I gestured for him to continue. The noisy din of the nightclub seemed to fade away as I waited to hear his proposal. My heart began to pound. I feared the worst.
Demons were true evil. Despite his professional and almost friendly demeanor, I didn’t forget that. I wasn’t surprised that pure amusement shone on Shya’s face when he said, “I want you to kill Veryl Armstrong.”
I took a few moments to let the echo of that request play in my ears. My reaction was delayed. I was conflicted. Part of me was immediately ready to refuse though something deeper down was intrigued.
“Why?” I deserved to know that much at least. I’d known Veryl for years and this demon for all of a matter of minutes. Did he really expect me to say yes?
Shya pursed his lips and regarded me with a curious expression. “He’s taken to meddling in the affairs of others, you included. Of course, I don’t have to tell you that. Once it came to my attention that he was blackmailing one of my own, his days were numbered.”
Blackmail huh? That didn’t come as a surprise. I wouldn’t put anything past Veryl. But, did I want to kill him?
“I need to think about it.”
“By all means. There are many who would love this opportunity. I offered it to you first. I assumed you would appreciate it after everything he has done to you.”
I wasn’t an easy enough target to fall for that line, but I knew what he was trying to do. He thought he could get inside my head by going for my personal feelings. I was starting to feel that for everything Shya said, there was something he wasn’t saying.
“I might not be the right fit for this. It feels a little too close to home. But like I said, I’ll consider it.” That’s the best he was going to get out of me right then. It became hard to meet his eyes; a magnetic pull seemed to grow and pulse if I didn’t look away. It was hypnotizing and intimidating. I wanted him to leave so I could think clearly.
“The wolf’s loyalty, it’s a lovely attribute.” He winked, and though he hadn’t done or said anything else, I knew there was a veiled threat in those words. Shya stood abruptly, offering a hand. “We’ll speak soon. If you wish to reach me, speak with Lilah.”
I didn’t want to touch his hand; it almost pained me to do so. I felt the reptilian touch of a snake against my flesh, and I visibly shuddered. Shya was gone before I could fight my way out of the cloak of darkness swirling around him. I watched him disappear through the exit and gradually the suffocating sensation fell away.
Arys was right where I’d left him. With his arms crossed over his chest and a beautiful glare etched on his handsome face, he oozed fury. Shaz stood next to him, a worried frown creasing his brow.
“Got something you want to say to me?” I asked Arys, my tone accusatory.
In the same breath he said, “Please tell me you didn’t make any deals with him.”
“Of course not. Why didn’t you tell me you knew more about who I work for than I do? A little heads up on the big CIA-style demon action would have been nice.”
“How could you not have known? Sometimes I think you prefer to be in the dark.”
“Why did you turn them down?”
Shaz looked from me to Arys. Curiosity lurked in his jade gaze. As much as I loved Arys, sometimes he really drove me nuts with the secret keeping. It seemed to be a vampire trait, which I could understand to a degree. After several centuries I’d be set in my ways, too. But this was different.
“They approached me about six months ago, after you and I forged our bond. Anything that demon can promise isn’t worth what he’ll ask for in return, and personally, I want nothing to do with him.”
“I wish you had told me.”
“Be careful with the demons, Alexa, and you will be fine. You can hold your own. But, think things through before you do anything he asks. Maybe even reconsider what you do. Maybe it’s time to get out.”
I glanced around for the closest waitress. When I caught her eye, I held up two fingers. A double shot of whiskey couldn’t possibly arrive fast enough.
Shaz took the chance to jump in. “What’s the point of all this, the whole organized supernatural hit squad? Seems like there’s little rhyme or reason to their hit list.”
“I’ve always been under the impression that we avoid exposure by wiping out the bottom feeders and rabid newborns.” I shrugged and gave my hair a toss. “It’s becoming painfully clear that everything I think I know is something else entirely.”