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

it,
which proved a smart move.
    "Thank you for your cooperation," she told
the demon.
    "Sure. Whatever," he said and turned away
from them.
    Tremayne and Cassandra backed away from the
bar, but only managed to get halfway toward the front door when the
Fae flitted over to them, but Cassandra had her dagger in hand
before the Fae could make a move against them. "Don't even blink,
or you'll feel the sting," she warned. Her blade glinted with
lethal intent.
    The Fae lifted his hands in mock surrender as
he took a step back.
    Tremayne opened the door and let Cassandra
exit first, while he kept vigil. Any sudden movement from anyone
and he'd take them down.
    The scent of sea and salt never smelled so
heavenly as he let the door close behind him, shutting out the
stale coffee and heated tension, but it didn't mean they were safe.
A second later confirmed his suspicions.
    "You're either stupid or brave, but I can't
tell which."
    They both turned toward the voice in unison.
The werewolf, who had been seated in the pub when they first
arrived, now leaned against the establishment's façade in a
nonchalant manner, casually smoking a cigar. With his smoke between
his lips, he realized why the werewolf had reminded him of someone.
He looked like a young Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Maybe it was the
look the werewolf was going for or perhaps Hugh knew this werewolf
personally and had fashioned his look from him.
    Cassandra didn't lower her weapon. "Do you
have something to say?" she asked.
    The Hugh-lookalike puffed on his cigar then
gave her a quick nod. "If you're looking for the Lamia and her vamp
lover, their boat makes its home in slot 53. But the duo's been
bragging about how they enjoy living it up at Eternal Bliss. If you
asked me, they seemed too eager to drop the pub's name." The
werewolf met Tremayne's gaze and held it with meaning.
    Cassandra peered at him too. "You did tell me
the vamp was expected to show at your place. Maybe he'll bring his
girlfriend the next time he visits."
    At first he didn't know what she was talking
about, but then he remembered the real Gerard Green had texted her,
stating the vamp was going to be at Eternal Bliss. He'd been killed
in the alleyway behind his pub because of this knowledge, or
perhaps it had been all a set up. Green's death could have been
part of the plan all along.
    "We could head back to Eternal Bliss now and
see if we spot anyone on the prowl," Tremayne said, and then
glanced to where the werewolf had been standing, but he had already
disappeared into the night. Probably a wise choice on his part.
    Realizing they were relatively safe now,
Cassandra sheathed her dagger. "Let's head over to slip 53 first
before we head back to the pub. We could scope out their cozy
little place. See if anyone is at home."
    "Right behind you." God, he hoped no one was
there. Both beings were lethal and he didn't fancy being in close
quarters with either one of the preternatural beings when Cassandra
was with him. Not that he doubted her capabilities, but he didn't
want to expose his secret either. A fight would surely reveal he
was not a human hunter.
    They strode over to the wharf with minimal
small talk. She was all business tonight dressed in her cargo
pants, T-shirt, jacket and boots. He wondered where she hid all her
weapons. He knew without her flashing them in his face, she had
more than one hidden on her person.
    "I see it," she said and strode ahead of him
toward the slot. The boat was actually a small yacht, a cabin
cruiser no more than 13.7 meters in length. The name on the side,
printed in dark blue script, spelled La Belle Dame . All that
was missing was Sans Merci to quote the title of Keats'
ballad regarding a Lamia. The name of the yacht definitely reminded
him of Lorelei's sense of humor.
    Cassandra palmed her gun, a model he didn't
recognize, but he would bet it held bullets meant to eliminate
preternatural beings. He didn't show up empty handed either. He had
a dagger, which he gripped