Chapter 4

There was no time to lose. As much as I hated to ask for favors, especially one from the prince of hell I was dating, I needed Kane to convene an emergency guild meeting.

I couldn't believe I used ‘prince of hell' and ‘dating' in the same sentence without a punchline. When did this become my life?

Although Kane wasn't an assassin, he acted as the guild's supervisor, primarily for the purpose of keeping a group of professional killers in check. If anyone could accomplish that feat, it was a demon prince of hell with a fearsome reputation.

Instead of sending an urgent text message, I called from the privacy of the front porch and invited him to the Castle for dinner. When I hung up, I noticed Nana Pratt at the end of the porch.

"I wasn't eavesdropping," she said quickly. "I didn't realize you were on the telephone until I got here."

"It's okay."

"If you're inviting your paramour to dine with you, you need to ditch the roommate."

"I'd love to send Addison somewhere else, but there's nowhere safe." I would've asked Matilda to take her riding, but the Night Mallt left to see if she could entice any former hunters out of retirement.

"That's her problem."

"And I made it my problem."

"Hire a babysitter. That's what I used to do when my kids were young. You can't have her lurking upstairs while your gentleman caller is courting you."

"It's only dinner."

"‘Only dinner' is how I became a mother the first time."

"TMI, Nana Pratt."

I contemplated the contacts list on my phone. It was painfully short. "I'll see what I can do."

After making the necessary arrangements, I ran upstairs to make myself presentable, which mainly involved brushing my hair and teeth and reapplying deodorant. I was low maintenance to a fault.

My whole body felt jittery. At first, I thought the ward had activated, until I realized it wasn't a magical response; it was a physiological one.

I was nervous.

I'd told Kane that I was willing to increase the glacial pace of our relationship, except I had no idea what I meant by that. I had minimal experience with romantic relationships. The vampire I'd dared to date once upon a time had turned out to be a complete prick, and that had nothing to do with his fangs. I hadn't trusted myself to choose another partner since then, especially not with the stern voice of Pops ringing in my ears. I'd pictured him telling me I told youso more times than I could count, even though he'd died years before Mr. Prick appeared on the scene.

I paced my bedroom floor in an effort to release my nervous tension. My gaze landed on my weapons trunk, and I debated whether to throw a few knives. Maybe target practice would help. As I opened the trunk, a warm sensation flooded my veins.

Damn. I slammed the trunk shut. Target practice would have to wait.

I rushed downstairs and arrived at the door before Kane. I admired his long, easy strides as he approached the porch. A blue overcoat hung perfectly on his six-foot-four frame. The soft waves of his dark blond hair suggested an angel in the streets, but those whisky-colored eyes promised a demon in the sheets.

My knees may have wobbled a little.

"I'm glad you called," he said. "I've missed you."

I wanted to say the same, but the words refused to form. "Come in," I said instead. "I hope you like steak." I silently thanked Nana Pratt for directing me to the section of the grocery store with the daily deals on meat on the verge of expiration. I'd snagged the last discounted packet without any bloodshed.

The demon prince of hell stepped across the threshold and shrugged off his coat. I breathed in his scent of musk, sandalwood, and pine.

"What's the occasion?" he asked.

"Hunger."

He gave me a searching look. "You have guests, presumably."

I picked up on his train of thought. "This isn't sexy talk. I have actual steak, and I skipped lunch, so I'm hungry."

"Glad we cleared that up." Kane passed the parlor room, stopped, and backed up to the doorway.

Inwardly I groaned. "You saw the sofa."

"I did, indeed. It would look right at home in the Devil's Playground."

I arched an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment?"

"Of course. It's my club."

"Gun thinks it's trashy."

"He showed up for dinner? Good for him. How did your conversation go?"

"Great. Cam knows too."

"How does it feel?"

"Better," I admitted.

We continued to the kitchen where the steaks were seasoned and ready to broil.

I nodded toward the cabinet. "Wine?"

He produced a bottle, seemingly out of thin air. "I thought you might appreciate this. It's an organic Malbec with notes of blueberry."

Butterflies stirred in my stomach as I accepted the bottle. The prince of hell had committed my love of organic blueberries to memory. They were basically my avocado toast.

"Would you mind getting the salad out of the fridge?" I asked.

Kane tossed the salad while I broiled the steaks. The domestic moment was shattered by the arrival of Claude. The revenant opened the window above the sink and crawled inside.

"What are you doing here?" I hissed.

Checking on you, he signed.

"As you can see, I'm fine. Kane and I are about to enjoy a private meal."

Kane waved. "Nice to see you again, Claude."

The demon wasn't helping. "Don't be too welcoming."

"You want me to be rude to your friend?"

"No, but you should maintain an intimidating air, in case we need to weaponize you."

Kane held up a bottle of blue cheese dressing. "This one or the vinaigrette?"

I swiped the bottle from his outstretched hand. "You're not helping." I twisted off the lid. "But I prefer blue cheese with steak." I turned to Claude. "Tell Matilda we're all good here. Thank you."

The hand skittered out the window and closed it again.

Kane and I sat at the table like the two grownups we were.

"You're radiant," he said.

"I need a favor," I blurted. Very smooth, Clay.

He frowned. "What kind of favor?"

"I'd like you to convene an emergency guild meeting tonight, and I'd like to attend."

His fork stopped midmotion. "You want me to call a meeting that takes place tonight?"

"Yes."

Kane kept his cool as he proceeded to slice his meat. "May I ask why?"

"Fairhaven is expecting an unwelcome visitor. I'd like to request the guild's help in minimizing the disturbance."

He set down his fork. "I see. You invited me to dinner in your home to discuss business."

His disappointment triggered a pang of guilt. "Not only to discuss business."

He picked up his fork. "I'm listening."

"I'm listening, too," Addison's voice called. "The racier, the better. I miss my smexy audiobook collection."

Kane's smile evaporated. "Your guest is still here."

"Sorry," I said. "My babysitters are late."

"Is there somewhere we can continue our conversation in private?" He emphasized "in private" loud enough for Addison to hear.

A gentle scratch traveled up my arm.

"Absolutely. Back in a minute. Enjoy the wine." I hurried to the front door to welcome my saviors.

Anna Dupree stood on the porch, looking as surly as ever in an AC/DC T-shirt, a leather jacket, and ripped jeans. To her right was the werewolf I'd dubbed Beefy Bert and to her left was his bestie, Paulie.

"Sorry we're late," Anna said. "We were halfway here when we realized we should probably drive, so had to go back for a set of wheels."

"Definitely don't have her out in the open. Nowhere with security cameras."

Anna gave a curt nod. "Got it."

I called Addison to the door. "And she's a bit of a troublemaker. Keep her close."

"Don't worry. We're experts when it comes to troublemakers," Anna said.

"That's why I called you." I would've called Gun and Cam, but they needed to be at the meeting I hoped to convene. I knew from the bylaws that a quorum was required for any vote.

Addison skidded across the foyer and grabbed her brown suede jacket off the coat rack. "Ready!"

Anna looked her up and down. "Nice tattoos. The snake is awesome."

Addison observed the large snake tattoo along her arm. "Thanks. That one was a bitch to clean up after. It bled for days."

"Sounds painful," Anna said.

"It was for them."

"Them?" Anna queried.

"I had to soak it in the blood of my enemies to imbue it with magic," she said, as she casually slipped her arms through the sleeves of the jacket.

Anna shot me a questioning look.

"Have fun," I said brightly.

"What time would you like her brought home?" Bert asked.

"Not before two."

Bert glanced at his wristwatch. "It's already four."

"In the morning," I clarified.

"Past midnight will cost extra," Anna said, ever the shrewd negotiator.

"Tell West to put it on my bill."

Addison zipped up her jacket. "Where are we going? A nightclub? I love to dance."

"It's game night at the trailer park," Paulie told her.

Addison's face brightened. "Is there money involved?"

Bert grinned. "Always."

Addison blew me a kiss. "Toodles. Don't wait up." She hopped off the porch ahead of them.

I continued to stand on the porch, watching them until they disappeared from sight.

"You look worried," Ray's voice cut into my thoughts.

"I am worried." Thanks to the Wild Hunt and The Corporation, an uneasy feeling had taken root.

"She isn't your responsibility."

"She wasn't, but she is now." The moment I let her inside my home, she became my responsibility. She might not have figured out who I was, but Addison recognized a sucker when she saw one.

"The wolf pack will look after her." Ray's voice brimmed with confidence. "West will have their hides if they don't."

"What makes you think he cares?"

"He owes you for helping him defeat the alpha from his old pack, and Weston Davies is a man who takes his debts seriously."

"Let's hope so."

"Should I stay outside?" Ray asked.

"I would appreciate that." I retreated inside the house and shut the door behind me. Blissful silence followed. No sign of Nana Pratt or Claude. Peace at last.

"All clear?" Kane asked, when I returned to my place at the table.

"Yep."

"Good. New rule. Food first. Business later. I'll enjoy this meal more if we save unpleasant topics until afterward."

"What makes you think it's unpleasant?"

He gave me a pointed look. "You're calling upon a group of professional killers. I don't think it takes a genius to know it isn't about a local food drive."

"Fair enough."

We ate slowly, savoring the wine and each other's company. I was enjoying myself so much, in fact, that the primary reason for the dinner invitation nearly slipped my mind.

After the plates were cleared away, we retreated into the parlor room with another round of wine. He settled on the sofa, and I took the wingback chair.

He rubbed his thighs. "On to business, I suppose."

"If you don't mind."

"Who's the unwelcome visitor? More avatars from The Corporation?"

I told him about the Wild Hunt.

"I see. What kind of assistance are you hoping to receive from the guild? You know the rules. They can't kill within the town borders."

"I'm not asking them to kill. I'd like them to use their considerable talents for deterrence."

"Why not ask Gunther and Camryn directly?"

"Because we need a team, and this is an issue that has the potential to negatively impact the whole town."

His fingers tightened around the stem of the glass. "Is this Vortigern after you?"

"No, his spies tracked Matilda here. He doesn't know why she's been here multiple times, only that she has, and that Wild Acres seems like a desirable place to run amok."

Kane tapped his fingers on the arm of the sofa, thinking. "You're welcome to launch your appeal at tonight's meeting, but remember your standing. You might want to address that part first; get ahead of it."

‘My standing' was a polite way of saying the guild had identified me as an official threat due to my inner goddess.

"You want me to remind them of my secrets and lies just before I ask for their help?"

"Yes. It will show them they can trust you. You're a powerful goddess who's in their corner and wants to protect the town as much as they do."

His idea had merit. "I'll consider it."

"Well, consider it quickly because the meeting is in…" He consulted his watch. "Two hours." His fingers were a blur as they moved across his phone screen. "Group text sent. I've made it mandatory for anyone within a two-hour range of Fairhaven."

"Will there be enough for a quorum?"

He gave me an appraising look. "You pay attention."

"Always."

"As far as I know, there should be. Two members are traveling on business, but everyone else should be present and accounted for."

"Anything specific I need to know before the meeting?"

"You've attended one before. It won't be much different."

"Give Josie a heads up that I'm coming. Otherwise, she might find an excuse to keep me out." Kane's right hand and director of security was a vampire named Josephine Banks. Josie liked me as much as I liked kale smoothies.

"Josephine is under strict instructions to allow you access to me at any time for any reason."

I blanched. "Really? How'd she take it?"

"She's loyal to a fault and will do as she's told. I'll leave it at that."

I tilted my head. "What it's like?"

"What?"

"Instilling that kind of loyalty. Dantalion braved the pits of hell to rescue you. Josie tolerates my presence even though it's clear she despises me. Sunny would burn down Wild Acres to save you. What did you do for them to make them feel so committed to you? Is there a contract written in blood somewhere?" I was only half joking.

He leaned forward so that his face was mere inches from mine. "You tell me, Lorelei. What have I done that made you want to commit to me?"

"I'm not sure I'd use the word ‘commit.'"

"No? Do you intend to see anyone else during our courtship?"

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing at the archaic term. "No, I don't. Do you intend to see anyone else?"

His eyes burned with unspoken promises. "Not at all. You, Lorelei Clay, are the only one I'm interested in." His head lowered and his soft lips ghosted mine. "I think that qualifies as a commitment."

His mouth tasted too good to argue with it. "I stand corrected."

"I'd much rather have you lying down, but whatever works for you."

Uncensored images flashed in my mind, causing my body temperature to spike. I had to pump the brakes before I succumbed. Now wasn't the right time.

It took a surge of inner strength to break the tension building between us. I shot to my feet. "I should clean up the kitchen."

Kane took the shift in stride. "Allow me. You cooked."

We left the cozy warmth of the parlor room and returned to the harsh glare of the kitchen lights.

"Would you mind background music?" he asked. "I like to listen while I work."

He was acknowledging my uneasy relationship with music without making an issue of it. No matter what he claimed, he was definitely more prince than demon.

"Any particular songs?" I asked.

He set his phone on the counter and hit play. A disco beat began, followed by Barry White's smooth voice. ‘Let the Music Play.'

Memories of my grandparents stirred. Their kitchen. Their hips bumping side to side. My grandmother's eyes soft and dreamy.

I smiled. "Great choice."

We worked as a team. He washed. I dried. I listened as he hummed along to Barry's greatest hits. It felt like home.

I didn't want this moment to end.

"Shall we go together?" Kane asked, disrupting my thoughts.

"You go ahead, and I'll see you there."

"Are you certain? I'll drive you home later if that's your concern."

"No concern. I just want to mentally prepare for the meeting, and I can't do that with you standing so close to me."

His mouth twitched. "I'm distracting, am I?"

"Very."

"Good."

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him. "Thank you for arranging the meeting."

"Thank you for trusting me enough to ask."

I walked him to the door, kissed him again, and watched him blend with the night.

I closed the door, chose another Barry White song on my phone, and let myself cry.

A selection of expensive cars greeted me in the parking lot of the Devil's Playground. Assassins didn't come cheap.

Sunny loitered outside. The chimera's eyes glowed in the dark, casting the rest of her two-colored face in shadow.

"Hey, Sunny."

The creature trotted over to me, and I crouched down to stroke her head. "I wish I had more time to lavish you with attention, but it looks like I'm the last one to arrive."

Sunny meowed in acceptance, and I carried on. Either there was no bouncer on duty or Larry was on a bathroom break. He'd be sorry he missed me. We were old friends now.

I rushed through the door and straight into the chest of an angry vampire.

"The meeting's already in session," Josie hissed. "Where were you?"

"I had a minor setback." After an intense crying session, I had to search YouTube for videos on how to minimize redness and swelling.

She nudged me forward. "Get in there before they vote to exile you." She pinched the sleeve of my coat. "On second thought, stay right here."

"Hardy har."

I entered the lounge, where the members of the Assassins Guild were already seated in a semicircle. Dressed in designer clothes and holding an array of alcoholic beverages, they looked more like a private party celebrating a successful business venture than a meeting of supernatural killers.

Gun patted the empty chair beside him. It felt nice to be back in his good graces.

Kane gestured to me. "Welcome, Miss Lorelei Clay."

"Thank you for including me." I sat beside Gun and tried to relax, but my muscles refused to cooperate.

"We've invited you here as a courtesy," Kane said. "You've already signed an NDA, which I'll remind you is still in effect."

"I love it when you talk bureaucracy."

Josie rolled her eyes.

"As you know, given your identity, the guild has officially registered you as a threat."

I folded my hands on my lap. "So, what's the process? You want me to assure you that I'm not a threat? Because that's not a promise I can make."

The room grew quiet.

"Can't or won't?" Vaughn asked.

"Can't," I said. "If I could, I would. Believe me."

"Can I offer you a drink?" Cam whispered in my ear.

"No, thank you." I wanted my head as clear as possible for this meeting. Just because I had the support of Kane, and a few others didn't mean my presence was welcome. I could tell from a few of the stern looks directed at me that I was being tolerated against their better judgment.

Fair enough.

"Don't you think that, as a resident, you have a duty of care to Fairhaven?" Vaughn asked.

"Of course I do. And what about the guild's duty to the town?" I shot back. "You're the assassins. One or more of you leave Fairhaven soil nearly every week to execute someone. Don't you think there's a risk of bringing your work home with you?"

"There are rules in place…" Kane began.

"For your members, sure," I interrupted. "What about the vampire or the wizard from outside your carefully curated borders who decides to seek revenge?"

"That hasn't happened," Gun said. "There's a code."

"Doesn't mean it won't."

"Should that day ever come," Kane said, "then the guild will protect the town and its residents."

"I just think it's interesting that Kane and I have to register as threats when it seems to me the guild is every bit as dangerous."

Murmurs broke out among the members.

Vaughn aimed his chiseled jaw in my direction. "I feel confident that whatever you and your enemies can do, it's far more devastating than what I'm capable of. I can take down one, maybe two supernaturals at once—and I'm talking vampires, not kulshedras."

I raised my hand. "I'd like the record to reflect that I wasn't responsible for killing the kulshedra."

"Whatever," Vaughn replied. "My point stands."

"He's right," Kane admitted. "You and I have more power than the rest of them can dream of."

"And my point still stands," I argued. "I'm not talking about what the guild members are capable of. I'm talking about their enemies. Who's to say one of you won't piss off a wizard who then summons a monster to torment your home turf?"

Vaughn opened and closed his hand into a fist. "What about The Corporation's lackey you have stowed away in the Castle? You think that act of stupidity won't bring trouble to town?"

I glanced at Camryn, wondering whether she was the one who shared the information with the mage. Although I hadn't explicitly asked them not to tell anyone, I expected more discretion. My mistake.

Kane unfastened his cufflinks and rolled up his shirt sleeves to reveal a pair of sinewy forearms. "If you ever dare to refer to Miss Clay as stupid again, you'll find yourself on the wrong end of a flaming sword. Is that clear, Vaughn?"

The mage tightened his square jaw. "I believe I referred to the act as stupid, not the actor."

"Same thing in my book," Kane replied.

Vaughn tried to match the intensity of the demon's stare and failed miserably. He sank deeper into the chair and brought his glass of bourbon to his lips, no doubt to settle the nerves he refused to show.

"Addison is hiding from her former employers," I explained. "Considering she tried to offer me up as a sacrificial lamb, Fairhaven is the last place they'd think to search for her."

"What have you learned from her?" Josie asked.

"About what?"

"About her lord and masters. The Corporation has tighter security than Fort Knox and you've got a golden opportunity to mine someone for insider intel. You should take advantage of that."

I'd asked Addison questions out of curiosity, but not to gain any kind of advantage.

"If for no other reason, you should pump her for intel to protect yourself," Josie continued. "When they come—and, trust me, they will come—you'll be in a better position to defend yourself. Know thy enemy."

Heads bobbed in agreement, including Gun's. "It's the least she can offer you for putting you at risk," he said. "Addison tried to throw you to the wolves, and when the wolves didn't bite, she came running to you for shelter from them. She's not your friend, Lorelei. She'll betray you at the first opportunity if it means saving her own skin."

Josie folded her arms. "And that trouble can easily spill over to the rest of Fairhaven."

The meeting had already taken off in a direction I hadn't intended. The Corporation wasn't on my agenda. So much for Kane's idea to get ahead of my story and engender trust.

I rose to my feet in an effort to redirect the conversation. "Never mind Addison. The Wild Hunt is coming to town."

"Because of you?" Alfonso asked.

"See? You're proving our point already," the mage next to him said. In my head, I called him Weasel because of his lean build and thin, sharp face—and also because I couldn't remember his real name.

"Not because of me," I said, although I recognized that wasn't strictly true. If it weren't for me, Matilda wouldn't have come to Fairhaven and the Wild Hunt wouldn't have targeted the town. "That is to say, it isn't me they're hunting."

"What's the request?" Camryn asked.

"I want your help protecting Wild Acres."

"You know we can't kill in Fairhaven," Vaughn said.

"I'm not asking you to. We need to assemble a team to round up any animals in the forest and herd them through the crossroads to a safer place."

"We're not cowboys," Weasel objected. "Hell, I don't even know how to ride a horse."

"You don't have to be a cowboy. You only have to track them down and guide them out of harm's way. There's a stag and a boar."

"Should we personally escort the squirrels, too?" Weasel asked in a mocking tone.

I hesitated to reveal the extent of the white stag's mystical power in case any of them decided to sell the creature to the highest bidder. They weren't all as honorable as Kane. On the other hand, the truth was my best chance to persuade them.

"The stag is a white hart," I said.

"Aren't they supposed to be impossible to capture?" Alfonso asked. "How are we expected to guide it through the crossroads?"

"You'd be working with the Night Mallt herself. She thinks with the right team of hunters, she might be able to find the stag before the Wild Hunt does. Trust me, we don't want their leader to get his hands on the stag's power."

Weasel scratched the nape of his neck. "Hunting an elusive stag sounds time consuming."

"Are you kidding me? You hunt for a living. You track your target, hunt them down, and kill them. That is literally what you do." I tried my best to keep the frustration out of my voice.

"Yeah, but we get paid for it," he replied. "Handsomely, I might add."

"Franco is right," Vaughn chimed in. "This sounds like unpaid labor, which would be in violation of guild rules."

Franco. Franco. Franco. I tried to commit Weasel's real name to memory.

"Why not ask the pack?" a goateed mage asked. Cedric. "This seems more like a job for werewolves than assassins."

"I considered that," I said, "but the goal is to guide the animals to safety. If the wolves' natural instincts kick in while they're chasing down a magical animal, there's a risk they'll lose control."

"But does that make it a risk not worth taking?" a woman with a chin-length haircut asked. Monica.

Vaughn's gaze settled on me. "You can control spirits, right? Can't you just seize control of the host and stop them when they get here? Then there'd be no need to relocate the animals."

"I can't control them. They're not dead."

Alfonso nibbled on an olive from his martini. "How can they be alive if they're spirits?"

"They're not the ghosts of the dead. Think of them as traditional land spirits."

Franco shrugged. "I don't get it."

"Why the confusion?" Josie cut in. "You're insubstantial, but we know you're still alive."

Gun snorted with laughter.

"The hunters only appear phantomlike, usually when they're on horseback," I said. "Some of you have tarot cards that turn you into a shadow. That doesn't mean you're a shade that I can control."

Franco swilled his beer. "Got it."

Josie raised her chin. "Are you sure? Because I'd be more than happy to show you the difference between dead and alive."

A low whistle erupted from Monica. "What did you do to get on Josephine's bad side?"

"His dues were late," Josie answered. "Again."

Vaughn reached into his pocket and retrieved his wallet. "I think mine are overdue too. I've got cash."

"You don't make a habit of it," Josie told him.

Franco slunk against his chair. "My assistant quit, and I haven't had time to hire a new one."

"Your assistant quit six months ago," Josie said. "Stop being such a man-child and get your shit together."

"Thank you, Josephine." Kane leveled her with a look I recognized as back off.

"Forget the animals," a petite redheaded woman said. I was fairly certain this was the first time I'd ever heard her speak. "What about the hunting party? Shouldn't we be more worried about them running around Wild Acres?"

"And then what?" Franco asked. "Justine's right. Are we supposed to just ignore the Wild Hunt when they ride into town and hope they don't wreak havoc?"

"One step at a time," I said. Rehoming the white stag was the first priority.

Alfonso set aside his empty glass. "It seems to me that, even if we capture this mystical stag, you're going to be right back here in a couple days, begging us to defend Wild Acres against invaders. We might as well vote with that in mind."

Justine bit her thin lip that was almost as pale as the rest of her. "This is supposed to be our safe haven. Fairhaven soil is sacred."

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't use our skills to defend the town against external threats," Gun replied.

"What if we kill one of the land spirits in self-defense?" Vaughn asked. "If they're not technically dead, won't we have our membership revoked?"

"And get booted out of town," Alfonso added.

Gun tipped back his head to look at Kane. "Could we add a temporary rider to the by-laws that allows us to act in self-defense for the purpose of defending the town?"

"We should always be able to act in defense of the town," Camryn said. "That should be a standard exception to the rules."

"But that could be easily manipulated," Josie said. "If one of you decided to take out a local enemy, you'd be clever enough to frame it as self-defense."

"She has a point," Vaughn said. "We are an exceedingly clever bunch."

"Not clever enough to figure out how to defeat the Wild Hunt without whining about it for an hour first," Josie murmured.

"This isn't the type of fighting we do," Vaughn said. "Wild Hunts are old school."

"You're in an ancient society of mages that dates back to fifteenth century Florence," Josie shot back. "It doesn't get more old school than that."

Gun smirked. "Our magic is exceptionally old."

"We're not all mages," Justine protested.

Gun's head bobbed. "That's fair. So what's your plan, vampiress?" He turned his gaze to me. "Are land spirits affected by puncture wounds?"

Justine stuck a menacing finger in Gun's face. "Vampires are every bit as lethal as La Fortuna mages."

Gun kissed the tip of her finger and moved it aside. "I'd advise you not to stick any of your phalanges in my face unless you're interested in losing one of them."

Cam leaned over to him. "Technically, the phalanges are the bones. Each finger has three of them…"

Gun's exhale seemed powered by boredom. "The distal, the middle, and the proximal. Yes, I know, dear cousin. My point still stands."

"I don't see what the big deal is," Monica said. "I understand wanting to keep the stag's power out of the wrong hands—I'm on board with that part—but why not let the Wild Hunt run free in the forest? If I recall correctly, they don't stay and set up camp. They chase restless spirits, scare the crap out of people, and call it a day."

"Matilda, the Night Mallt," I explained. "She used to ride with them until Vortigern kicked her out. She says he doesn't operate within the spirit of the hunt. She thinks he's a threat."

Franco made a dismissive noise. "Sounds to me like she's a disgruntled former employee holding a grudge."

"Enough chatter," Alfonso said. "I already pissed off my wife by attending a meeting that was not on the family calendar." He gave Kane a pointed look. "If Judith falls asleep before I get home, my ass is grass tomorrow."

"We need to put this to a vote," Kane said.

Gun moved to a standing position. "All in favor of playing cowboy, raise your hand." His arm shot in the air. "I have the perfect hat to wear for the occasion."

I averted my gaze, unable to bring myself to count the hands in the air.

"Sorry, Lorelei." Gun dropped back into the seat beside me.

"Gun and I will do whatever we can to help," Cam added.

"Thanks."

"Meeting adjourned," Kane said.

The guild members fled the scene, as assassins were wont to do. I couldn't help but feel disappointed by the outcome.

Josie sighed at the collection of dirty glasses and began loading them onto a tray. "We need to hire more staff."

"We hire them, they stay for a bit, then they leave," Kane replied. "Then the process starts over with someone new."

Josie pegged him with her almond-shaped eyes. "Maybe we ought to think about why that is."

Kane shifted his attention to me. "Another time, perhaps."

Josie got the hint and carried the tray to the counter.

I sagged against him. "That could've gone better."

"It went as well as could be expected," Kane replied, smoothing my hair.

"You expected them to vote no?"

"I did."

"Then why did you let me propose the idea?"

"Because you asked." He cupped my chin in his hands. "Believe it or not, I have trouble telling you no."

His admission brought a smile to my lips. "Are they always so hostile?"

"They're assassins. Yes."

"And selfish?"

"They're protective of themselves and their livelihoods." He kissed me again.

"Get a room," Josie called as she breezed out the door.

"Working on it," he said.

I laughed. "Is that so?"

He gazed down at me. "Stay the night. Wouldn't you rather wake up to my smiling face than Addison's?"

"Every day of the week and twice on Sundays."

He moved his arms to encircle my waist. "Oh, I think we can do better than that."

The offer was very, very tempting. "Anna is bringing Addison back to the castle by two a.m. I need to be there."

"She isn't a toddler. Besides, you have Ray and Nana Pratt there to defend the Castle."

A sleepover with Kane. Many thoughts ran through my head. Most of them involved nudity and flexibility I wasn't sure I actually possessed. My cheeks grew warm.

Kane's hand slipped through my hair to cradle the back of my head. "Is that a yes?"

Before I could respond, Dantalion appeared in the doorway, looking grim. "I apologize for the interruption."

Kane released his hold on me. "You're back."

"Good to see you, Dandelion."

"And you, Lorelei." His gaze slid to Kane. "We need to talk."

"I've missed you, Dandelion. How've you been?"

"Busier than I'd prefer."

"You and me both."

Kane looked at me with longing. "Rain check?"

I pecked his cheek. "Rain check."

I left the nightclub, wondering what the Great Duke of Hell had been up to. He'd disappeared weeks ago, and this urgent reunion suggested there was trouble on the horizon.

Inwardly, I groaned. No rest for the wicked.

I hopped on my motorcycle and rode home, trying very hard not to imagine the night I might've had if Dantalion hadn't shown up.

The blast of cold wind in my face helped.