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.
A savage fury rippled through him and his growl filled the hallway with a lethal warning. The imp had time to glance toward him in sudden fear before Cezar launched forward, his arms clamping around the imp and his fangs burying deep into the slender neck.
It was a quick kill, but not quick enough to prevent the final imp from throwing himself into the fray.
Cezar staggered as the imp hit him from behind, but his hold on the demon in his arms never faltered. He sucked with swift efficiency, sensing the demon’s heart flutter as death ruthlessly approached.
There was a blow from behind and Cezar felt the cool thrust of a steel blade slide through his side, striking his rib with a jarring pain. Refusing to be distracted, he continued to drain the imp. The wound was far from fatal, and if stabbing him kept the attacker busy, then so be it.
Anna, unfortunately, wasn’t nearly so indifferent to the sight of a wild-eyed imp plunging a knife into his flesh.
With a muttered curse, she held out her hand and the wind began to swirl. All too aware of what was coming next, Cezar tossed the now dead imp aside and fell to the ground. He’d already been on the receiving end of Anna’s power. He was happy to give this one a miss.
Of course, he didn’t mind enjoying the show, and turning his head to the side, he watched as the imp came to an unnatural halt, his green eyes widening as he struggled to breathe.
For a moment the demon attempted to break free of the invisible bonds that held him, his fingers clenching and unclenching and the veins of his neck popping. Cezar knew firsthand that escape was impossible, especially for a creature that actually needed to breathe. Those bands she created might be nothing more than air, but they might as well be made of pure steel.
It took a few moments, but soon enough the imp slumped against the unseen bonds that held him and with a ragged sigh Anna closed her eyes as she struggled to release the power surging through the hallway. Cezar was careful to remain utterly still, not wanting to distract her. She could bring down the entire building if she lost control at this point.
Her pale features grimaced, as if she were in pain, then with a loud gasp, she fell to her knees. Cezar ignored the imp who tumbled unconscious to the ground as he rushed to Anna’s side. Bending down, he pulled her into his arms.
“Anna?” He tilted her chin up so he could peer into her dazed eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She shook her head as if to clear it, pushing herself to her feet. “What about you?” She reached out to touch the blood that stained his silk shirt, biting her bottom lip at the deep wound that marred his side.
Taking her hand, Cezar lifted her fingers to his lips. “I’ll heal, although I would appreciate you not mentioning this little incident to Viper. He would never let me live it down if he discovered I allowed myself to be wounded by a mere imp.”
“An imp with a knife,” she reminded him.
Cezar smiled. “It wouldn’t matter if he’d been carrying a missile launcher. A vampire has a reputation to uphold.”
She managed a weak smile before hissing softly as her gaze caught sight of the imp lying lifeless on the ground.
“Dammit, I swore I was done doing crap like that. Is he…?”
“He’s just unconscious.”
Relief rippled over her face. “Thank God.”
Cezar frowned. Although he would prefer that Anna not use her powers until she learned enough control that she didn’t endanger herself, he didn’t want her hesitating out of fear she might hurt someone.
“Anna.”
She glanced up, revealing the shadows that lurked deep in her eyes. “What?”
Cezar swallowed his words and reached to take her hand. Now was not the time to remind her that Morgana le Fay was playing for keeps and that she might be forced to kill more than once.Time enough for that when they were away from the damned imps.
“Let’s get out of here.”
There was no argument from Anna as she fell into step beside him. They bypassed the two imps that Cezar had dispatched and moved through the door to the stairs. In the distance he could sense imps moving through the building, but none of them was close enough to trouble them.
At least not yet.
They took the stairs two at a time, pausing as they hit the ground level and encountered the heavy lead door blocking their exit. Cezar reached for the keycard he had slipped into the pocket of his jeans and slid it into the lock.
With a click the door opened, revealing the nearly empty parking lot. It was still too early for most vampires or customers to arrive, and the damaged cars had already been towed for repair.
Pausing in the shadows of the doorway, Cezar studied the oddly peaceful lot. Imps weren’t known for their battle tactics. Hell, for the most part the demons were successful shopkeepers and bankers, not warriors. The glitter of gold was far preferable to the dangers of wading into battle. Even if the battle offered the opportunity to kill a fairy or two.
But even an imp should have enough brains to leave someone to guard the exits.
“What’s wrong?” Anna whispered at his side.
His gaze continued to scan the shadows. “The entrance to the tunnel is on the other side of the lot.”
“Then why are we waiting?”
“This has to be a trap.”
There was a faint scrape before the tall, crimson-haired imp who’d earlier been watching the building stepped from behind a cement column.
“So it’s true that vampires do think with something besides their fangs on occasion,” the intruder drawled, his emerald eyes sparkling with mocking amusement.
Cezar growled, furious that his senses had failed to pick up the threat.
“Imp.”
“No, not just imp,” the tall demon corrected, his hands held behind his back as he gave a proud toss of his head. “I am Troy, the Prince of Imps. No need to bow, although you can grovel if you wish.”
Cezar knew what he wanted to do with the oversized imp, and bowing or groveling definitely wasn’t involved.
“How did you mask your scent?” he demanded.
The mocking smile widened to reveal his too-white teeth. “I just told you, I am a prince. My powers are far greater than the average imp.”
Cezar took a step forward. “We’re about to find out just how great those powers are.”
Troy’s smile never faltered as he pulled a hand from behind his back to reveal a small crossbow already loaded with a wooden arrow.
“Unless your intent is to share some of that nummy vampire goodness, which I am quite willing to enjoy, I suggest that you stay precisely where you are,” he warned.
Cezar narrowed his gaze, stepping in front of Anna. “You better start praying to whatever god you serve that you don’t miss your target, imp.”
Troy shrugged. “I never miss my target, Cezar, but I didn’t come here to kill you.”
Cezar frowned, wondering how the hell the demon knew his name. “That might be a little more convincing if the building wasn’t being overrun by homicidal imps.”
The pale, perfect features hardened with fury. “When the queen calls I must respond, but that doesn’t mean I can’t tweak her nose when the opportunity arrives.”
Cezar stilled. So, the rumors of the bad blood between fairies and imps weren’t an exaggeration. This prince was not a bit happy with his queen.
That didn’t mean, however, that Troy wouldn’t kill them if there were some advantage to be gained. Imps had few morals and would sell their own mothers if they could make a profit.
“Tweak her nose?” Cezar demanded, keeping a close eye on the arrow pointed directly at his heart.