Demon's Delight by MaryJanice Davidson Read Free Book Online

didn’t use his upper body strength, either. Well, not too much.”
    â€œThat was not how it appeared when we drove up,” her father said sharply.
    â€œYou’re right. That’s not how it looked. Which proves my point: Appearances are deceiving. What if we’ve had the wrong idea for three centuries?”
    â€œThat’s—that’s—” Her father shook his head. “I would have to give the matter some thought.”
    â€œAlso, I think I know how to break the curse.”
    Her mother slumped wearily into one of the kitchen chairs. “This is the curse. To kill and be killed, again and again and again. To bury your mothers and your aunts and your sisters and your nieces.”
    â€œNo. There’s a loophole, and you know it.”
    Her parents were silent. Finally, her father tentatively said, “If he shares his powers with you?”
    â€œThat and one other thing.”
    â€œWhat?” her mother asked.
    â€œNever mind. I don’t know if I can pull it off. The important thing is to find him.”
    â€œ Find him?”
    â€œYeah. I have to find him before he turns thirty and I have no idea where he is. Too bad for him I memorized his rental car license plate. It’ll be a start.”
    â€œRhea, you cannot do this.”
    â€œI’m calling your bluff, Mom. Because I’m not going to kill him. If you think killing me will fix that, you’ve gone over to the dark side for sure. And we’re already there, damn it.”
    â€œRhea, you know I—you know I would never hurt you. I—I was angry and I didn’t mean—”
    â€œDon’t do it, Rhea,” Power said quietly, sounding for the first time in a week like the superb trainer and parent she adored, instead of the shrill, easily angered man he had become after Chris showed up. “It’s a trick. He’ll kill you. Please don’t go after him. Stay here and train. Maybe—maybe you can break the curse if you break him.”
    â€œYou guys. I have to do this my way, because the old way doesn’t work. I’m telling you: I can break the curse. Isn’t that worth the risk? Think about it, Dad. No more training, ever. Not having to flinch every time a stranger shows up in town. Saving Violet’s baby! Or Ramen’s, or Kane’s. Not having to bury me.”
    Her father couldn’t meet her gaze and turned to stare out the north window. Her mother, however, looked hopeful for the first time in a week. “Oh, Rhea, do you really think so?”
    Actually, I have no idea if my plan will work, but don’t give it another thought. “Absolutely,” she lied.
    Her father stood with his back to her, still staring out the window. “Then go,” he said, “quickly. While there’s still time to catch him. Do—do you want me to come with you?”
    â€œI’ll come, too,” her mother added, though she wasn’t a Goodman by blood, of course.
    â€œMy, my, look at you two. I’m shocked to my very core. Breaking tradition like that? No chance,” she teased.
    â€œMmm. And Rhea…”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œIf it goes badly—”
    â€œI know, Dad.”
    â€œBecause it may be an elaborate charade on his part.”
    â€œI know, Dad.”
    â€œTo trick you into lowering your defenses.”
    â€œGotcha.”
    â€œWhy was he the one on top when we drove up?”
    â€œUh—gotta go, Dad.”

Chapter 9
    C ALL girls—or “soiled doves” as Chris preferred to think of them—had been disappearing in Boston for more than two months. Chris drove yet another rental down to the harbor for a quick look. And a finder spell, of course. Because he had a good idea what was happening. A K’shir demon: The Taker of the Lost. Looks like a man, feeds like a devil, then looks like a man again. Only a magic user could spot it for what it was—a creature so