Adam started forward, and she had no choice but to follow. Either that or bolt back out the door, and since she wasn’t letting the secretive man out of her sight again, she forced herself to move up the aisle.
The murmuring assembly to either side of her was in their funereal best, fashions ranging from modern Victorian to urban vampire. The women radiated powerful sexuality in corsets of leather and vinyl, some baring midriffs, fishnets, tattoos twisting with wicked thorns, beautiful and severe. Among them, one wore black tulle fashioned in a punky tutu, others in skintight leather pants, or peep show–short skirts. The men wore black pants, jeans, or combat fatigues, and some in elegant long leather coats that grazed the black floor to the effect of the wearer rising out of shadow. The coifs were black or electric with color, the styles varying from jagged-chic to glossy sheets. Makeup accentuated man and woman alike, some effeminate while others were fatalistically disturbing.
As soon as Talia reached the dais and turned, Zoe spoke. “For some time now we’ve all been aware of a growing threat. A demon has escaped into our world. He calls himself the Death Collector, because that is what he does, collect deaths. In so doing, he creates monsters of men. They can’t die, but feed on people to keep themselves from devolving into ravening animals. Abigail’s been promising an end will come. Well, the end is here.”
Talia watched as Zoe’s gaze slipped briefly to Adam. What were they up to?
“May I present to you a princess of the fae, daughter of Lord Death, Talia O’Brien. Talia, if you’d like to say something.”
Wha—? Talia looked with alarm at Zoe. There were no secrets here.
Adam cleared his throat. “Talia is recovering from an injury at present and can’t speak. But I would like to say thank you for your hospitality. For all the help you’ve given over the past day or so. As for the monsters out there, the wraiths, we have a plan and are doing everything that we can to stop their spread.”
The gathering applauded.
Talia watched Adam turn to Zoe. “Can we have some music? Something slow. I’d like to dance with Talia.”
Zoe nodded, looked thoughtful for a moment, then stepped to the side to whisper into the ear of someone just offstage.
Adam took Talia’s hand and led her to the dance floor. Her breath quickened as the crowd parted. The gathering circled as Adam led her to the center of the space.
“A little bit of shadow, please,” Adam asked her loud enough for everyone to hear. “No more hiding. Show them how you glow.”
His words, coupled with the warmth in his eyes, did, indeed, light something in her. She bid the shadows to fall lightly on the room as the deep thrum of a bass guitar, beating like a heartbeat, signaled the start of their song.
Adam’s arms went around her. Everything was going to be okay. The way they fit together so perfectly it just had to be. No demon or monster could triumph against anything so wonderful. Not when she’d finally found the answers she needed. The connection she needed.
The melody line of the slow song skipped over the rhythm, keening of haunting love. Adam stroked a hand up her back to rest on the skin at her shoulder, his fingers in her hair, his body moving slowly with hers.
“I’m going to have to take off for a while,” he murmured.
Talia held her breath, her heart contracting with the falsehood she sensed in him. She had half a mind to confront him with it. But what would he think of her? Would he pull away at last?
“I’ve just got to do some legwork, and then I will be back,” he said, his tone placating as if he knew she’d object.
“Can’t you wait until this is over? I can come with you,” Talia whispered. Please let me come with you.
“I have to speak with some informants. They’re cagey. They won’t talk to me with anyone else there.”
Another lie. So be it.
Talia raised her chin and confronted him with her last secret. “You might as well know…I can feel what you feel. Another one of my freakish gifts.”
His brows came together, but he didn’t release her.
She continued, “You’re lying to me. I know it. My whole body is screaming lie. Ever since we went after Custo, you’ve been different. Closed off.”
“You feel what I feel.” Adam grazed her forehead with his lips. “That makes sense. I knew you could see through me, I just didn’t stop to think why.”
“I should have told you—”
“Shhh. It’s too late for regrets. What am I feeling now?”
Talia swallowed hard, let him turn her on the dance floor. “Grief.”
“Custo—” Adam started. Talia felt him take a deep breath against her body. “Custo shouldn’t have died like that. Tortured and broken.”
Talia leaned back to look Adam in his eyes. “His death was not your fault.”
Adam glanced away. “He was at my place, following my instructions, fighting my war. I may not have taken his life, but I sure as hell put him in the line of fire.”