stalked over to the door and slammed it shut, turning the locks and hooking the chain into place. Not that it would do much good, considering he’d already gotten past a locked door once tonight, but it made me feel better.

Turning back to the room, I was brought up short at the sight of my two roommates perched on the edge of the kitchen countertop, tiny feet swinging as they watched me. Inara and Lowen were pixies and had settled in the apartment despite every attempt to force them out. They’d ignored my repeated protests. I’d grown used to them now.

Each no bigger than my hand, their wings fanned behind them in a bright display. More beautiful than any butterfly wing, they were as distinctive as the pixies themselves.

Inara tended to be the bolder of the two. A pixie queen, she could be mercurial and autocratic, but I’d seen moments of softness, especially when she addressed her consort, Lowen.

Her wings were an iridescent green and yellow, the pattern unlike anything I’d ever seen in nature. When they moved, it was like watching tree leaves rustling in the wind.

Her skin had a slight greenish tinge to it, and her eyes were overly large in her face. People often equated pixies to bugs because of those eyes, but I’d always likened them closer to a doll. In miniature, her features were delicate and fierce.

Lowen, on the other hand, was often the calming voice of reason, advocating restraint where Inara would leap into battle without considering the consequences. He could be just as fierce as she, but it took more to get him to that point.

I’d learned just how deadly he could be when a family of brownies had tried to move in. He’d dispatched them with a skill and precision that would be chilling in a creature any bigger than he was.

Where Inara was clad in the shades of the forest, Lowen more closely resembled a field of flowers. His skin was burnished copper and his wings the most vivid blues and purples I’d ever seen.

“That crash was very well timed,” I told them.

It was as close as I could get to saying thank you. It was never wise to thank the Fae outright. They could use it as a way to enslave you, calling in debts likely to mean the end of you.

“That vampire has an agenda,” Inara said. She didn’t wait for my response, leaping off the counter and fluttering back down the hall.

I sighed. I couldn’t argue with that.

“What are you going to do?” Lowen asked.

“There’s not much I can do. I owe him ten nights. If he’s calling in one of those nights, I have no choice but to answer.” It didn’t make me happy to admit that.

You would think after the first time someone called in one of the debts I owed, I would stop handing them out like candy. Not the case. I had more debts floating out there than I liked to think about, including to my two permanent house guests.

Lowen lifted into the air, his wings a purple-blue streak behind him. “Sun’s coming up. You should get ready for bed.”

He flitted off, leaving me standing in my living room, first light already making its way across the sky.

*

Opening my door to head out, and hearing a startled mrph as a stranger teetered on the thin ledge next to it was not my ideal way to start off my night.

My hand snapped out, grabbing a well-muscled arm, before the person could fall the ten feet down. It was awkward, trying to keep from being pulled out of my apartment as I juggled the person and my bike in the opposite hands.

Somehow, I managed to pull my visitor inside with me. He sprawled at my feet, his eyes slightly wide as residual adrenaline kicked in.

There was a riot of golden hair around his face as he remained on all fours, breathing heavily at the close call.

Inara and Lowen flitted near, landing on a pair of shelves near the entry way. We all stared down at the unexpected visitor.

“A sphinx,” Inara said. “What is one doing at your door?”

I shook my head. I had no clue.

I’d only ever met one sphinx, and that was a brief encounter.

I gave the man at my feet another moment to compose himself, waiting until he looked up. His bright green eyes were lined by thick, dark eyelashes. The golden hair on his head was the biggest clue to his species.

He was young, not more than twenty, his face lean and narrow. The last sphinx I’d encountered had pointed ears—this guy’s were as rounded and human as mine.

He gave me a strained smile. “Hello.”

I arched an eyebrow and gave him a look, one that said he’d have to do a lot better than that.

“What were you doing there?” I asked.

“Ah, well,” he said, climbing to his feet and brushing off his pants. He seemed uncomfortable, glancing around with furtive glances.

“Speak, sphinx,” Inara ordered, her voice every inch a queen’s. “We don’t have time to waste.”

Lowen buzzed toward the sphinx, veering close enough that the man shied back from the razor-sharp thorn he held in his hand like a sword.

“I heard this was where the clanless vampire lived,” the man stuttered.

That caused me to straighten. My home’s location was no great secret. Both the vampires and the wolves seemed to feel they had an open invitation, but I hadn’t realized it was common knowledge to the rest of Columbus.

I didn’t like the thought of every spook out there knowing where I lived.

Inara and I shared a glance, our thoughts mirroring each other’s.

“And you thought you’d earn a name for yourself?” Lowen snarled.

The sphinx flinched back, the smaller pixie intimidating even me. Lowen’s face now appeared murderous and cold. He might be small but right then it didn’t seem to matter.

“No, I need help. The harpies said the vampire was my best chance,” he said quickly.

Harpies? That was interesting. I shook my head before Lowen could do something drastic—like stab the sphinx.

“Which harpy specifically?” I asked. I had several contacts among the harpies. To my knowledge none of them hated me enough to set assassins on me.

The sphinx didn’t look like an assassin, but you never knew. He seemed harmless, maybe just a bit desperate. Could be a ruse designed to lure me off my guard. Appearances were often used to deceive. I knew that better than most

“Natalia,” he blurted out.

I’d done her a favor a couple weeks ago involving a kobold, so his story was plausible. I doubted she would be quick to set an assassin on me. I could picture her sending someone in a similar predicament my way, especially if she knew him.

“What’s your relation to her?” I asked.

“Her mom used to babysit me,” he said. It seemed to occur to him how tenuous his position was and his expression turned uncertain, fear and uneasiness filling his face.

I wasn’t used to inspiring those emotions in others, and I wasn’t sure if I liked seeing them now.

I fought the urge to put him at ease. There had been more than one attempt on my life in the last month. I couldn’t afford to be careless.

“And why did she point you to me?” I asked.

I folded my arms across my chest, my right hand dipping down to brush the weight of the gun in its holster under my light jacket. If Liam was intent on dragging me into whatever was going on, I wasn’t going unarmed. Physically and magically I was weaker than most, even this sphinx in front of me, but I’d found a gun helped level the playing field very nicely. It was filled with ammo of my own recipe—one that incorporated silver nitrate—lethal to vampires and werewolves, along with several other creatures.

His expression grew uncomfortable as his eyes flitted to my two roommates. “I don’t suppose we could have this conversation in private.”

“No.” My response was flat and brooked no argument.

He jerked and looked at the two again. It was clear he wasn’t comfortable speaking in front of them. Too bad for him. I had no intention of kicking them out or going off alone with this guy. Not when we’d caught him skulking around. He could just suffer or get out.

“You have one minute to start talking before I carry on with the rest of my night,” I said, not bothering to check my watch.

The threat was enough. The guy stood, shifting from foot to foot as he took in the three of us. “I was given the honorable task of protecting an item.”

That made sense. Sphinxes were often considered guardians and protectors in many myths. From what I’d heard, they tended to either make a name for themselves in places of learning, became excellent puzzle crafters, or took on the duty of protecting items of great worth.

“I think it was stolen yesterday,” he confessed, looking slightly ashamed.

“You think?” I asked.

“What kind of sphinx lets their treasure be stolen?” Inara scoffed.

I sent her a quelling gaze.

“It’s not like I spend all day watching it,” the sphinx defended. “I have a life, you know.”

“I bet whoever it was cracked his riddles and puzzles,” Lowen snickered.

The sphinx rolled his eyes, the pair’s mockery returning some of his confidence. “Please. That’s so ancient history. We now use vaults and state of the art technology coupled with the most advanced magic. I’ve never had anything given into my protection stolen.”

“Until now,” I observed in a dry voice.

The words seemed to have an impact and his shoulders rounded as he winced. “Yes, well, I’m hoping you can help me with that.”

I stared at him, nonplused. “And how exactly am I supposed to do that?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Do what you did for Natalia?”

My eyes got wider and I’m sure my expression looked as startled and discombobulated as I felt.

I couldn’t do what I did for Natalia. For her, I’d simply had a conversation with the kobold to understand what he really wanted before finding him a new, willing home owner for him to practice his household magic on. I doubted this would be so simple. It sounded way beyond anything I could ever do.

“This sounds like a matter for the police,” I observed.

He shook his head. “No normals. The item is a scroll that can’t fall into their hands or be brought to their attention.”

“Why do you think I can track it down for you?” I asked. It’s not like I’d ever done anything like that before.

“Your reputation. They say you’ll help anyone because you don’t care what they are,” he said, his expression avid.

“Who says?” I asked. Of everything he’d said today, that seemed the closest to a lie.

“Everyone. People have been talking all summer about how you found that werewolf who’d been missing, and how you’re the reason we no longer have any trouble with the draugr.” He sounded enthusiastic as he listed off the events of the past few months.

I shifted, his words making me uncomfortable. It was true I’d been involved in all that, but I hadn’t been the only one.

Inara chortled. “You want her to be a detective for you.”

He nodded.

I sighed. This had been a waste of my time.

“I can pay,” he blurted out as I turned toward the door.

I hesitated, interested in spite of myself.

“Natalia said your rates were very reasonable. A hundred dollars per hour,” he said.

I kept my surprise hidden, watching the stranger with a cool expression. I hadn’t charged Natalia for the kobold. Interesting that she’d given him made up rates. Not that I was arguing. That sort of money could do a lot for me. It was way more than I’d ever make at the gas station.

Still, I had no experience and wouldn’t even know where to start.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Fred.”

I paused, the utter simplicity of the name throwing me.

“Alright Fred, I don’t know why Natalia pointed you to me, but I can’t do what you’re asking. I’m sorry.” I ignored the crestfallen expression on his face and grabbed the door, opening it.

“Please, I don’t know where else to go. If it gets out that my vaults were breached, I’ll lose everything,” he said.

I sighed. His desperation tugged at me, making me feel guilty when I knew it shouldn’t. “Try Jerry with Hermes Courier Service. He’s expensive, but he should be able to help you.”

While Hermes was primarily a courier service, it also accepted jobs like this sometimes. If Jerry could, he’d help the man—for a fee, of course.

Surprise crossed Fred’s face. “Haven’t you heard?”

“Heard what?”

He looked between Inara and me. “He’s shut down the shop.”

“Bullshit.”

“Impossible,” Inara said at the same time.

I spared her a glance before glaring at Fred as he tried to make himself as small as possible. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but that’s not possible. He wouldn’t do that.”

He held up his hands placatingly. “I’m not lying. Check around. Everyone is talking about it. They’re saying he got picked to join a court of the High Fae.”

Inara’s wings stuttered and she dipped momentarily, sinking about a foot toward the floor before she caught herself. “Which court?”

Fred flinched back from the pixie. Inara suddenly seemed much larger than the length of my hand as she stared menacingly at the sphinx.

“I don’t know their names. Several have been spotted around Columbus over the past few weeks. Most of the Fae in the city have made themselves scarce, so it’s hard to get much information,” he blurted out.

Inara processed this before zooming out of the room without another word.

I watched her go with concern. My pint-sized roommate was prone to odd behavior, but this seemed out of character even for her.

“Please, just think about my request. Here’s my card.”

I reluctantly took his card, a simple white piece of paper with the words Sphinx Vault written in gold lettering. The body of a lion was etched on the back of it.

“I’ll be waiting for your call,” he told me as he stepped past. He dropped to the ground below with little effort, landing lightly. He turned and waved before walking away.

“That was weird,” I said softly, pulling my head back into the apartment.

I frowned at the open door for several minutes, feeling slightly off-balance after the sphinx’s visit. Worry niggled at me over Jerry.

Closing Hermes was out of character. In all the time I’d worked for the courier service, there hadn’t been a single day that I could remember where Jerry’s business wasn’t open. Not one. Even on holidays, during rain storms, and winter blizzards. He always accepted jobs. Always.

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and dialed the number from memory.

It rang and rang. After twenty more rings, I hung up. The feeling that had started with the sphinx’s news changed from slightly concerned to outright worry.

I tapped the phone against my lip as I considered my options. There weren’t many. Jerry had fired me, effectively ending our relationship. I owed him nothing and there was no reason to stick my nose where it probably wasn’t wanted.

“Where are you going?” Inara’s voice rang out as I started for the door.

My silence answered for me.

There was knowledge on her face as she flew closer. “You have a date with the vampire.”

“But—”

“Leave the half-blood to his business.” Her words were harsh. Her face softened. “Jerry wouldn’t want your interference on his behalf anyway.”

For half a minute I thought about arguing, or at the very least ignoring her. In the end, I sighed, conceding she was probably right. I’d gotten in trouble more than once by sticking my nose where it didn’t belong.

“Are you going to help the sphinx?” Lowen asked, changing the subject. More than once he’d acted as peacemaker, smoothing over the rough spots when Inara and I butted heads.

“I don’t see how I could,” I said, letting the matter go for now. “I’m not a detective, and Hermes has services similar to that.”

 The last thing I wanted to do was set myself up to cross him. I had to believe whatever his reason for closing the service, it was temporary.

“Similar, yes, but not the same,” Inara said. “I doubt your former boss would take you to task should you choose to find the sphinx’s lost scroll.”

I gave her a questioning look. “You think I should do this? Aren’t you usually the one telling me to keep my nose out of other people’s business.”

She gave me a haughty look. “He’s offering to pay you. Those others never did. We both know you could use the money to keep this roof over our heads.”

I suspect it was worry over the supply of hummingbird nectar I’d been providing them drying up that motivated her rather than the threat of losing the apartment. They were small and easily overlooked. They could live here for months with no one the wiser.

“The job at the gas station is beneath you. At least this will be more in keeping with your status,” she observed, her chin tilted up.

“What status?” To my knowledge, I had none. I waved a hand before she could answer. “Never mind. This is all pointless until I find out what Liam wants.”

Inara shook her head and rose from the shelf, her wings moving impossibly fast as she flew back the way she’d come.

I grabbed my bike, using a rope wrapped around its frame to lower it to the ground.

“I’ll pull the rope back up and make sure to lock up,” Lowen said from the doorknob. He balanced on it as I prepared to descend.

“Thanks, I’ll be back soon.”

“We’ll see,” Lowen said. “Don’t worry about this place. Inara and I will protect it until you return.”

I nodded and stepped out. The ground rushed up to meet me. I landed with a thump, not nearly as lightly or gracefully as the sphinx. Still, I was in one piece and nothing was broken. I’d take that as a win.

I unwrapped the bike, then waited as the rope slithered back inside. I didn’t know how the pixies managed to pull it up, considering it weighed much more than them. I never asked. The door swung shut in the next moment.

My home as safe as I could make it, I rolled the bike to the street, pulling up short at the sight of the man waiting for me there, his long, rangy frame leaning up against the twin of the black Escalade in the lot at my back.

“What are you doing here, Nathan?” I asked.