Read Demon Hunting In a Dive Bar for Free Online Page B

much.
    His ragged dark hair gleamed in the light, and his eyes were black as midnight—blacker, like the space between the stars.
    Where did he get off being so handsome? It made her mad. He made her mad. How had she missed something so obvious? The lighting in Beck’s was dim, but not that dim. Conall Dalvahni was smoking hot and she’d blanked it out, had done a mental la la la like a stupid norm. Obviously, her daddy wasn’t the only one in denial.
    She glanced around. The other females in the room weren’t near as slow on the uptake. Old and young alike, they watched Conall through slanted lids in a predatory, hungry way, like they wanted to gobble him up. For some reason, that annoyed her, too.
    “Who cuts your hair?” she demanded irritably.
    Conall’s brows rose. “I do.”
    “Huh. What do you use, a weed whacker?”
    “No, I cut it with my knife. What is a ‘weed whacker’?”
    “Never mind. It was a joke.”
    “Ah. Levity. The Dalvahni are not adept at this form of communication.”
    “No kidding. I never would have guessed.”
    Beck tapped her foot, surveying him with a scowl. An air of solitude surrounded him like a cloak. He looked dark and dangerous and unapproachable. Beck recognized it for what it was—a shield to keep people at bay. She was pretty good at the old shield thing herself. Don’t get close and you won’t get hurt. You won’t get left.
    “Ansgar and Brand have long hair,” she said at last. “How come yours is short?”
    “As captain, I must distinguish myself.”
    “You mean you want to stand out?”
    “I do not mean to imply that I consider myself superior to my fellow warriors. Far from it. It is my honor to serve them, but . . .” He hesitated. Looking down, he adjusted the sleeves of his jacket. “I am different. I am their commander.”
    “I get it,” she said. “You’re the boss and you cut your hair short to remind them of it.”
    “You are perceptive. It serves as a reminder to me as well.” He straightened his broad shoulders. “My men rely on me, as do those they protect.”
    “Save the universe and the brotherhood. Wow, you’re a regular boy scout, aren’t you?” He looked puzzled and she waved her hand in dismissal. “Never mind. Like I said, I get it. The bad haircut sets you apart.”
    “My hair displeases you? It is a matter easily remedied. It grows quickly.”
    Beck felt her cheeks grow hot. “It’s your hair. Wear it any way you like.”
    “But I want to please you.”
    He wanted to please her? The thought flustered her, and then she remembered. He wanted information.
    She stiffened. “Back to that, are we? I told you I’m not interested in working with you.” She glanced up as the current of people around her swelled toward the door on a ripple of oohs and ahs. The bridal parties had entered the fellowship hall, leaving her and Conall alone at the back of the room. She lowered her voice, nonetheless. “Why should I help you or your precious Dalvahni? I’m half demon. That makes us enemies. For all I know, the kith are next on your hit list.”
    “And if I promise you that is not the case?”
    She gave him a narrow-eyed stare. “Meaning?”
    He sighed. “You are a most suspicious female. Meaning that I have only just discovered the existence of your kind and I have no plans to exterminate them without further study.”
    “Yeah, for now, but that could change in a heartbeat.”
    “Mine is not a hasty nature, Rebekah. I give you my word I have no scheme at present to kill the kith, nor will I do so without good reason. You are safe.”
    She lifted her chin. “I’m not worried about me. I can take care—”
    “—of yourself,” he said. “So you keep saying. But what if you are wrong?”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “What if you cannot take care of yourself or those you care about?” He held up his hand as she opened her mouth to retort. “Hear me out. I mean to imply no threat. There is an expression, ‘the