Games Demons Play (Mystic Isle, Book 3) by Selena Blake Page B

Valencia a new car?
    “You guys again, huh?”
    She admired his golden good looks as she
stepped toward him. He was tall and lean and wore a suit very well.
She could see his appeal and understood why women flocked to the
island. But as far as she knew he wasn’t involved with anyone.
    “It was my fault. Again. Grayson did not know
Shade and I are involved. He was looking out for me.” It felt good
to be able to tell the god the truth this time. All those months
ago, she’d been so furious with Grayson’s “friend,” so overwhelmed
that she had tucked tail and run.
    Latham’s blue eyes twinkled as he looked
their little group over. The regular background noise of talk,
laughter and music that she’d come to associate with Mystic Isle
picked back up and she felt a little less like a fish in a bowl.
Although, when the god’s eye zeroed in on her again, she felt like
he could see every thought in her mind, every sin she had ever
committed.
    It didn’t help that he smiled as if he knew
exactly what she was thinking.
    “I believe these belong to you.” He held out
a clear acrylic box containing her chips.
    It took considerable effort not to pounce.
She had gotten so distracted with Shade and secrets and friends
that chips, poker, and winning money had slipped her mind.
    “Thank you.” Nibbling her lower lip, she took
the container and held it close.
    “I hope you’re feeling better, Ms.
Lukin.”
    She nodded up at the god, a little
speechless. How had he known?
    “Why weren’t you feeling well?” Coco asked,
slipping an arm through Izzy’s.
    Izzy did not want to get into it. It was
embarrassing enough to fall asleep at a bar, much less rehash it to
her closest friend.
    “If you’ll excuse us, Latham, we’re on a bit
of a deadline,” Shade said. The god nodded and turned away. Izzy
felt thoroughly excused, but Shade was right. They were on a
deadline.
    Without asking permission, Shade took the box
and reorganized the chips. “You’re two thousand short,” he
murmured.
    Was it possible for vamps to have heartburn?
Izzy was sure the pain in her chest was heartburn.
    She had done well so far. In the scheme of
things, two thousand was not much. Not compared to what she had
already won. Not compared to what she needed to win. But it meant
sitting at a blackjack table and praying for two more lucky hands.
Because the alternative was go home empty-handed and face
Valencia’s wrath.
    For a brief moment the image of Valencia’s
porcelain doll features contorting into rage filled her mind’s eye.
Snarling red lips, depthless midnight-blue eyes, pinched brows. And
that didn’t even include audio.
    Feeling flushed, Izzy nodded up at Shade. It
was time to forget quickies and get serious.
    “Izzy?” Coco sounded worried.
    “It was nothing.” She started for the
casino.
    “She’s not drinking enough,” Shade scolded,
bringing up the rear with Grayson.
    She shot him a look over his shoulder. “You
have fixed the issue. On to new problems.” Like that last two
thousand.
    Two more gold and green chips with the Mystic
Isle logo and she would have her seat in the tournament.
    “This is Shade, by the way. Shade, Coco.”
    Coco turned and shook Shade’s hand. “The best
friend,” Coco said with a wide smile.
    “And your sparring partner is her mate,
Grayson.” She saw the two men shake hands from the corner of her
eye.
    With the introductions made, she continued
on. Her three-hour deadline felt closer to two and a half now. Maybe less. Nothing like waiting until the last minute,
Izzy.
    “So you and Shade, huh?” Coco whispered in
Izzy’s ear.
    “It just happened,” Izzy whispered back.
    “You didn’t tell me he was on the
island.”
    “I did not know at the time we talked. He
showed up after.”
    “In the nick of time, if you asked me. Don’t
tell Grayson, but good job, girl.”
    Izzy paused mid-step. “It is not like that,”
she whispered, eying the man she had spent the night tangled up
with.