Free A Wicked Night (Creatures of Darkness 2): A Coraline Conwell Novel by Kiersten Fay Page A

acquaintance of Winston’s, perhaps? If so, she couldn’t place him.
    With the constant threat to her life, thanks to her recently deceased husband, she couldn’t be too careful. She hurried to the exit, but was suddenly apprehensive about leaving Saraphine alone with the man, even though Saraphine had addressed him as though she knew him. Maybe that’s why the stranger had glared at Knox as if he’d love nothing more than to rip his heart out with his bare hands. Maybe Saraphine had expressed her plight.
    One thing was certain. If auras were real, his was flagged by danger.
    At the door, she turned to Saraphine. “You’ll be okay?” The statement was vague enough that the stranger might think they were talking about something else. Her recent loss, maybe.
    Saraphine crossed her arms. “Of course.”
    Cora pursed her lips. Either Saraphine really did know this guy, or pride was making her obstinate. At any rate, Cora couldn’t delay any longer. Mace ushered her out the door and into the car. Knox reclaimed the driver seat, and the car jerked forward before she had even settled herself in the back seat. Mace curled his arm around her and pulled her to his side once more.
    “Who was that guy?” she queried, not caring who the answer came from.
    “A bloody idiot from what I could see,” Knox replied. “The prat actually thought he could take me.” He glanced at Mace in the rearview mirror. “I’d have let him try if I didn’t think you’d jump in and bugger me up.”
    Ignoring the insult, Mace replied, “The last thing you need to do is beat down some kid that Saraphine has a crush on.”
    “What?” Cora gasped. “How could you tell?”
    “Her pheromones changed subtly when she saw him. Her eyes dilated as well. And her heart rate sped up.”
    Cora smiled for the first time tonight. “Aw, how cute.”
    “Not cute,” Knox snapped. “Moronic.”
    Cora frowned. “You’re despicable.”
    “Too right, cher , but the fact remains. She’s an idiot if she couldn’t tell he didn’t return her affections. There’s something about him that isn’t right.”
    Cora glanced at Mace.
    He nodded. “All his focus was on you, Cora. Even while he was staring down Knox, he was keenly aware of where you were in the room.”
    “Another assassin, then?” She sighed. “Wait! We have to go back for Saraphine.”
    Mace and Knox shared a look through the rearview mirror. Mace shook his head.
    “I’m all for killing the prat.” Knox told him, but again Mace shook his head.
    Cora sighed in irritation at the both of them. “If he’s a threat we can’t just leave her there.” She wasn’t about to advocate murdering a stranger based on a hunch, but she could at least try to keep Saraphine out of danger.
    “We need to get you back to the cottage.” Mace gestured to the talisman still in her grip. “Put that on.” Then he paused and muttered. “Saraphine had better be right about what that thing can do.”
    Cora slipped the chain over her neck. “But what about Saraphine? If something happens to her…” Oh, god! It would be all my fault.
    “Saraphine is a powerful witch,” Mace reminded her. “Any assassin that tangos with her is destined for a painful ending. With any luck, Saraphine will do us another favor and not even know it.”
    Knox let out a self-satisfied chuckle, obviously concurring.
    Cora was a bit surprised by Mace’s lackadaisical regard for Saraphine after everything she’d just done for them. But then, he was a vampire. They lived by different rules. Merciless rules. Cora might have strong feelings for him, but that didn’t change what he was. That didn’t make him human.
    Using a firm tone, Cora tried to reach a compromise. “She must at least be made aware of the danger.”
    Mace glanced down at her and noted her resolve with a sigh. “I’ll phone her with our concerns once we’re back at the cottage. Will that please you?”
    Cora nodded. It was better than nothing.
     

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