Free Stake and Dust (Stake and Dust series, Book I) by Karen Michelle Nutt Page A

stuff.
    His gaze landed on a werewolf seated in one
of the corner booths. He sported sideburns and long hair. He
reminded him of someone, but couldn't quite put his finger on who.
The werewolf eyed Cassandra with curiosity before his gaze landed
on Tremayne. One thick eyebrow rose as if he realized Tremayne
wasn't human. The werewolf sat back in his seat and folded his
beefy arms across his chest.
    Tremayne ignored him for now. The guy looked
like he wanted to watch the show, not join in. He turned his
attention toward the jukebox against the far wall. One of the Fae
stood there, looking over the selections offered, and a werejaguar
hovered nearby as if to help him choose the best song. The place
had yet to form a crowd, but the three customers present could make
things difficult if they chose.
    He would bet the guy manning the bar was a
lower level demon with the way his glamour slipped in and out,
revealing glowing red eyes. His nervous response most likely
initiated because he recognized Cassandra as a hunter, and the
demons weren't overly fond of vampires either. The demon's gaze
shifted from Cassandra then to him in confusion. Yeah boyo,
you're truly seeing this. He was sure there was a bad joke in
there somewhere. A vampire and a hunter enter a bar… Only he
didn't know the punch line.
    "We'd like to ask you a few questions,"
Cassandra said upon reaching the bar, not wasting any time on
pleasantries.
    "Yeah, and what would that be?" the demon
asked with suspicion.
    "We're looking for a Lamia who may be
fraternizing with a vampire."
    "What's it to you, hunter?" the demon
spat.
    "We just want to chat with them," she told
him.
    The demon chuckled without mirth. "Sure, and
I bet you're going to ask them to join you in a cup of coffee."
    Cassandra's lips curved. "Missing humans are
bad for all preternatural beings…" She let the statement hang there
for a few extra seconds to bring home her point. The demon pursed
his lips and shifted his weight to one foot then to the other as he
eyed her.
    "We suspect this couple is doing the
kidnapping," she continued, "but if you want to harbor the
fugitives then we'll have to hold you responsible as well." Her
smile broadened at the prospect.
    The demon glanced at Tremayne. "You okay with
this?"
    "I am. The Guards of Judgment would
agree, too." He dropped the official Otherworldly law-enforcers'
name, hoping to sway the demon to cooperate. It seemed to do the
trick even though the demon put up a front of defiance with a few
choice words.
    "Not sure what the Lamia's name is," he said,
"but she hangs out with one of the Draugr vamps. I think his name
is Gunthorn."
    "You wouldn't happen to know where Gunthorn
lives, do you?" Tremayne asked.
    The demon shook his head, but then his eyes
lit up. "I believe I heard him mention to one of the girls he tried
to pick up that he owned a houseboat. Personally, I was glad she
didn’t go with him. Human girl, probably a runaway. They seem to
always want to flirt with danger. They wander inside Bygones
looking for it, if you know what I mean."
    "I'm sure," Tremayne said as he placed a hand
over Cassandra's. For some reason the demon was bating them and he
didn’t want her pursuing it. They were here for one reason and one
reason only. Cassandra glanced his way with annoyance, but once he
made eye contact with her, she seemed to catch on and remained
focused on the objective.
    She turned back to the demon. "It would make
sense if Gunthorn hooked up with a Lamia that he'd have a place
close to the water," Cassandra said.
    "The Lamia would need to rejuvenate often,"
Tremayne added. "Only seawater would do the trick." He glanced to
the side where the werejaguar had decided to take up residence at
the far end of the bar. He then noticed the Fae took interest in
the opposite end. "We should go," he murmured in a low tone to
Cassandra, who seemed to catch the same vibe. Her hand slid to her
weapon hidden in the pocket of her jacket, but didn't draw