Instantly on alert, she stiffened, her gaze searching the shadows across the street. It didn’t take long to spot the tall, red-haired man standing in a recessed doorway across the street. Holy crap. It wouldn’t take long to spot the man anywhere.
Large and muscular, he wore a stunning pair of lime-green spandex pants and a sparkly T-shirt so tight that it looked painted across his rippling chest. And his hair…even in the darkness it held a fiery glow and fell well past his waist in thick waves.
Definitely the sort to stand out in a crowd, let alone near an empty street.
It could be nothing, she tried to reassure herself. This was a nightclub and the man could simply be waiting for night to fully fall and the vampires to arrive for a little fairy goodness.
It could be, but Anna couldn’t ignore the prickles of warning that raced over her skin. There was a frozen watchfulness about the stranger, the sense of a predator on the scent of his prey.
God, what if she was the prey?
Instinctively she stepped back, her hand pressed to her racing heart. As she moved, a pair of strong, familiar arms encircled her waist from behind, bringing with them a sense of reassurance that only Cezar could offer.
“Anna, what is it?” he whispered close to her ear. “I can sense your fear.”
She pointed a finger toward the window. “There’s something down there watching the building.”
His arms tightened. “An imp.”
Imp?
She blinked in shock. She thought that imps were tiny little creatures that danced about causing mischief. Not towering oafs who looked as if they could crush her with one hand.
“Are imps different than fairies?” she rasped.
“They are distant cousins, although they rarely admit the connection. They’ve been at war for centuries over which race is superior to the other.”
Bad for them, but maybe good for her.
“So they wouldn’t be in the command of Morgana?”
His arms tightened. “If she called upon the imps they would have to respond.”
“Great.” Her brief flare of hope faded and she turned in his arms to meet his worried gaze. “How could they know I’m here?”
His brows drew together as he swiftly considered the various possibilities. “One of the fairies must have realized that the wreckage in the garage wasn’t due to the troll that Viper claimed had gotten loose, and contacted the queen.”
“Troll?”
He shrugged. “There’re few other things that could cause such damage. And many establishments keep one or two around to deal with troublesome customers.”
Anna shivered. God, she didn’t even want to imagine what one of those might look like. “Remind me not to cause trouble at a demon bar.”
“We must leave.”
Anna was more than ready to leave before the imp decided he was tired of just watching, but she wanted to be assured that they had some kind of plan.
Something beyond running through the dark streets with a pack of imps nipping at her heels.
“And go where?”
“First I need to find somewhere you will be safe.”
“And what about you?”
“Viper has a friend who might possess information that will help us discover more about Morgana le Fay.”
She frowned, sensing that he wasn’t entirely happy with their proposed destinations.
“What kind of information?”
“I don’t know for sure.” A grimace touched the lean, bronzed features. “I hope he might have a book that includes the history of Morgana before she retreated to Avalon.”
“You think that could help us?” she demanded in confusion. She enjoyed books as well as the next person (perhaps even more than most), but right now it seemed like a big gun or maybe even a flamethrower would be a little more helpful.
“It might reveal why she has remained hidden there. If there is something she’s afraid of, it might help us.”
It took a moment before realization at last hit. “Ah. The enemy of my enemy is my friend?”
His dark eyes held a hint of regret. “I know it’s not much…”
She placed a finger on his lips. This man had done everything possible to keep her safe. She wouldn’t allow him to feel guilt because things weren’t running as smoothly as either of them might want.
That blame lay firmly on Morgana le Fay’s shoulders.
“How are we going to get anywhere if the building is being watched?”
His grim expression eased as he arched a dark brow. “Surely you haven’t forgotten that a vampire owns this building?”
“No, but…oh. Tunnels?”
“Of course.” His head tilted, his eyes abruptly narrowing. “Dios.”
“What is it?”
“It sounds as if the imps have grown tired of simply watching. No doubt Morgana has promised them a reward for your capture.”
Anna’s stomach clenched with dread. “Or my death.”
“Never,” he hissed, grabbing her hand and dragging her out of the bedroom. “This way.”
Cezar led Anna through the large living room and out the doors that had so recently been repaired. Once in the hall he paused to allow his senses to flow outward, swallowing his curse as he realized that the imps were already in the building and heading up the elevator.
“The stairs,” he muttered, pulling Anna behind him as he turned and darted down a small corridor. His instinct was to toss her over his shoulder so he could use his superior speed to reach the tunnels, but caution warned him that if they were attacked he would need his hands free.
It was a caution that served him well as he neared the door that led to the stairs. Even as his hand reached toward the knob the door flew open and three imps charged through the opening.
He had a brief glimpse of the ever-youthful features and pale golden hair before they were upon him. Pushing Anna behind him, he prepared to meet the onslaught. He didn’t doubt that he could easily dispatch the imps. They were far better at hexes and charms than actual fighting. But, they were an obstacle he didn’t need right now.
Already braced, he didn’t budge when the first imp rammed straight into him. Closing his arms around the slender form he kept himself firmly between the attackers and Anna. With a squeeze he crushed the imp in his arms. He heard the crack of the imp’s spine and was dropping the screaming demon even as the second hit him from the side.
This time the force threw Cezar against the wall. His hand shot out to grasp the imp, but moving with an agile speed, the golden-haired demon darted away to grab Anna’s arm.