Just another ordinary night for him.
“One glimpse will show us just where your allegiance lies,” Sam said because that part was what mattered. The body count was rising. Az and Rogziel would be closing in soon. Not just one threat—two. When the end came, could he trust her to have his back? Or would she serve him up to his enemies so that she could save herself?
Been there, done that.
“You expect me to bleed for you?” she demanded, voice sharp.
Yes.
Her eyes slit. “Then you will damn well bleed for me, too.”
Now he hesitated.
“Uh, boss?” Mateo muttered. “I don’t know about taking your—”
“You bleed,” she said, baring her teeth in a wicked grin. “I bleed. You want to know what my future holds? Well, I want to know what’s gonna happen with you. I want to make sure when the cards are down that you don’t turn on me, too.”
So trust was truly a lie for them both.
He released her and stepped back. “Fine, but ladies first.”
She glared at him. But, after a slight hesitation, she brushed by him and took the knife from Mateo. Mateo touched her lightly on the shoulder, and Sam saw the witch inhale a sharp breath. Mateo’s eyes met his.
Succubus. Mateo mouthed the words and grimaced.
Mateo had been burned, quite literally, by a succubus once upon a time.
“How does this work?” The knife glinted in Seline’s hand.
Mateo cleared his throat. “I just need a few drops of your blood. Stand over the mirror and let them fall onto the glass.”
Seline gave a grim nod. She braced her legs apart and stood just over the mirror. Mateo crouched near the glass and whispered the last of his spell.
“Now,” Mateo ordered.
Seline took a deep breath, then she sliced across the tip of her left index finger. “Just a few drops, right?” The blood dripped onto the mirror.
Mateo’s body jolted. His eyes went blind as he cried out.
Then he started to shake. Hard tremors rattled his frame. A gust of wind swirled through the room, and a deep crack raced across the ceiling.
Seline looked at Sam with wide eyes. “Is this supposed to happen?”
No.
He took the knife. “Mateo!”
The witch fell back. Mateo sucked in great gulps of air. Sam caught sight of the deep claw marks on his arms and back.
Sometimes, you had to pay a price for seeing the future.
With this job, Mateo’s debt to Sam would finally be paid in full.
Sam had killed for the witch. Wiped out four coyote shifters. Now it was Mateo’s turn to face the dark.
Sam’s left hand wrapped around the witch’s shoulder. “What did you see?”
Seline began to sidle toward the door. Sam glanced up and pinned her with a stare. “Going someplace?”
“What?” She shrugged. “Look, whatever he saw, that couldn’t have been good.”
So she was already preparing to run away? “You aren’t leaving.”
“Yeah? Well, you need to—”
“Az comes for her.”
Mateo’s gravelly voice had Seline halting.
“He seeks her now,” Mateo said, voice weaker as he tried to straighten. “He won’t stop until he finds her.”
Well, well. “Why?”
Mateo looked up at him. “Death.”
“He already promised me that sweet deal,” Seline said, sounding very aggravated. “I told you this.”
“Won’t stop,” Mateo muttered, his eyes squeezing shut as he rocked back and forth. “Nothing will stop him . . . will come . . . her.”
Sam’s gaze locked on Seline. “Interesting.” The word was growled.
Seline swallowed. “Not really. To know that I have a psycho stalker isn’t exactly what I’d term interesting news. Terrifying, maybe. Not interesting.”
“Why her?” Sam demanded, and felt a lick of rage spike his blood.
Mateo’s dark eyes opened. “Don’t know why. Only know what will be.”
“Does he get her?” Sam asked, voice flat.
“Yeah. I’d like to know that one, too.” Seline brought her hand to her lips and quickly sucked her bleeding index finger.
Lust jolted Sam.
Blood and sex. Usually, the combination only worked for vampires.
Her mouth—
She lowered her hand. “You said he wouldn’t stop. Does that mean—when you looked in that mirror—did you see him kill me?” Fear had her eyes widening.
Sam knew the witch would give Seline the truth, whether she really wanted to hear it or not. “I saw you covered in blood,” the witch told her.