Free Make Me by Parker Blue Page A

“How’s it going there?”
    “Okay, I guess. I’m still waiting to meet their leader. She’s busy with club business and performing, so it might be awhile.”
    “Performing?”
    “Yeah. She’s a succubus like you, and I guess she does some kind of sexy song act to feed on the audience. Like Micah does with his dancing.”
    Another succubus? I didn’t like the sound of that, and Lola sure didn’t. She considered Shade her own personal snack. Alarm spiked in me. “Hey, they have some kind of vamps-only meet and greet thing going on now, so we unworthy demons have a few hours free. Want to get something to eat?”
    “Sure, but I can’t exactly go out in public.”
    Oh, yeah. Sometimes I forgot his swirliness kept him limited. If it wasn’t for other demons providing a space where he could be his own swirly self, he’d never be able to get out. “Okay, how about I grab some food and bring it to you? Is there a place there where we can sit and eat?” Besides, I should probably meet the Underground here, too, especially after what David had said about there being something a little off with them.
    Fang perked up at the mention of food and wagged his tail. DINNER?
    “Yeah,” Shade said. “They have a staff-only section we can use. It’s quieter. I’ll let the guy at the door know you’re coming.”
    “Will they let Fang in?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    I looked down at the hellhound.
    NO BIGGIE, he assured me. GET ME A PIZZA AND I’LL BE HAPPY. I COULD USE A NAP.
    “Okay, thanks.” We compared notes and figured out the Underground was within walking distance, so I didn’t need the car, even though Austin had given me the keys.
    A card on the nightstand gave instructions on how to have food delivered, so I made arrangements with the concierge to have a pizza delivered to the room, telling him to open the door and leave the box on the floor.
    DOES THIS MEAN YOU FORGIVE ME? Fang asked.
    “Somewhat. It’s just that pizza is the easiest thing to order right now.” I tried not to think of what else the concierge would order in.
    Jack tapped on the door and stuck his head in, looking hopeful. “Some dinner would go down mighty fine right now.”
    I grinned at him. “I just ordered something for Fang, but I’m planning on getting some food to take to Shade. Want to come?”
    “Of course.”
    I started to walk out the door, then paused for a moment, considering. We were in vamp territory and I had to leave the room unlocked so Fang could get out. I didn’t care about any of my stuff, but… “I should probably take the books with me.”
    Jack nodded. “Yes, you should.”
    So, I slung the backpack over my shoulder and headed toward Sixth Street. We located a take-out Mexican restaurant, then found the seven-block party that was Sixth Street. There weren’t as many people as I expected, but that could be due to students going home for Christmas break.
    This Club Purgatory was right in the middle of the nightlife. I nodded to the guy at the door who was dressed like a Goth version of Santa Claus, with black and gray where red and white should be, and fake blood trickling down from one of his “fangs” into his scraggly beard. Ick. Some things were just in poor taste.
    I raised my voice above the music so I could be heard. “Shade told you we were coming?”
    Dark Santa nodded and gave us directions to get downstairs. The basement at this club seemed bigger than the one in San Antonio, and thankfully none of the Purgatory theme showed up here. Instead, there was a bright, clean break room where Shade was waiting for us. I kissed him, feeling kind of shy in front of Jack, and since no one else was there, we grabbed a corner table in the large room. We ate, then I pulled out the books and thumbed through the first volume.
    “What are you looking for?” Jack asked.
    “I want to see if there’s any mention of chupacabras in the listing of demons, see what we can find out.” I checked and even had