As usual the older mage was immaculately groomed. This morning she’d chosen ivory slacks and a soft sweater in a lovely shade of buttercup. Her black hair was smoothed into a bun at her nape, and her sculpted features were so perfect they looked as if they’d been carved from marble. Only the spidery web of scars highlighted in the late-morning sunlight proved she was a real-life woman.

  With a groan, Skye scooted up the mattress to lean her back against the headboard. She felt like she’d been hit by a truck. The result of stress, depleted magic, and landing on her head—not once, but twice—after being forced to jump through a window.

  And then there’d been her dreams. They’d been dominated by a glorious male vampire who stalked her through the dark. She hadn’t been afraid as she’d fled in panic. At least not that she would be hurt. But she was terrified she might give in to his sensual temptation.

  Was it any wonder she was weary to the bone?

  Maya tilted her head to the side, as if sensing her exhaustion. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Skye pushed her tangled curls out of her face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to oversleep.”

  “You had a late night. Here.” Maya pressed the chilled glass into Skye’s hand. “My world-famous smoothie.”

  Maya wasn’t bragging. The smoothie truly was world famous. It also explained the scent of blueberries and bananas and magic that perfumed the air. The smoothie could cure everything from hangovers to the flu.

  Skye took a deep drink, sighing as the magic tingled through her, driving away the lingering fatigue.

  “Yum. Just what I needed.” She smacked her lips before polishing off the last of the smoothie. “Thanks.”

  Maya reached to take the empty glass, her gaze continuing to monitor Skye’s face with motherly concern.

  “Did something happen last night?” She at last asked the question that had no doubt been nagging at her for hours.

  “Nothing that we didn’t expect,” Skye said, keeping her answer vague. She wasn’t ready to discuss her father’s unwelcome arrival in New York City or her intense attraction toward Micha. “The vampires were polite, but most of the night they stood in opposite corners, glaring at each other. I don’t know if that’s typical leech behavior or if they were angry about something.”

  Maya’s lips tightened. There was nothing that pissed her off more than the mention of vampires.

  “And Peri?”

  “Tense, but determined,” Skye assured her friend. “She’s not going to let the Cabal intimidate her.”

  “Good.” Maya paused, narrowing her gaze. “And that’s all that happened?”

  Skye shrugged. “What did you expect?”

  “I’m not sure, but I do know you were so weary when you came home last night, you could barely climb the stairs.”

  “I underestimated the intense emotions of dozens of royal demons jammed together in one room.” It was the truth, although not the full truth. “And it didn’t help that my shields were already weak.”

  Instant regret softened the older woman’s features. “I shouldn’t have let you go alone.”

  Skye reached out to touch Maya’s arm. “Trust me, you wouldn’t have wanted to be there. Plus, I’m fine. All I needed was a good night’s rest and some of your super-duper smoothie.”

  Thankfully reassured, Maya rose to her feet. “Stay up here today and rest.”

  Skye shook her head. “You need help in the shop.”

  “Actually, I don’t. I brought in our part-time staff for the week. Both Erin and Joyce have been asking for more shifts to make extra money for their Christmas shopping,” Maya said, referring to the two older women who’d been working at the shop for years. They were humans who had no idea they were employed by mages. Or that they were selling stuff enhanced with dollops of magic. They just knew that everyone loved the pastries and coffee and that the tips were great. “I want you to concentrate on protecting Peri.”

  Skye wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure how much protection I can offer.”

  Maya clicked her tongue. “You have more power than you realize, Skye Claremont, but your greatest gift will always be your heart.” She abruptly leaned down to brush a kiss over the new wound on Skye’s temple. A simple gesture that revealed her suspicion that there was a great deal her friend hadn’t told her about the events of last night. “And your greatest weakness,” she murmured before she straightened and headed for the door. “Rest up.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Waiting until she heard Maya’s footsteps on the stairs, Skye threw aside her covers and headed into her private bathroom. She’d been too tired last night to wash off the grime from the parking lot, not to mention her father’s corrosive touch. Now she felt an urgent need to scrub herself clean.

  An hour later she pulled on a comfortable tunic dress that brushed the tops of her ankles. The plain beige linen was embroidered with tiger’s eye crystals along the vee neckline. Gathering her curls, she pulled them into a knot on top of her head and settled on the window seat to soak in the sunlight.

  This was what she needed, she silently decided. A few hours of peace in the place that had become her home.

  The thought barely had time to form when the buzz of her phone shattered her momentary sense of goodwill. Just for a second she considered ignoring the interruption. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with any potential problems. But then the knowledge it might be Peri seared away her reluctance.

  With a sigh, she shoved herself upright and crossed to the desk, where she’d left her phone the night before. At least she’d had enough sense to plug it in before tumbling into the bed, she realized as she yanked off the charging cord and glanced at the screen.

  Surprise replaced her vague annoyance at having her peace interrupted as she recognized the name that popped up. It was Clarissa’s private number. The older woman rarely called her. Only if it was an emergency.

  She quickly connected the call, putting it on speaker.

  “Hello? Clarissa?”

  There was a muffled sound before a male voice floated through the air. “I’m afraid she’s tied up at the moment, my dear. Quite literally.”

  Skye sucked in a sharp breath, shock jolting through her as she easily recognized that soft drawl.

  “Lynx,” she hissed.

  “You remembered my name. I’m flattered.”

  “Don’t be.” Fear pounded through Skye. She didn’t have to be a seer to know that Lynx was currently at The Lunar Pathway and that he had poor Clarissa physically tied up. But the least helpful thing to do was panic. She had to keep a clear head if she was going to save her friend. “What do you want?”

  “Nothing more sinister than a conversation.”

  “We already had a conversation and I told you I won’t be a slave to demons.” Skye’s fingers tightened on the phone, but her voice was steady. “Never again.”

  He clicked his tongue. “And I assured you that I have no need of a slave.”

  “As if I would believe anything you say,” she scoffed.

  In the background, Skye could hear the sound of grumbles, as if Lynx’s companions were outraged by her lack of respect. Lynx, however, merely chuckled.

  “Do you not trust me because I’m a demon?”

  “I don’t trust you because you tried to kidnap me last night,” she snapped.

  “Fair enough. Let’s start over.”

  “No.”

  “I really am going to have to insist.”

  Skye’s mouth felt as dry as a desert. She wasn’t fooled by Lynx’s casual amusement. Beneath his banter, he was deadly serious.

  “And if I refuse?” she demanded even as she shoved her feet into a pair of comfortable shoes.

  “I’m betting you care more about the welfare of Madame Clarissa than you do your father,” he drawled.

  Skye ground her teeth in frustration. “If you hurt her.”

  “Her fate is in your hands.” There was a short silence before Skye heard Clarissa cry out in pain. “Join us at this lovely establishment. Oh, and come alone,” Lynx continued. “If you tell anyone about me, you won’t like the consequences.”

  The connection was abruptly ended and Skye dropped her phone back on her desk. She wasn’t going to bother taking it with her. The demons would only destroy it. Just as she wasn’t going to take any traditional weapons. They would be a waste of time.

  And she most certainly wasn’t going to tell anyone where she was headed.

  Maya would lock her in her room if she knew what was happening, while Peri would march down to the magic shop and destroy anyone who threatened Skye. It wasn’t that they wouldn’t care if something happened to Clarissa, but their first loyalty would be keeping Skye safe. Even if it meant sacrificing the fortune teller.

  Not that she intended to go into the meeting without some protection.

  Opening the lower drawer of her desk, Skye pulled out a wooden box carved with hexes. This was where she kept her most precious possessions, including a faded picture of her mother, a necklace that Maya had given her their first Christmas together, and a collection of charms that Peri had left for her when she’d moved out of the Witch’s Brew to be with Valen.

  The charms weren’t loaded with common spells. Skye could easily prepare those for herself. These were Peri’s specialties. Charms that exploded. Some that could blind an enemy. And a couple of nasty curses that would disable an enemy for days. Peri had brewed them for Skye in the unlikely event that she was in danger.

  That unlikely event had just arrived.

  Placing the box on the desk, Skye pressed her hands against the top and breathed the words that broke through the hex. There was an audible click and the pungent stench of rotten eggs before the lid popped open and Skye reached in to grab the charms. Quickly she exchanged them for the regular ones on her bracelet, then closing and locking the box, she returned it to the drawer. She didn’t know how long Lynx would wait before hurting Clarissa, but she wasn’t going to test his patience.

  Once she was prepared—or at least as prepared as she was going to get—Skye headed for the window that was at the back of the building. She pushed it open. Then, slipping onto the fire escape, she paused, listening to the loud chatter coming from the front of the building. It was the noon hour and the coffee shop was packed, but luckily there was no way to see into the back alley. There was no one to tattle on her as she scurried down the metal steps.

  Jogging past the empty building behind the shop, Skye’s thoughts were focused on how she could possibly convince Lynx to release Clarissa and then overpower him—

  “Hickory dickory dock. The mage crept through the dark.”

  Skye slammed her hand over her mouth to muffle her cry of surprise, her eyes wide as she watched a form materialize from behind a rusty dumpster. At the same time, she murmured a low chant, preparing to release a spell. It wasn’t until her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she caught sight of a fishing hat pulled low and the familiar velour tracksuit that she realized it wasn’t a mugger, or one of Lynx’s demons sent to attack her.

  She lowered her hand to press it against her racing heart. “Oh, Joe. You scared me.”

  He wagged a finger in her direction. “I’m not the one you should fear, little one.”

  Skye studied the bearded face, surprised by the fiery glow of emerald in the man’s eyes. She’d always suspected that there was more to this man than just a human down on his luck, but she wasn’t like Maya. She didn’t think he was dangerous.

  “Why do you say that? Do you know something?”

  “I know many things.”

  “Have you met a man called Lynx?”

  Without warning, Joe tilted back his head, sniffing the air as if there was something to smell beyond decomposing garbage.

  “A false name for a false creature. He’s not what he seems to be.”

  With his cryptic warning delivered, the man stepped back and disappeared.

  Skye stepped forward and peered around the edge of the dumpster. “Joe?”

  Nothing. Skye grimaced, turning away to continue up the alley. She didn’t have time to worry about disappearing men in velour tracksuits. Or what he meant with his vague words.

  She had a fortune teller to rescue from a horde of demons.

  Chapter 7

  Reaching the strip mall, Skye pushed open the front door of the magic store and stepped inside. There was no point in trying to sneak around. Lynx knew she was coming. If she tried to take them by surprise it would only put her friend in more danger.

  Walking down the narrow row between the glass counter and the shelves loaded with cheap merchandise, Skye forced herself to shove aside the curtain separating the private office. As she’d expected, Clarissa was seated at the table, while Lynx and his buddy, Yugan, were standing next to the back wall, watching her enter with wary anticipation. They were both wearing jeans and matching red leather jackets, as if they were in some sort of badass-demon club.

  What she hadn’t expected was the third demon, who was poised behind Clarissa, pressing a large dagger against her throat.

  Unlike the other two demons, this one was short and broad with the red aura of a goblin. He also was missing the red jacket. Clearly he wasn’t in the club.

  Fury blasted through Skye at the pure terror on the older woman’s face.

  “Clarissa.” Skye stepped forward, intending to wrench the dagger from the male’s hand.

  “Stop,” Lynx commanded, his tone sharp. “Check her.”

  Grudgingly, Skye halted, standing in rigid silence as Yugan slowly circled her, holding a large crystal that he waved from her head to her toes. She assumed that it was sensitive to magic and created to detect any hexed weapons or potions she might have hidden. Thankfully, her charms were loaded with spells that wouldn’t set off the detector. Not until she was in the process of using them.

  And then it would be too late for them.

  At last, the demon returned to the wall and Lynx stepped forward.

  “Happy?” Skye demanded in a tight voice.

  She’d never been a violent person. Not even when she was being held captive by the demon horde. But right now, she desperately wanted to punch the smug grin off Lynx’s face.

  “You can’t blame a demon for being too careful,” he drawled.

  “Release her, you bastard,” Skye snarled, her hands clenched into tight fists.

  “Now, now.” Lynx sent her a chiding frown. “It’s not nice to call people names.”

  “Nice? You’re holding an innocent woman hostage. You call that nice?”

  “You left me no choice.” Lynx spread his arms as if she was being ridiculously unreasonable. “I preferred to use your father as leverage, but he has proven to be a failure.”

  “Nothing new in that.”

  “True.” He nodded. Everyone could agree that Harold Claremont was worthless. “Thankfully, I’ve been following you for a few days. I knew there must be someone you cared about.”

  “You’ve been following me? Ew. What a creep.”

  “I’m thorough.”

  Skye grimaced. She would chastise herself later for not realizing she was being watched.

  “What do you want?” she demanded.

  Lynx smiled. They both knew he had her well and truly trapped. “As I said before, I need you as my escort.”

  “Escort?” Skye narrowed her eyes. “You’d better clarify that term.”

  “A platonic companion,” he smoothly offered.

  “Why?”

  “First I need your agreement to assist me.”

  Skye scowled in frustration. She was desperate to save Clarissa, but there was a limit to what she would do.

  “How can I agree if I don’t know what I’m agreeing to?”

  “It does appear you’re in between a rock and a hard place.”

  Lynx glanced toward the goblin standing behind Clarissa. The male grinned, grasping a chunk of the older woman’s hair to tilt her head at an awkward angle. Then, holding Skye’s horrified gaze, he pressed the knife hard enough to draw a line of blood.

  Clarissa’s eyes widened until the whites were showing. “Skye,” she pleaded.

  “Stop!” Skye glared toward Lynx. “Fine. I’ll be your stupid escort.”

  “You’ll do as I say without argument or attempting to alert anyone that you’re with me against your will,” he insisted. “Your promise.”

  “You believe I’d keep a promise that I was forced to agree to?”

  His gaze skimmed over her face. “Yes. Now give me your promise.”

  He was right, of course. The bastard.

  “I...promise.” The words were wrenched from her clenched lips.

  “Wise choice,” he murmured, holding out his hand. “Come with me.”

  Skye ignored his hand. There was no way she was letting him touch her. Instead she pointed toward Clarissa.

  “Let her go.”

  Lynx’s smile faded, revealing the ruthless predator beneath the charming façade.

  “Once you’ve gotten me where I need to go.” He marched forward, flicking aside the curtain as if annoyed she wasn’t eager to help him. “Until then, she’ll stay here with my servant. Consider her inspiration for you to do as you’re told.”

  “You just said you trusted my promise.”

  He shrugged. “Better safe than sorry.”

  Skye pinched her lips, forcing herself to follow him out of the office and through the empty shop. She was acutely aware of Clarissa’s fear as she was forced to leave her behind, as well as Yugan, who was inches from her back.

  Rock and a hard place, indeed.

  Stepping into the parking lot, Skye frowned as they headed toward a heavy black SUV with tinted windows that was idling next to the exit. She hadn’t noticed it when she’d first arrived.