Dark Passions at Death's Door

10 - Surprise

Nїx shrieked.

The glass shattered from her warcry and scattered over her.

Who, what, and why the hells was she not seeing?!

A male had a hold of her? A demon had traced into her vehicle?! Nїx swung the Portofino over to the right. They were careening off the road. Hitting a rise, launching into the air.

She slashed at him and he grunted as he leapt out.

She flung her hand behind her to where her blades were stored. Only one came out. She leapt free in the next second.

The blinged-out vehicle careened nose-first into an embankment. The trunk fell open, littering a stockpile of grenades and a box of Semtex. Nїx turned, facing the immortal who’d just snatched her wrist out of nowhere.

Never interrupt Johnny? What?!

The male was taller than her, but scarcely a monster. Lothaire and the rest would tower over his frame. Her eyes flicked over him swiftly, appraising.

He was around five feet, ten inches tall. An angular countenance, high cheekbones, with lips just full enough to be the right look for a male.

Dark brown hair, the color of walnut, silver at the edges. He had it shorn short, a low fade cut, military style. Slim in the shoulders, a rangy build.

She took the rest in. A tuxedo coat and pants. And a blue silk shirt underneath. Narrow hips, and those dress slacks were holding some legs under them. Black wingtips, expensive.

He wasn’t old looking, but not young, either. She could surmise he was in his mid-thirties when his immortality had frozen. Something about him was worn around the edges, almost feral.

There was no glamour, no magicks. This was a real entity. Why hadn’t she foreseen him? Or seen him?

He was brushing his coat off. The male gave a pained grimace when he noticed the holes. “Ah, dammit, I just got this one!” he rumbled.

His eyes turned to look at her. She reflexively took them in. Something about those eyes made her breath hitch. Jade green.

His eyes were open, almost trusting, but there were crinkles at the edges. He squinted.

“You owe me a new coat, Valkyrie. Do you have any idea how much Rubbinaccis are?”

Something about that deep baritone voice set off a shiver in her. Then she blinked, chastising herself.

Wait, he wants me to buy him a new coat?!

What the hells was he talking about, he’d traced into her vehicle!

She checked his coat. The left shoulder was half-ripped off, and three gashes were through the front. She’d torn them up with her claws out of reflex.

Then she stopped and registered. Waaait... why...

Nїx’s strike should have shredded the male. Why was he unhurt?

Slipping the coat off his shoulders, he tossed it. Then his breath sucked in hard when he touched the front of his undershirt.

He gave off a low howl. “Oh, fuck no! Not the silk, too!”

He held the deep blue garment like bemoaning a lost love, giving off an agonized moan, then looked at her with a growl.

“Rrrrrrr!!! You’re racking up one hell of a debt already here, Phenїx.”

Nїx was many things, but having patience with a stranger using her full name was not one of them. She snapped up straight.

“What the hells did you just call me?!” she shouted.