Dangerous Creatures (Dangerous Creatures 1)

“Done what?” The way Nox was talking, though, Ridley wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

“My father warned me not to. Nobody wants to hear it.”

“Nox.” Ridley was frightened.

“Not even a Caster. We all want to pretend we will live forever.”

Ridley’s face was pale. “What are you talking about?”

“There’s a reason your kiss tastes like fire,” Nox began.

CHAPTER 32

Disposable Heroes

Nox told Ridley and Link as much as he could from the relative safety of the Circle of Protection and fifty lit candles. Not that a Circle or a thousand candles could stop a Ravenwood.

Not even apartment 2D was safe, not anymore.

Ridley had to physically restrain Link until Nox finished talking. She would’ve had to hold off Floyd and Sampson too, except they were both too busy with Necro to care what Nox had to say about anything.

“So let me get this straight,” Link said. “You promised Abraham Ravenwood that you’d hand us over to his thugs. You already told us that part.”

Nox nodded. “One thug. Silas Ravenwood. His grandson.”

“The criminal,” Link said.

“Or the Capo. I’ve heard that’s what he calls himself.”

“Why me? For what?” Ridley was numb.

“What do you expect? He wants revenge,” Nox said. “Your hybrid stabbed his grandfather with a pair of gardening shears.”

“And Grandpa had it comin’.” Link shrugged. “Guess that makes sense, not that I’m goin’ down without a fight. But what does he want with Rid?”

Nox walked over to the window and stared out. It was difficult to look anywhere else. “She lured Abraham there. She delivered him right into your hands.”

“So Silas wants to kill her, too?” Link asked. “I’m not enough?” He almost looked insulted.

Ridley was silent, and from the expression on her face, terrified. “Is that it? Is that how I…”

“I’m not sure,” Nox said slowly. As if the words themselves were painful. “I’ve seen your future twice now. Each time it was slightly different.”

“But I die? In a fire?”

“Once.”

“Once? What about the other time?”

Nox had a strained look on his face now. “Remember when I told you about my mother?”

She nodded.

“Silas is a powerful man. Part of that power comes from the Dark Casters around him. He needs a Siren, and your family is about as powerful as they come, Rid.”

“Don’t call her that,” Link snapped. “Rid’s not your friend. Friends don’t sell you out to Dark Incubuses.”

“But Silas would. And Silas is a businessman. Selling a Siren to the highest bidder, that’s good business. Selling the Siren who helped end Abraham Ravenwood, that’s even better business.”

Ridley stared back at Nox, stunned. “You said your mother was Abraham’s slave. Are you telling me that you were going to hand me over to Silas so he could lock me up in a cage, too? Just like his grandfather?”

Link curled his hands into fists.

“That’s one scenario,” Nox said carefully. “The fire is the other.”

Ridley was incredulous. “And you never said a word?”

Nox stared at the floor. “I tried.”

Not hard enough.

Nox looked miserable. “I didn’t want to hand you over, period. But before, I didn’t really see another way out. It’s different now. Now that we’re… friends. That’s why I’m telling you all this.”

Link walked over and stood next to Ridley. “I’m not lettin’ you give her to anyone. And I’m not lettin’ anyone stick her back in a cage. I’ll go instead.”

“Link,” Ridley began.

Nox turned around to face them. “You don’t get it, Mortal.”

“Part Mortal,” Link said, unflinching.

“Abraham wants both of you, and if I hand you over, you’re dead and she’s in chains. If I don’t hand you over, he’ll have Silas find you anyway. So we need to come up with a plan B.”

“What if we leave?” Ridley said. “Right now.”

Nox nodded. “You should. Get on the road and don’t look back. It’s the smartest thing to do.”

“Tell her the rest.” Sampson stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame.

“Shut up,” Nox said. “Stay out of this.”

Ridley turned to Sampson. “Tell me what?”

“Keep your mouth shut,” Nox snapped.

Sampson shoved his huge hands in his pockets and stared back at Nox. “I don’t like people telling me what to do. You know that, boss.”

Nox’s temper flared. “There’s only one important word in that sentence: boss. We figured this out. Leave it alone.”

Sampson nodded, his brown hair hiding his expression. “If those two leave, you won’t be my boss anymore. So I guess it doesn’t matter if I say anything either way, now, does it?”

Ridley spun around. “Nox, what is he talking about?”

Nox stared back at her, the girl who had changed everything, including him. “If I don’t deliver the two of you, Silas won’t be happy with me.”

“Not happy? He’ll kill you.” Sampson didn’t smile. “Silas, or a handful of Vexes. If he’s in a good mood he’ll let you choose.”

“But hey.” Nox forced a smile. “Things haven’t been going so well for me anyway.”

Ridley’s expression crumpled. “Then we stay. We aren’t going to let you take on Silas Ravenwood alone.”

“She’s right,” Link said. “I’m not leavin’ another guy to take a hit for me, especially not a piece a garbage like you.”

Nox shook his head. “You don’t get it. He won’t stop until the hybrid is dead and you’re on a leash for good. You can’t escape the Ravenwoods. You should know that by now.”

“What if he thinks we’re dead?” Ridley asked.

Nox shook his head. “What am I supposed to tell him? That the two of you took a trip to the Bermuda Triangle and your plane disappeared? He’s not going to believe the two of you are dead unless he sees it for himself.”

“Isn’t there a Cast or some Illusionist trick for that? Maybe Floyd can cook somethin’ up,” Link said. “Some kinda Caster Fakeus Corpsicus?”

But Ridley knew there were some things even a Cast couldn’t fix.

Sometimes you just had to go with good old-fashioned planning and manipulation.

Mortal-style.

CHAPTER 33

Oh Yoko!

Hours later, Nox stood at the top of the Empire State Building. The city unfolded beneath him, but he couldn’t see it. He was only focused on the moment right in front of him. This was the big game, the last hand, and Nox had nothing in it. There was only one thing he could do now.

What he’d always done.

Bluff.

Nox wasn’t sure about any of this. It was Ridley’s idea. The hybrid had agreed, but the hybrid would agree to anything—no matter how risky or ridiculous—if he thought it would keep Ridley out of Abraham’s clutches.

Nox knew the feeling, which was why he was here now.

He heard the door to the observation platform swing open, then footsteps behind him. “I heard you were looking for me,” Nox said.

This is it. Make him think you’ve got a full house.

Silas Ravenwood circled around him, a wisp of smoke from a Barbadian cigar trailing after him. In a pressed dress shirt, expensive gray slacks, and Italian wing tips, Silas almost could’ve passed for a CEO instead of a crime lord.

A Blood Incubus CEO.

It was only the smuggled cigars, the way he rolled up the sleeves of his fifteen-hundred-dollar shirt, and the fedora that marked him as a criminal.

And his knuckles.

Businessmen don’t have crooked knuckles from beating people to death.

“Where have you been, kid? I left you a message.”

Nox shrugged. “Nowhere special.”

Silas walked up to him, the cherry of his cigar dangerously close to Nox’s cheek. “You think I’m screwing around? When I tell a mutt like you to come in, I expect to see you in my goddamned office with that tail of yours tucked between your legs.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“You won’t be as busy if you’re dead,” Silas said. “You have one day to deliver the Siren and the hybrid Incubus.”

“Why do you care about the two of them so much, if you don’t mind me asking?” Nox knew he was walking a slippery slope. Silas Ravenwood wasn’t a fan of questions.

“Why are you suddenly so interested? Feeling sentimental? I know how you feel about half-breeds and wish workers.” Silas smiled. “They’re almost like family.”

Nox shrugged, holding in his anger. “Sorry I touched a nerve. I was just curious.”

“My grandfather wants his name avenged.” Silas took a long pull on the cigar. “I have my own reasons for wanting the Siren.”

“Is it love?” Nox raised an eyebrow.

Silas grinned. “It is to me.”