Free Crossed by J. F. Lewis Page B

my ear and considered that. Did I have other choices? Where else could I get werewolf blood? Back before I had double-crossed J’iliol’lth, I’d have tried contacting one of the local demons who dealt in that sort of thing: blood, body parts, etc. But now, most demons wouldn’t work with me anymore, or rather, they weren’t worth the trouble. In a way, getting out of a demonic contract the way I had bought me the respect of the demonic community, but realistically all that meant was they’d screw me to the wall at the first opportunity so they could be the one who got one over on the mortal who’d gotten the best of J’iliol’lth, used him up, played him, and gotten him eaten by a Mouser. I was out of choices.
    “Fine. Leave it for me at the front desk of the Void City Hilton, and I’ll play nice with the Irons Club.”
    “When we need you, if it doesn’t directly interfere withyour master’s plans, you’ll provide your assistance?” His voice rose at the end of the sentence like it was a question, but I didn’t think it was supposed to be one.
    “Yes.” A powder blue Porsche Cayman S (I thought Talbot’s car magazines said they only came in black) turned onto the street. Only one vampire would be caught dead driving a car like that. Only one vampire could pull it off. Winter.
    “You’re familiar with the rules?”
    “Not as such, but I agree anyway.”
    “Your werewolf blood will be at the designated location within the hour. It will be under the name Marie.”
    “Good.” I hung up as Winter stepped out of the Porsche.
    My phone buzzed again. Shenanigans?
    sum vmp s hsling me. brb. I tapped the message and sent it. When I looked up again, Winter was standing in front of me. Before I could saying anything, my phone was in his hands and he was scrolling through the messages.
    “The cat calls you Shenanigans?” He laughed, handing back the phone, and despite my outrage, I felt a tingle down below. Winter was dressed for clubbing, in clothes so stylish I didn’t even know what to call them yet. They were all Winter originals, and he always saved the best for himself. “Well?” Winter walked around me once, eyes raking up and down my body, not luridly, but evaluating me, as a designer might eye a potential new model. “Does the Mouser have your tongue as well as your dignity?”
    “Talbot thinks I’m always up to something,” I spat, “therefore . . . Shenanigans.”
    “I like it.” Winter wrinkled his nose at me, those blue eyes of his sparkling. That he wore contacts was obvious only because I already knew him to be a vampire. “So. You’re in a great deal of trouble and you’d like to get out of it.”
    “I’ve got a plan.”
    “Yes, I heard.”
    I doubted that, and my expression must have given me away.
    “Vampire hearing, dear. Vampire hearing. You didn’t expect Eric to notice that you’d hijacked your sister’s volition? Or you thought he’d play it off?”
    I nodded.
    “He’s married now, darling, and men like Eric, from Eric’s time, the greatest generation, particularly the Courtney family . . . they take vows very seriously.” Winter caressed my shoulder and the cool dampness surprised me. He’d been in mist form this whole time! Being able to turn to mist is a rare ability. As far as I know, the only two vampires in Void City who can do it are Winter and Lord Phillip. I was impressed.
    “And you can convince him otherwise.”
    “No, but you can, and I’ll tell you how. In exchange, I want your help.”
    “I won’t hurt Eric.”
    “Of course not.”
    “Then what?” I stepped away from him, up onto the sidewalk.
    “As you may already know, I’ve bet against Eric in Paris, but that doesn’t mean I’m betting against him in Void City.” A limo pulled up, and some of Winter’s entourage began piling out of the car. I inhaled sharply, ready to use my magic, then I remembered Melvin’s damn spell.
    “All I want you to do is keep him in Paris for at least a