He has no clue about the vampires. Guess someone better keep an eye on the poor, lost fallen angel. Because if I don’t, he’ll never survive to find his muse.”
And why not kill her? Since when did angels discern the moral quandary between killing a male or female?
Curse the black sea Beneath! Why breasts and curves? If this was a joke on her for something she’d done or not done the previous round she’d been summoned to stalk the Fallen, she did not appreciate it now. Because, okay, she had slipped up then. Then, she’d not located the Fallen she’d been assigned to kill until it was too late—a nephilim had been born.
She would prove herself this go-around. Her pride—yet another necessary sin—demanded it.
Easing her way through the crowd, Pyx found Cooper standing at the top of the stairs looking over the dance floor below. She approached slowly, keeping shy of his peripheral vision.
What would an angel be doing in a dance club when he should be stalking his muse? Unless he was picking up women for practice?
Didn’t make sense. Pyx knew the Fallen could have sex with mortal women, but they didn’t receive pleasure unless the act was with a muse. Seemed like a waste of time to go through the motions with any old woman and for no reward.
Pyx, on the other hand, could do as she pleased. She could be with any man she desired.
“A man?” she muttered, still put off by the fact she was a she. “What the heck would I do with one of them?”
Though she had to admit she did notice the males more than the females. Good thing for her sexual assignment. But the sexiest man in the room was also her target.
Maybe the muse was in the room? The Fallen were compelled toward their muses. Hmm …
Well, if he were going to attract a hapless mortal destined to carry his monster baby, his current fashion choice did aid in his allure.
“Why a kilt?” she wondered as she stepped behind Cooper and leaned onto the railing right next to him. “It’s like a skirt for guys, right?”
“It lets my dangly bits dangle,” he answered. “It’s a freeing feeling. You should try it—er, oops. You’ve no bits to dangle.”
“Are you mocking me, Fallen one?”
He turned and slipped his gaze down her torso and legs. An assessing look that unsettled her.
“Do you have issues with your sexuality, then? Because it seems as if you’re not overly pleased with the mortal costume you wear. Usually chicks wear dresses, or something feminine when out clubbing.”
A deeper blue edged the man’s gray eyes, and they pierced Pyx right through the heart. Which was strange because her heart was metal and nothing could penetrate it. The burn she felt in her chest must be residual effects from the whiskey.
He snapped his fingers before her.
“I do not have issues,” she returned. “I’m perfectly fine with the bits I’ve got.”
“They are lovely bits.” Now his eyes strayed to the V in her shirt where her breasts rose in soft globes. “Plan to take those babies for a spin while you’re here on earth?”
Pyx clasped the shirt opening. “Meaning?”
“Well, I know you, Sinistari. You’re all about the sin. Lust, pride, greed, vanity and gluttony. If you’re in the mood, I can help you with the lust.”
“You’d sleep with a demon?”
He shrugged. “I find my own desires are immense. And I do like redheads. Care for a kiss?”
Pyx shoved her fingers through the hair she wasn’t so sure about. It was too long and silky. It hung in her eyes. She blew at the bangs dipping over her brows. She couldn’t look at Cooper. And his question put her off. What to say?
“Kidding,” he said. “I’d like to keep you at arm’s distance if that’s all right with you.”
“Fine with me. I only need to stretch to poke you with my blade. But we’ll worry about that when the time has come. Back to the vamps,” she said. “You going to amble on out of here without backup?”
“I don’t understand your worry. And yes, I intend to amble without a care. Not even for the demon.”
“Fine.”
“Great.”
“It’ll serve me well enough.”
“Why’s that?” He scanned the crowd, not looking at her.
“You leave first, and I’ll follow the vampires as they track you.”
“They’re not going to—Why am I arguing with a demon? Good riddance, Sinistari.”
He skipped down the steps in his clunky boots and landed on the main floor with a jump. Without a glance up at her, he then danced his way along the crowd and into the darkness toward the back exit door.
“Leaving without a woman on his arm?” Pyx tapped the railing. “Interesting. He’s freaked now. I’m sure of it. The angel has more than a demon on his ass. Just you wait, Fallen one, I’ll be tracking vamps on your wake in no time.”
Cooper went down the Metro stairs to the train. He kept one eye scanning his periphery and over his shoulder. Two dark figures followed him.
Vampires? He didn’t have bloodsucker radar. The demon would know for certain. Their earthly connection to those things could sniff out any paranormal by vibration alone.
He’d allowed the sexy, sexually confused demon to put stupid thoughts into his brain. He wasn’t being followed. And if he was, they sure as hell were not vampires. Maybe a couple of pissed-off mortals who’d been dumped by their women after Cooper had flirted with them.
Turning a curve in the long cement tunnel stretching underground toward the Metro station, Cooper listened as the probably-not-vampires closed in on him. He knew this was a longer stretch and made a left turn to the C line instead of walking straight toward his usual train.
Pressing his back to the wall, he waited.
On the slight chance they could be vamps, he had no wooden stake, not even a weapon, and he knew vamps weren’t so easy to take down. He was stronger than mortal men, but he wasn’t sure how his strength matched up with a vampire.
Earthbound or not, he still retained a few tricks up his sleeve.
The first man rounded the corner and Cooper swung out his arm, clocking the bastard across the throat. The man took it with a gasp and a growl, revealing fangs.
So the demon had been right.
Cooper tossed the vamp against his cohort, who shoved him back at Cooper. Both charged him, fangs extended.
He could flash out of here, but that wouldn’t be any fun.
Cooper set his shoulders and bounced on
