and there are still some things we can’t protect the young from.
The cat walked regally by Lili’s side as they returned downstairs.
“You’re very good with them,” Lili said, feeling guilty she hadn’t praised her friend more often for the tireless work she did to cheer up children.
Cleo sniffed. “I was a mother once.”
“And seduced your share of men,” the witch muttered.
“Not as many as the movies claim. And the actresses they’ve used in the past? Puleeze!”
Lili couldn’t help it. She had to laugh.
“As if you know what a sex life is like.” Cleo got in her parting shot before she picked up the pace and preceded Lili out of the building.
“There is nothing worse than a smart-ass cat.”
Chapter 5
It wasn’t the bright lights that surrounded Crieze’s large entrance and the sign above it that Lili saw first when she slotted her car into the parking spot. Her attention zeroed in on the tall shadows gathered nearby that looked very familiar and man-shaped. She climbed out of her SUV and started toward the dark tendrils then halted when the silhouette seemed to morph into a tiny ball until it was gone.
A demon does it better , something whispered in her ear.
“Just my imagination, nothing more,” she told herself, taking an abrupt turn in the other direction and heading for the club. She ignored the tingles running across her shoulders as she walked swiftly across the parking lot. “Damn him.”
Once inside, Lili thought about leaving immediately. She winced as the musical and vocal assault punished her ears. She quickly conjured up a bit of a noise-dampening spell to make it easier and looked around the club until she saw Deisphe waving at her.
“You made it! Cute outfit, by the way.” The Were handed her a glass with contents the color of spearmint that fizzed merrily. “You need to catch up with us.” She introduced Lili to the two nurses and doctor who shared the table.
Lili looked at her companions’ club wear and was glad she’d taken the time to shower and change into a short black silk skirt and hot pink sequined tank top with a black knit shrug that sported iridescent threads. She had flatironed her curly hair and twisted it up into an intricate ponytail.
“How do you stand the noise?” She was grateful she didn’t have to shout at Deisphe, since the Were’s hearing could easily pick up her words.
The lovely Were grinned and pointed to her ears. “Music protectors. Believe me, this noise is nothing. The music in a Were club can be loud enough to demolish a building.”
“Our Deisphe gives a whole new meaning to the name party animal. Always a pleasure to see you, Lili,” Heron, the gnome doctor, smiled at her, revealing short stubby teeth that went along with his short stubby body. While he wasn’t Lili’s type, she noticed more than a few gnome ladies were giving him an appreciative eye, while bubbly Deisphe received her own share of attention—not just because the barely present silver dress outlining her slender body shimmered under the club lights.
“What is this?” Lili asked, giving an experimental sniff of her drink, identifying strong alcohol—even if she wasn’t sure which one—and a scent that had her thinking of liquid happiness.
“Something that makes us blissful.” Deisphe nudged the glass upward. “Nothing harmful, and even better, it doesn’t give you a headache in the morning.”
“Deisphe said you’re from Chicago and that you’d worked at Crying Souls years ago,” commented Fiona, a nurse who worked in one of the main healing rooms.
“That’s right.” Lili nodded, sipping her drink and finding it everything Deisphe said it was.
“Didn’t Sera come from Chicago?” Fiona turned to the others.
Lili snapped to attention. “Sera Rainier?”
The nurse blinked at her sharp tone. “Yes. I worked with her in the ER before she moved upstairs to one of the critical care wards.”
“I’ve tried to get hold of Sera
The cat walked regally by Lili’s side as they returned downstairs.
“You’re very good with them,” Lili said, feeling guilty she hadn’t praised her friend more often for the tireless work she did to cheer up children.
Cleo sniffed. “I was a mother once.”
“And seduced your share of men,” the witch muttered.
“Not as many as the movies claim. And the actresses they’ve used in the past? Puleeze!”
Lili couldn’t help it. She had to laugh.
“As if you know what a sex life is like.” Cleo got in her parting shot before she picked up the pace and preceded Lili out of the building.
“There is nothing worse than a smart-ass cat.”
Chapter 5
It wasn’t the bright lights that surrounded Crieze’s large entrance and the sign above it that Lili saw first when she slotted her car into the parking spot. Her attention zeroed in on the tall shadows gathered nearby that looked very familiar and man-shaped. She climbed out of her SUV and started toward the dark tendrils then halted when the silhouette seemed to morph into a tiny ball until it was gone.
A demon does it better , something whispered in her ear.
“Just my imagination, nothing more,” she told herself, taking an abrupt turn in the other direction and heading for the club. She ignored the tingles running across her shoulders as she walked swiftly across the parking lot. “Damn him.”
Once inside, Lili thought about leaving immediately. She winced as the musical and vocal assault punished her ears. She quickly conjured up a bit of a noise-dampening spell to make it easier and looked around the club until she saw Deisphe waving at her.
“You made it! Cute outfit, by the way.” The Were handed her a glass with contents the color of spearmint that fizzed merrily. “You need to catch up with us.” She introduced Lili to the two nurses and doctor who shared the table.
Lili looked at her companions’ club wear and was glad she’d taken the time to shower and change into a short black silk skirt and hot pink sequined tank top with a black knit shrug that sported iridescent threads. She had flatironed her curly hair and twisted it up into an intricate ponytail.
“How do you stand the noise?” She was grateful she didn’t have to shout at Deisphe, since the Were’s hearing could easily pick up her words.
The lovely Were grinned and pointed to her ears. “Music protectors. Believe me, this noise is nothing. The music in a Were club can be loud enough to demolish a building.”
“Our Deisphe gives a whole new meaning to the name party animal. Always a pleasure to see you, Lili,” Heron, the gnome doctor, smiled at her, revealing short stubby teeth that went along with his short stubby body. While he wasn’t Lili’s type, she noticed more than a few gnome ladies were giving him an appreciative eye, while bubbly Deisphe received her own share of attention—not just because the barely present silver dress outlining her slender body shimmered under the club lights.
“What is this?” Lili asked, giving an experimental sniff of her drink, identifying strong alcohol—even if she wasn’t sure which one—and a scent that had her thinking of liquid happiness.
“Something that makes us blissful.” Deisphe nudged the glass upward. “Nothing harmful, and even better, it doesn’t give you a headache in the morning.”
“Deisphe said you’re from Chicago and that you’d worked at Crying Souls years ago,” commented Fiona, a nurse who worked in one of the main healing rooms.
“That’s right.” Lili nodded, sipping her drink and finding it everything Deisphe said it was.
“Didn’t Sera come from Chicago?” Fiona turned to the others.
Lili snapped to attention. “Sera Rainier?”
The nurse blinked at her sharp tone. “Yes. I worked with her in the ER before she moved upstairs to one of the critical care wards.”
“I’ve tried to get hold of Sera
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