Page 77 of Bad Moon Rising (Dark-Hunter 17)
If the humans only knew. . . .
But they weren't what concerned her. Only Fang did.
Loud hip-hop music thundered through the club as lights flashed and danced across the people, demons, floor, and bar. The crowd mingled all around her in couples or in groups while the demons tried to blend in. A few did have their horns showing, but the humans seemed to accept those as fake. Some of them were even showing their real mottled-colored skin, but again, the humans complimented them on the makeup.
Weird.
Aimee stopped a male Charonte with red horns and orange and red skin as he passed by her with an empty tray tucked under his arm. "Hey, where's Xedrix?"
He gave her a suspicious once-over.
"I'm Kyle Peltier's sister and I need to speak to him."
That seemed to reassure him. He pressed the mic on his headset. "Xed, there's a bear down here for you." He nodded, then looked back at her. "He's on his way."
"Thank you."
The demon wandered off toward the mirrored bar area.
She saw a door open from an upstairs room that must be the office. It had a mirrored window where Xedrix could no doubt look out and spy on his workers and patrons.
Dressed in jeans and a loose blue T-shirt, Xedrix made his way down the steps. Aimee had to give him credit. For a demon, he was damn good-looking. That lean body was ripped and his black hair framed near-perfect features.
But the dismal expression on his face was almost funny as he stopped by her side. "This can't be good for me."
"Nice seeing you too."
"Yeah. What do you need now?"
"Information about a demon."
His features hardened. "Don't piss us off. We don't like that."
She gave him a droll stare. "If someone's possessed by a demon, how do you get the demon out?"
"Call a priest." He started away from her.
Aimee caught his arm and pulled him to a stop. His entire stance oozed impatience. "I'm serious, Xedrix. And this isn't a human. It's Fang. Have you any idea how much damage a demon could do in the body of a Were-Hunter?"
"Oh, a lot." His tone was as dry as the Sahara. "Would definitely suck to be their victim."
She didn't appreciate his humor. "What can I do?"
"I'd leave town."
"Xedrix!"
He lifted his hands in an exaggerated stance of hopeless innocence. "What do you want me to say? Rub his furry belly? I don't even know what kind of demon has him. In case you haven't noticed, there are hundreds of species of us. And you're talking to a demon who comes from one of the nonpossessing kind. We kill whatever gets in our way. Or on our nerves." He gave her a very pointed stare for emphasis on that. "Possession's for . . ." His voice trailed off as he looked past her.
Aimee turned to see a gorgeous blond woman who was eyeing him irritably with her arms akimbo.
"You were about to say?" the female prompted.
"Uh . . . possession's for really great demons who have . . . lots of powers."
It was actually entertaining to watch him squirm. Obviously the blond woman meant a lot to him and he didn't want to make her angry.
The blonde offered Aimee her hand. "I'm Kerryna and you would be?"
"Kyle's sister," Xedrix answered so quick Aimee realized that he and Kerryna must have a relationship close enough that he didn't want Kerryna to mistake why he was talking to her. "Aimee. And she was just leaving."
Aimee let go of Kerryna's hand to correct him. "Not yet, I'm not."
"Yes, you are. Adios. There's the door. Doorknob twists to the left. The hinges open in. You should use them. Keep them working. Keep you breathing. We're all happy here."
Aimee sighed at his sarcastic tirade. Ignoring him, she tried Kerryna. "I have to know how to break a possession. Would you happen to have any kind of suggestions?"
Kerryna frowned. "What kind of demon?"
"I don't know. Is there a difference?"
"Oh, definitely. There are those you can kill, those you can drive out, and those who become a permanent part of you. The latter, to quote Xedrix's favorite phrase, really sucks."
Aimee slid a glance at Xedrix, before she returned her attention to Kerryna. "How do I know what I have?"
"Take me to it."
Xedrix made an inhuman sound of protest. "Oh, hell no."
Kerryna gave him a chiding stare. "Xedrix . . ."
He immediately stepped back. "I know I'm Charonte and we defer to our females, but you have to respect the fact that I'm Charonte and we protect our females to the end. You be my female. I be protecting."
Kerryna smiled at him. "Then come with us and stop whining."
"I'm not whining." He looked at Aimee as if he were contemplating her utter dismemberment. "Why is it every time I see you, you make me go someplace I don't want to go? I guess I should be grateful that at least it's not hell again."
"Stop being a baby, demon. Let's go see Fang."
Xedrix screwed his face up in distaste. "What is it with you and that wolf anyway? Can't we just shoot him and put him out of my misery?"
"I'd shoot you first."
"At the rate we're going, I wish you would."
Kerryna smacked him playfully in the belly. "Be nice, Xed, or I'll shoot you myself."
"Yes, akra."
Shaking her head at his sarcasm, Aimee took them back to where she'd left Fang in his room.
It was empty.
Xedrix crossed his arms over his chest. "Where is he?"
Frustrated and worried, Aimee searched the room with her gaze. The bed was still mussed, but the dresser and chest of drawers were perfect. Everything was as it had been, except for Fang's presence. "I don't know. He was curled up on the floor in pain when I left him."
Kerryna went to the spot as if she somehow knew exactly where he'd been. Touching the floor, she gasped. "Oh, this is bad."
Aimee's heart sank to her feet at that dire tone. "What?"
"He's possessed by a primus. A powerful primus."
Aimee wasn't sure what that was, but the tone said it wasn't good. "Can you get the demon out?"
"I don't know." Kerryna stood up again. "If I had my sisters, I could. But alone . . . I just don't know."
"Then what do we do?"
Xedrix was the one who answered. "Kill him."
"Xedrix!" Aimee snapped.
"What?" He gave her a look of innocence that would have been comical had it not been Fang's life they were discussing. "Wolves make good eats. Not as tasty as other things, but they're not bad. And add on hot sauce. I could make do."
Wanting to serve him up at Sanctuary, she looked at Kerryna. "I can track him and find him." Aimee closed her eyes and thought of Fang.
But for once, nothing was there.
Nothing.
How could this be? Her powers were godlike. She could always track. Yet there was no sign of him anywhere. It was almost like he was dead.
That mere thought was enough to make her want to collapse. You're stronger than that. . . .
Aimee faced them with a steadiness she didn't feel. "I can't find him."
Kerryna looked back to the floor. "He's a powerful demon. I'm sure he can mask his essence from anyone except a god."
"Then what do we do?"
Xedrix shrugged. His ambivalence was getting on her last nerve.
Narrowing her eyes, Kerryna tapped her chin. "Menyara, I think."
Aimee frowned at a term she'd never heard before. "Is that some kind of funky ceremony?"
