She set a mug of warm blood in front of him and a tankard of beer in front of her boss. To Khent, she said, “Here you go, sir. You’ll scent notes of faeberry and dragon smoke. It’s a good blend.”
He took a small sip, surprised. “It is. My thanks.” She flushed and gave a shy nod. Before she could go, Talon caught her by the hand. “Hold on, Tina. Khent needs information. You know everybody around here. Maybe you can help.”
She shot Talon a look that would have skewered a weaker male. Odd for a human servant to be disrespectful of her boss. But perhaps the rules were different for lesser beings.
Intrigued, Khent waited.
“Sure,boss.” She gave Talon a hard smile but softened it when she glanced again at Khent. “Sir?”
He did like her respect. “I’m seeking this woman.” He pulled out a photograph he’d had Mormo take from Khent’s memories and magically transcribe to paper. “She’s not much to look at, but she’s powerful.” Not much to look at, yet he had stared at the photo more than he cared to recall.
The woman, Tina, frowned as she stared at the photo. “Do we know her?” She looked at Talon, who shrugged.
“She looks like my old server. But I can’t be sure. Why are you looking for her?”
Mila shot into the bar and went straight for his shoulder.
Talon cringed, but the human woman cocked her head in wonder. Her eyes softened. “How pretty.”
“Pretty dead,” Talon grumbled. “Do you have to have dead things in my bar, Khent?”
“I do.” Khent wouldn’t tolerate disrespect for his pets. It was bad enough his kin teased him about playing with dead things. But no lesser being could insult him without repercussions.
“Forgive him, please,” Tina said, still smiling at Mila. “He’s jealous of her shiny plumage. What glorious feathers.” She curled her fingers, as if stopping herself from reaching out to pet his bird.
Khent didn’t usually get that reaction from people. Though Mila looked damn good for her age, the thick coat of death magic over her feathers instinctively repulsed onlookers. But maybe the human, with so little magic, couldn’t sense it.
“Thank you. Mila’s been with me a long time.”
“It’s unnatural,” Talon grumbled. “To answer your question, I haven’t seen Val since Sebastian Castle nearly destroyed the bazaar. We’re still fixing some spots in the stalls around the perimeter.”
“We?”
Talon nodded. “I own forty-five percent of the market.”
“Is that so?” He looked from Talon to the female. Something about her didn’t seem right.
She looked familiar, though he couldn’t have said why. She didn’t smell powerful or feel as if she had a lot of magic.
A flutter of appreciation and affection for the female swelled from Mila, who seemed shockinglysmittenwith the woman.
Mila?
His pet didn’t answer him.
“I’m sorry,” Tina apologized. “I don’t know Val well. I haven’t been here that long.” She waved at the raven. “I need to get back.” She walked away before Khent told her she could go.
Even more astonishing, Mila left his shoulder and followed the human, landing on her shoulder instead.
In a flash, Khent saw through Mila’s eyes, piercing the spell, and stared athis preylooking so lovely and bright.
CHAPTER
SIX
Val feltthe danger before the lovely dead raven settled on her shoulder. The creature nudged her hair, nibbling with affectionate pecks.
And that wouldn’t attract the vampire at all.
