Page 27 of Grimoire Omens

“As a member of nobility, I outrank you.”

“Maybe in your dimension, but here, I’m the one with the advantage, or disadvantage depending on how you look at it, because Gryvak is after me. I know the city better, and I have the magic to send you home to Infernal. Meanwhile, all you have is a sword and a pretty face.”

He gaped at me.

“Would it help if I said you had a hot bod too?”

“No!” he snapped.

“Don’t be so uptight. I’m taking charge right now because it’s necessary. You can take charge later when I don’t have a clue. Sound good?”

He shook his head and muttered something I didn’t catch, but he must have agreed because he stalked to my side and remained there as we headed for my car, where, as expected, we found Flo and Cedric waiting, the latter sitting on the hood looking nonchalant like only a cat could ever manage.

“There you are. I was so worried.” My bestie flung her arms around me and hugged me hard. I squeezed her even tighter, anaconda style, because damn that had been close for both of us.

“Ulseere got us out in the nick of time,” I stated.

“Beatrice had to use some of her magic, or we might not have made it either. She conjured some kind of shield and held up part of the ceiling until everyone had passed.”

“Speaking of Beatrice, where is she?” A glance around showed us alone.

“She took off to help the folk who don’t fit it in so well find a new hiding spot.”

“How pissed is she at me for wrecking their home?” Because, technically, Gryvak and the destruction could be blamed on my presence.

“She’s not,” Cedric replied. “The market and its people move around often because someone always opens their big mouth and ruins it for everyone else. When a location is compromised, they move on to the next.”

“I’m glad to hear they’ve got places to go.” Whether or not I’d be welcome, though… Guess that depended on if I could fix the Gryvak problem. I still couldn’t believe he’d sauntered up to me so casually and struck up a conversation. Also, I couldn’t believe someone supposedly so evil could be so pretty. Shouldn’t there be a law against that?

“What’s the plan now?” Flo asked, seemingly undaunted by the danger.

Wish I could say the same.

“Getting away from here would be a good start,” Cedric’s dry retort.

“Obviously.” I rolled my eyes. “Ulseere says we should be able to do a hotel for the night since Gryvak will need to formulate a new plan.” Speaking of Ulseere, he remained slightly apart, on high alert, handle on the hilt of his sword. Kind of hot.

The late afternoon sun indicated twilight quickly approached, as did sirens. Someone must have noted and reported the ground collapsing.

“We should get moving before someone in uniform arrives and starts asking questions,” Flo stated as the voice of the reason.

“I’d be more worried about the demons who will be rousing and hunting soon,” said my unhelpful dark prince, a reminder that didn’t help my nerves.

“Can you drive?” My hands shook.

“No problem.”

Luckily, I’d kept the keys tucked in my jacket and handed them to Flo. We piled into the car, me and Cedric in the back, Ulseere sitting by Flo in the front. We headed out with me asking the most obvious question. “Any suggestions on a cheap hotel?”

“Cheap means little to no security,” Cedric pointed out.

“Yeah, well, we don’t have much choice because I’ve got less than a hundred bucks on me, and my credit card is in my duffel buried under a shit-ton of rock.” Because my dumb ass grabbed the Grimoire but forgot my wallet.

“Payment won’t be an issue,” Ulseere stated.

“Pretty sure your Infernal currency won’t be accepted,” my riposte.

He glanced over his shoulder at me. “I will handle the financial aspect.” Then to Flo, “Bring us to an establishment in the heart of your city where there will be many witnesses and security.”