Alexion looked absolutely ill. "Akri," he said under his breath. "I hope you're there to get her off that phone."
But apparently he wasn't.
"I'll take me seven dozen of them rings," Simi said. "Oh, and them necklaces, too, that you had up a little while ago. I needs to have lots of sparklies in my room. They are really nice whenever them dragons come in to play. But that little one, he keeps eating my Diamonique. I tell him no. It's for me to eat. But does he listen? No. That's the problem with dragons, they—"
"Well, Miss Simi," the operator said, cutting her off, "thank you for calling. We'll transfer you over to an operator and let you place your order."
Xirena was in front of the television now, with her cheek pressed up against the screen and her hand spread out beside her face. She looked as if she were trying to peer into the set. "Where is my simi?" The sadness and pain in her voice brought an ache to Danger's chest.
"She's in Katoteros," Alexion told her.
"The gods are all dead there," Xirena said in a ragged tone. "She'd be alone in Katoteros."
"Not all of them are dead."
"Simi!"
Danger cringed at the cry, which was so shrill and loud she was amazed it didn't shatter her windows or her eardrums. It was a cry of pain and of happiness.
Alexion moved forward to take Xirena into his arms as she sobbed and continued to scream out for her sister's return. Her longing was so sad that it brought tears to Danger's eyes.
"Shhh," he said, rocking her in his arms. "It's okay, Xirena. Simi is well and happy and shopping like a demon. Literally. She has never known a moment of pain in her life."
Xirena pulled back. "Never?"
"Almost never and I assure you that the ones who hurt her paid dearly for it."
"How do I know you're not lying to me?"
Alexion took her hand into his.
Danger frowned as she watched him close his eyes and rock the demon. They stayed there on the floor for several minutes before the demon opened her eyes and looked up at Alexion. There was admiration and love in that odd yellow gaze.
"You are good people," the demon announced. "I won't doubt you anymore."
Alexion inclined his head to her before he released her and rose.
The demon sniffed loudly, then brushed her tears away.
Danger cocked her head as he neared her. "What did you just do?"
"I showed her part of my memories with Simi so that she would understand the way her sister is treated."
"Could you share memories with me?"
He didn't answer as he started back toward her garage door. "We need to find Kyros."
"Answer me, Alexion."
He paused in her hallway. "Yes," he said, without looking back.
A shiver went through her at his power. "You are spooky."
He turned to face her. One corner of his mouth was lifted into an almost taunting smile. "You have no idea."
Maybe, but she had a bad feeling that before all this was over, Kyros would get a taste of those powers firsthand. She only hoped she didn't end up on the receiving end of them too.
Chapter 15
Danger paused as she left her car. They were at Kyros's house and they weren't alone. There was a red Ferrari parked on the street, along with a motorcycle. She knew that flashy Italian car well.
"What's Rafael doing here?" she asked.
Alexion shut his door. "Kyros is most likely trying to sway him to his cause, just as he attempted to do with you."
Surely her friend wasn't that foolish. She liked Rafael a great deal and the last thing she wanted was to see him hurt by this. "It'll never work, will it?"
Almost as if in answer to her question, the front door opened.
A tall, good-looking African-American male came out of the house. His hair was shaved, leaving his head bald so as to show off the intricate scrollwork that was tattooed up the back of his neck to the crown of his head. Rafael Santiago wore his signature long black leather coat, black pleated pants, and a skin-tight black knit shirt that showed off every tiny detail of his ripped eight-pack.
Gorgeous and deadly, the man was the epitome of the word "tough." As a human, he'd been known to cut the throat of anyone dumb enough to look at him too long. He let no one get away with anything. His only motto in life was, Do unto others before they do it to you.
But for all his bluster and razor-quick quips, she knew him for a sweetheart. Those he considered his friends, he would kill to protect, and he was loyal to a fault.
He wore a pair of dark sunglasses that completely obscured most of his face, but Danger knew the former pirate captain well. He'd been living happily over in Columbus for the last sixty-six years.
"Rafael," she said in greeting as he drew near them.
He inclined his head to her as he stopped by her side. He turned to look at Alexion. Even with the sunglasses on, she could feel the intense curiosity of his stare. "Who's your friend?"