“You got lucky,” he snarls. “Humans are no match for fae or daemons in strength. Don’t ever forget it and always be wary, even if one appears to be on your side.”
“Like Zaid?”
“Zaid isn’t on your side,” he replies, pointing out. “He’s on my side.”
I actually sort of knew this, so I don’t argue. We both turn toward the Hummer, up ahead seeing Maddox and Titus already there.
“Where are we going?” I ask again.
“Back to the bar you and Adira met Wade in,” he replies and I almost stumble on the pavement I’m so caught off guard.
“But why?”
“Because you said there was another incubus there that might have been working in conjunction with Wade. We’d like to ask him a few questions.”
The hairs stand up on the back of my neck from his tone, a menacing mix of determination and the promise of pain if the answers don’t come easily. This is a different Carrick than I’ve known before, and while I had suspected he was dangerous—just like Echo a bit ago—I think I underestimated him, too.
CHAPTER 14
Finley
Maddox parks his Hummer a few blocks from the bar in a no-parking zone, yet deep in my gut, I know he won’t get ticketed or towed. It’s like his confidence and what I’ve come to find to be an enormous but slightly charming ego will keep any wily police away.
Or maybe it’s magic.
As Carrick’s brother, maybe he serves the gods and has special abilities, too.
Regardless, I don’t question the darkened street as he shuts the engine off. None of the men move to open doors, and Carrick points to the back cargo area. “Grab the bag, Titus.”
Titus shifts, reaches a meaty arm over the back of the seat, and nabs a small duffel. He hands it to me without even questioning the contents.
I frown as I place the bag on my lap and unzip it. There’s something black and shimmery on top and I pull it out to reveal a skimpy dress with spaghetti straps. I glance back down into the bag to see black strappy heels.
“Oh, hell no,” I exclaim, shoving the dress back into the bag and glaring at Carrick. He’s watching over his shoulder from the front, same as Maddox who has a lopsided grin on his face. “I am not wearing that dress in there. There’s no reason at all.”
The outfit I have on now wasn’t all military commando like the men, but the workout pants, shirt, and jacket all in black were functional for when they said we were going out for a hunt.
“You want me to be bait?” I ask them incredulously. Not because I’m afraid to dangle myself out there, but because it’s humiliating. I’ve been training and can hold my own. I am the key to stopping the prophecy.
I am not a saucy seductress trying to lure an incubus.
None of the men reply, but just stare at me with determination.
Expecting I’ll understand and accept my part in tonight’s mission.
“Ugh,” I growl in frustration, pulling the dress back out. “Fine. I’ll wear it.”
Maddox’s smile gets bigger in appreciation, Carrick’s expression seems guarded, and Titus chuckles. None move.
“Get out of here so I can dress,” I order them. “Not about the give you guys a peep show.”
Titus is the first out, Carrick stares at me only a moment longer before he starts to exit, and Maddox twists a bit more so he can see me. “That dress is pretty short so if you bend over at any point, you will be giving everyone a peep show. Just thought you should know.”
“Out,” I yell.
I get a wink and then he disappears.
The windows on the Hummer are tinted but still, each man respectfully turns their backs on the vehicle as I manage to wiggle out of my workout clothes and shimmy into the dress. It’s barely there and the heels are death traps, but I imagine this will draw out the incubus if he’s in the bar, as well as every other creep. I pull my hair out of the elastic tying it at the back of my neck and scrub my fingers through it to make it wilder than normal. I don’t bother trying to check my makeup in the rearview mirror because I didn’t put any on, so hopefully the dress and hair are enough to do their job.
When I open the passenger door to step out, it’s Maddox on that side who gallantly offers me a hand. I wobble only slightly when my heels touch the pavement but immediately get my bearings. I feel stable for some reason despite the four-inch stilettos, but maybe that’s because this is work. This isn’t for socializing, which isn’t my forte, but I am definitely more equipped to handle a mission to question the incubus that was with Wade and who, for some very brief and humiliating moments, actually had me in his thrall.