CHAPTER 6.

A job? Through the heady scents that buffeted my senses, the words echoed in my ears. And then I felt myself begin to shift again. Within seconds, I was standing before the Autumn Lord in a cloud of mist and sparkling smoke. I couldn't see the others, but from experience, I knew they were there, that we'd just shifted into a slightly different dimension. Through the heady scents that buffeted my senses, the words echoed in my ears. And then I felt myself begin to shift again. Within seconds, I was standing before the Autumn Lord in a cloud of mist and sparkling smoke. I couldn't see the others, but from experience, I knew they were there, that we'd just shifted into a slightly different dimension.

After I'd regrouped from the sudden shift into panther form and back, I looked up at the Autumn Lord. Elemental Lords were always tall, it seemed, always towering above even someone of my height.

I hadn't actually seen the Autumn Lord, except in dreams, since I'd faced down and defeated Kyoka, a thousand-year-old evil werespider shaman. I genuflected. After all, though not my own choice, the fact was the Lord of Autumn was my new master, and I bore a tattoo in the shape of a black scythe on my forehead that linked us, that would forever remind me of it. I owed him respect.

"I'm not sure what to call you," I said.

He gazed down at me, a strange light dancing over his face. From this angle, he was handsome, darkly enticing, and I felt my breath flutter in my lungs. Was this why his Death Maidens who served him after their deaths were also his wives? Charisma, he had, but it was entwined with such otherworldliness that I couldn't even consider whether he was handsome or not.

"No one knows my name, not a name such as you have, but I will give you one you may use. For your lips and my ears only." He leaned over, and his lips grazed my ear, sending a shiver of fear through me that almost verged on arousal. "You may call me Hi'ran," he said, then brushed his fingers across my lips.

I could barely breathe as the cold chill of his flesh sent sparks through my body. "Hi'ran," I repeated, mesmerized by the feel of his touch. I opened my mouth, just enough for his finger to graze the inside of my lip.

"Hush and listen. You will never speak my name to another living soul, nor to any who are dead or walking beyond the grave. It is your link to me and exists only between the two of us."

As he spoke, a mist drifted out from his fingers and entered my lips, and I felt it swirl in my mouth, the taste of cigar smoke and brandy and crackling hearth flames. I sucked it deep into my lungs, and the energy flowed through my body, heightening all of my senses. I wanted to fall into his arms, to feel his lips on mine. He was so alien and yet so seductive. And then the mist seeped into my throat and onto my tongue, and I knew I'd never be able to say his name aloud to anybody, nor write it down, nor transfer it in thought. It was our secret-and ours alone-and would remain hidden for the rest of my life.

And then he pulled away. I couldn't tell if he'd felt the same desire as I had, but he raked his gaze slowly over my body, then settled on my face again. "I have a task for you. You are to journey back to your homeland-to the forest of Darkynwyrd-and there you must search for the panther's fang."

Panther's fang? Darkynwyrd? I frowned. This wasn't sounding so much fun after all. Darkynwyrd was a feral woodland back in Otherworld, where not-so-nice creatures made their home. It wasn't on my list of must-see places.

"What's the panther's fang?"

Hi'ran gave me a soft smile. "Panteris phir. An herb endemic to the forest there. You will bring it home with you and plant it in your garden. Tend to it, nurture it, and once a month, under the new moon, make a cup of tea from it and drink it. This will aid you in controlling your shifts into panther form as the herb builds up in your system." He backed away. "Do this before the next new moon. And remember, Delilah. You are bound to me. You are the first of my living emissaries."

With that, he vanished, and I found myself standing among the others. They were in the midst of fighting the venidemons, and suddenly Camille, who had been relegated to standing beside the door, shouted, "She's back to herself!"

I was about to say something when a buzzing echoed on my right. I swung around to find myself facing a full-grown venidemon. It was hovering near my face, and I saw its abdomen curve under, its stinger ready to jab as it aimed for my chest.

Holy c.r.a.p-maybe Hi'ran had eliminated the shade, but apparently he trusted we could take care of the venidemons ourselves. Time to rumble.

I s.n.a.t.c.hed up my dagger and, with a loud shout, brought it down, cleaving into the rapidly approaching tail end of the venidemon. The d.a.m.ned sucker was tough. I couldn't slice clean through, but the gash sent the blowfly hurtling toward the floor. It let out a piercing shriek, and I stabbed it, like a kid pinning b.u.t.terflies to a display table. One down, but a glance around showed me there were plenty more for the counting. I whirled just in time to take on another.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as the others left a trail of muck and guts as they fought their way through the demons' nests.

Smoky was making tracks through a nest of larvae, swiping with his talons at the wriggling maggots. As he sliced through them, they wailed, keening so loudly I wondered if they could be heard up on the street.

The second venidemon darted back and forth, trying to get the jump on me. Irritated, I tossed my dagger from hand to hand.

"Come on, sucker, come and get me!"

Apparently, venidemons didn't take much to goad, because it changed tactics and made a beeline straight for my side. Instinct won out, and rather than swing with my dagger, my right foot shot into the air, meeting the big bug in the face. It bounced back, but I could tell it wasn't hurt-merely stunned. I lunged for it with my dagger and met the creature square in the midsection. It went down like a fly facing a can of Raid.

"Delilah, give me a hand!"

I glanced over my shoulder to see Morio fighting off two full-size venidemons struggling to get past him to Camille. She was trying to draw down energy; by now I could tell the look on her face when she was invoking the Moon Mother. But it looked like her pain was preventing her from focusing.

"Incoming on your left," I shouted over the roar of the fight and the shrieks as the blowflies and their larvae bit the dust one by one. I took on the venidemon aiming for his left side, and he turned his attention to the one on the right. We finished them off in good time.

"How many more can there be?" Camille asked, giving up on the spell. She looked miserable, and I wished to h.e.l.l she'd just back out of the room and play it safe outside.

I motioned toward the rest of the room. "Still too many."

Vanzir was battling it out with a nest of the half-grown bugs. They fell left and right as he waded in, eyes blazing, striking double-handed with a pair of serrated steel daggers that he'd unsheathed from his boots. He smashed the smallest of the venidemons under his heels, grinding them to a pulp.

Roz was fighting a trio of full-grown bugs that were trying to guard a nest of larvae. While he was holding them at bay, it was obvious we were on the losing end of the battle.

I raced over to Smoky. He'd just finished off the last of the larvae in the nest he'd been fighting. "We have to do something. There are still too many-"

He gave one quick look around the room and nodded. "Get everybody out of here. I'll take care of it. But you have to head upstairs immediately and get out of the house. Do you understand me?" As I nodded and started toward Roz, he grabbed me by the wrist. "And you d.a.m.ned well make sure your sister is safe. Hear me?"

I stared up into those glacial eyes and froze. Camille was as good as bought and sold. I could see it in his face. Smoky owned her. And while I had no doubt he loved my sister, there was also little doubt that anyone anyone he didn't approve of would go down screaming if they hurt her. he didn't approve of would go down screaming if they hurt her.

"Let go of me, Smoky. You know I'll protect her, you idiot." I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. I couldn't let him cow me down. Camille wouldn't put up with it, and Menolly sure didn't. I wasn't about to, either.

He let go. "Of course I know that. Now move. I'll put a stop to this mess."

I raced over to Roz and grabbed his arm. "Come on." He didn't question me, just turned and followed, dodging to avoid the venidemons now swarming toward us. Vanzir saw me run past and with a quick look at Smoky, joined us. Morio was already guiding Camille down the hall toward the stairs. As we pa.s.sed the room with the portal, I glanced in and saw glowing eyes peering from out of the swirling vortex, but we didn't have time to stop. Whatever Smoky had planned was going to be good, I thought. Good and probably explosive, considering who who he was. Or he was. Or what what, rather.

We weren't disappointed. We'd just reached the top of the stairs when the floor began to roll in waves under our feet. The house shook like we were on Earthquake Alley. We were, actually-the whole area was geologically unstable, and there were volcanoes aplenty around to prove it-but I knew this wasn't an actual temblor. A dragon quake, yes.

"Head for the door," Morio yelled over the sound of the freight train that was our deliciously gorgeous dragon hunk.

As he swept Camille into his arms-she was stumbling now, the pain and the quake threw her off balance-I wondered just how far Smoky was going to go. It felt like he was ready to pull the rafters down.

Roz and Vanzir brought up the rear, making sure we were all on the front lawn. Roz pushed Vanzir toward us, then raced back up to the front door. "I'm going back to help him."

"Don't be a fool! You'll be crushed." I shook my head, pointing to the spot beside me. "Get out of there now, Roz!"

"Quit worrying about me. Look after your sister." He vanished back inside. I was about ready to follow him when Camille grabbed my arm. For someone about ready to faint, she was pretty d.a.m.ned strong.

"Leave them. They both can escape easy enough." She moaned, holding the wrist of her hurt hand. I sat beside her. The ground was still trembling, but from where we sat, the waves were weaker. Whatever Smoky was doing was m.u.f.fled by the dirt.

I unwrapped the makeshift bandage Roz had applied. The wound was festering, despite the salve he put on it. "You're infected. We have to get you home. In fact, I've got half a mind to run you over to the FH-CSI medical lab. The elves can probably cure this faster than Iris."

I peered closer at the wound. Yep, right to the bone, and it looked nasty. Thank the G.o.ds this hadn't been inflicted by the venidemons, or she'd have a nasty batch of eggs in there by now.

"I think I'll take you up on that," she said, wincing as I replaced the bandage.

"What did you mean-they can both escape easy enough? What do you know that I don't?" I peered at her. She blushed. Yeah, she was holding out on me. "Tell me, or I'll tell Smoky that you kissed Roz." I was joking, but she paled.

"Oh Great Mother, don't do that! Smoky would kill him! And then he'd . . . well . . . never mind."

She backtracked so fast I knew something was up, but she didn't look afraid. More like embarra.s.sed? Camille didn't embarra.s.s easily, which meant Smoky had found a way to corral her-not an easy task. I decided to let it go.

Finally she sighed. "Don't say a word. This news could be used against them, and we may need it as a secret tactic someday. Smoky travels through the Ionyc Sea. That's how he gets around so fast. And Roz apparently knows how Smoky gets around and does the same. He tried to encourage Smoky to take us all in through the iron door that way."

"The Ionyc Sea? That's what that was all about? I had no idea. Kind of scary . . . wait a minute! Oh Great Mother, has Smoky taken you through the Ionyc current?" The thought of traveling through the astral worlds like that terrified me. The energy was so volatile, like riding through a patch riddled with land mines.

The Ionyc Sea wasn't exactly on the astral, but it held the astral, etheric, and several other planes of existence together, yet created a buffer zone so they'd never merge. If the differing energy fields clashed, it could cause a major explosion on the scale of creating a black hole, or-if enough of the energy collided-a black-hole universe. Think differing forms of antimatter and matter coming into contact . . . so not good, according to Captain Kirk as well as the elementalist wizards we'd grown up listening to.

The Ionyc Sea was harsh, and few creatures could traverse it. Some, especially those who wielded the forces of ice and snow, could create barriers around themselves and swim through it, stepping outside of time.

She nodded. "It's not so bad. Rather strange, actually. He was very careful, though. Nothing to worry about."

"And Rozurial can travel through the Ionyc Sea, too? That makes sense in a weird way." I frowned, wondering what else our wonder boys had up their sleeves.

"Yeah, though I have no idea how he manages it," she added, leaning against my shoulder. I put my arm around her and held her tight. "He's a demon-an incubus. I don't know enough about the Ionyc Sea to know what gives him the strength to forge-"

She was cut off by a sudden roar as the house imploded on itself. As we watched, the walls and roof came crashing down, tumbling into a chasm as the ground around it opened up. I leapt up and pulled Camille to her feet. Along with Vanzir and Morio, we made tracks across the street to where our cars were, staring at the gaping hole that was covered with dust. A moment later, fire erupted and blazed into the sky. The gas mains must have burst, or at least sprung a leak.

"Smoky!" Camille cried out, but I held her back when she would have gone running toward the fire.

"I'm right here. Don't worry yourself," Smoky said, stepping out from behind the car. He hadn't been there a moment before, and neither had Roz, but now the incubus joined the dragon. Smoky opened his arms, and I gently pushed Camille into his embrace. He folded her inside his coat-clean and tidy as always-and kissed her head softly. "You were worried about me?" he whispered.

She nodded and blubbered something I couldn't make out. As I turned away to watch what was left of the house burn, Roz sidled up beside me.

"I wish somebody would worry about me like that," he said, a grin on his face.

"Try again, you liar. You know you aren't cut out for a steady girlfriend." But I flashed him a return smile. "What about the portal?"

"We put a temporary seal on it. Aimed the gas pipe directly at it and lit the fuse. The Netherworlds are cold-icy cold. The fire from the gas acted to . . . well . . . almost cauterize it. It won't hold, but for now, it's shut." He glanced over at Smoky. "The big doofus isn't so bad, once you get to know him," he added.

I thwacked him on the nose. "Yeah, just don't try to pick up his wife, and you'll be safe." With one last look around-the sound of sirens was growing louder-I motioned to the cars. "Come on, let's get the h.e.l.l out of here. We're heading to the FH-CSI. I want them to check out Camille's hand. Everybody's going, so n.o.body run off anywhere."

As we drove away, it occurred to me that we still didn't know who was responsible for opening the gate for the venidemons, but thanks to our little altercation, I now had a new task, one that I didn't dare ignore: go to Otherworld and find myself a Panteris phir Panteris phir plant. Joy of joys. I wasn't a gardener at heart, but maybe Iris could help me keep it alive. plant. Joy of joys. I wasn't a gardener at heart, but maybe Iris could help me keep it alive.

I glanced in the rearview mirror, making sure that Morio, who was driving now, was keeping up with us. A flash-brief as quicksilver-and I was staring at the Autumn Lord, then the mirror showed only road and Camille's Lexus again.

Hi'ran might not be a demanding master yet. But my master he was, whether or not I wanted it that way. I'd d.a.m.ned well better get used to it. Avatars of Death generally didn't take no for an answer. But Hi'ran . . . the memory of his fingers on my lips stayed with me, and I could still taste the mist that had tied my tongue. Once again, the thought of sliding into his arms crept through the back of my mind, but I pushed it away. Didn't I already have enough trouble on my plate without inviting Death to play footsie?

CHAPTER 7.

By the time we pulled into the parking lot at the Faerie-Human Crime Scene Investigations offices, I'd shaken off my daydreams about the Autumn Lord and was focused on getting help for Camille. We headed toward the building. Halfway there, Camille collapsed. I knelt down, pressing the back of my palm against her forehead.

"She's got a fever. Get her inside!"

Smoky swept her up and with long strides headed into the building. I was right on his heels, along with Morio. Vanzir chose to wait in the car, along with Roz. We raced through the front entrance where Yugi-a Swedish empath recently promoted to lieutenant-caught sight of us. One look at Camille, and he waved us through.

The morgue was in the bas.e.m.e.nt, three stories belowground, but the healing facilities were on the main floor. As we rounded the corner into the medical wing, the receptionist caught sight of us. She was a youngish woman who looked fully human, but somewhere a few generations back, one of her ancestors had been an Earthside Fae. She punched a b.u.t.ton and called for Sharah over the intercom. Sharah came running out of the break room.

"Exam Room One," Sharah said, dashing ahead of us. We followed her into the sterile room. It was painted a pale green, which was supposed to be soothing but just made me depressed.

Smoky laid Camille on the table while Sharah washed her hands and slipped on a pair of nonlatex gloves. Latex bothered her skin, as it did many of the elves. "What happened?"

"She was attacking a h.e.l.lhound when some of his blood got on her. Her hand's been burned through to the bone on the side." I hovered, worried. "She wouldn't leave until we finished mopping up the joint, even though I tried to get her to back off."

Sharah glanced up at me. "That sounds about right," she said as she unwrapped the bandage. The wound was really festering now, and pus oozed out of the deep hole. "Mother Arachne, look at that."

"Will she be okay?" Smoky asked from the foot of the table, arms crossed, a pensive look on his face. Morio stood beside him.

"She probably fainted from the pain. I imagine it must be incredibly bad, considering the look of this wound. Did you know that the acid in the h.e.l.lhound's blood is used by the dwarves up in the Nebelvuori Mountains to etch designs on their magical swords?" She glanced up at us. "It's a prized commodity there. You could have made a small fortune if you'd managed to gather the creature's blood before it vanished."

"We weren't exactly thinking along monetary lines," I said.

Camille began to stir as Sharah cleansed the wound, lowering the injured hand into a basin that contained some sort of foaming solution. Wisps of white smoke curled up as it bubbled around the wound. "I hear you," she said. "The infection is topical-on the surface. I don't think it's had time to work its way into her bloodstream. She's a lucky woman," she added, glancing up at me. "Another half hour, and she'd be on her way to dead. And a very painful death it would be."

Suddenly feeling faint, I leaned back against the wall. It hadn't occurred to me that the wound could be fatal. Painful, yes. Disfiguring perhaps. Fatal had never entered my mind. Smoky blanched, turning pasty white, and Morio caught his breath with a sharp hiss.

As Sharah inspected the deep hole in Camille's hand, my sister stirred and moaned. Her eyes fluttered open, and she blinked, looking confused.

"Hush," Sharah said. "You fainted from the pain, but you're going to be okay. Now, if you'd just tell your doting husbands and sister to get the h.e.l.l out of here, I can take care of this a lot better without them hovering over my shoulder." She flashed us a grin but nodded toward the door. "Get moving. She's going to be okay, though she'll have to wear a dressing for a while. She may end up with a nasty scar, but she'll be all right."

Before I could get to her, Smoky brushed past the elf and leaned over, planting a long, gentle kiss on Camille's lips. "I'll be right outside," he murmured. Not to be outdone, Morio followed suit.

As they reluctantly left, I brushed Camille's hair away from her head and kissed her forehead. "Get better. I'm going to go find Chase. I'll be back in a little while." I headed for the door, adding, "If she gives you any guff, Sharah, just let me know."

Sharah laughed. "No problem. Go on now. I think Chase is in his office."

With a last look at Camille, who looked totally out of it, I swung out the door and headed back to the waiting room. Smoky and Morio were sitting on one of those uncomfortable, too-low sofas you always find in hospitals. They were talking in hushed whispers. I gave them the thumbs-up and headed through the labyrinth of hallways to Chase's office.

The knowledge that Camille was going to be okay lightened my mood. I felt ready to have a long talk with Chase. We would work through whatever was bothering him. I'd never been in a relationship before, except with other cats when I was in cat form. Cat connections are of an altogether different nature. Considering that I was involved with an FBH, I thought I was handling things pretty well, though I knew Menolly didn't think we had a chance. Camille kept whatever she felt to herself.

Chase's door was closed, and I barged in without knocking, like I'd done so many times before. "Hey love, surprise!"

What I saw stopped me cold. I started to sweat, my hand still on the doork.n.o.b. A lovely brunette, pet.i.te with big b.o.o.bs and dressed to kill in what was probably some designer getup, was sitting on his desk, her legs spread wide, with Chase standing between them. His left arm encircled her waist, while his right hand stroked her c.l.i.t. His pants were down around his feet, and he was sliding his c.o.c.k into her p.u.s.s.y. At the sound of my entrance, he thrust so hard she let out a little shriek.

"What the f.u.c.k f.u.c.k is going on?" I heard the sound of my voice before I realized I'd said anything. is going on?" I heard the sound of my voice before I realized I'd said anything.

"Oh G.o.d, I'm coming!" The woman dropped her head back and let out a long moan as Chase jerked around, his eyes wide and frightened. The woman pulled him tighter, writhing against him.

Chase quickly disentangled himself, trying to straighten his jacket. His p.e.n.i.s poked through. He obviously still had the b.o.n.e.r from h.e.l.l.

"Who is she? Tell me!" As I swung toward her, the woman scrambled off the desk, tugging at her skirt hem. She smoothed it out, but not before I'd had a chance to catch a glimpse of bare b.u.t.t, a sight I really didn't need at the moment. She gave me a satisfied smirk.

"This isn't . . ." Chase started to say, then stopped. He hung his head. "I'm not going to lie to you. This is exactly what it looks like. This is Erika. She's . . . we were engaged five years ago."

Chase had told me he'd never had a serious relationship. Apparently he'd forgotten that little fact. So, lie number one.