The Living End by Craig Schaefer Read Free Book Online Page A

target belong to?” Caitlin said.
    “Right,” Naavarasi said. “I forget you people have that cute little
system
. Isn’t it stifling? Being locked into a tiny box, your emotions and powers restricted like that? I can embody any sin or virtue I like. Often several at once.”
    Caitlin’s eyes melted to the color of molten copper. Her voice went lower, slower, her Scottish brogue more pronounced. That was always a bad sign.
    “It’s more of a guideline. Some people say I’m more wrath than lust. Push me just an inch further, baron, and you’ll find out why.”
    Naavarasi caught the tone and waved an anxious hand.
    “All right, all right,” she said. “Malphas told me that he’s a fledgling of the Choir of Envy. Is that a problem?”
    Caitlin shook her head. “Not remotely.”
    “Delightful! I’ll send you the address. Shall we meet again tomorrow evening and talk about your brilliant success?”
    “Not here,” Caitlin said. “There’s a nightclub called Winter. You’ll meet me there. You will never come to this address again. Under any circumstances.”
    “But why? I like books.” Naavarasi glanced over at Bentley and Corman. “And snacks.”
    Corman patted Bentley’s back. Then he came around the counter, toting the shotgun loosely at his side. He walked right up to Naavarasi and stood close enough to feel her breath on his weathered cheeks.
    “Lady,” he said calmly, “I don’t know what rock you crawled out from under, but I do know this: you came in here under false pretenses, then you scared my husband, and you hurt our boy. That puts you about two notches lower than dog shit on the list of things I’m scared of. You’re gonna leave now, and if you ever set foot on my property again, I’ll end you.”
    Naavarasi’s eyes widened. Her lips curled as she said, “You impudent little—”
    Corman swung up the shotgun, racked the pump, and pressed the barrel under her chin.
    “You should probably listen,” Caitlin said.
    The rakshasi slowly backed away, glaring. She swept out of the store without another word and slammed the door behind her. The bells clanged crazily, bouncing off the shuddering glass.
    “Guys,” I started to say. “I’m sorry—”
    “No.” Caitlin cut me off as she turned to Bentley and Corman. “
I
am sorry. That was inexcusable. Court business should never have been allowed to cross your doorstep.”
    I shook my head. “She came tracking me down, not you. It’s my fault.”
    “Oh for Christ’s sake,” Corman said, leaning the shotgun back against his shoulder. “Both of you stop apologizing. Shit happens. She got the message.”
    Bentley lowered his talisman, exhaling slowly as a stream of pent-up power dissolved into the air. He leaned his palms against the counter and took a deep breath.
    “So that was a rakshasi,” he said. “I’ve never encountered one outside the pages of a book.”
    “I think she might be the last one on Earth,” I said. “Hope so, anyway. You okay?”
    Bentley nodded and gave me a shaky thumbs-up. “Fine and dandy. Cormie?”
    “Yeah, hon?”
    “The next time you see a Bengal tiger in our store? Do shoot it, would you? I wasn’t joking. We really could use a new rug.”
    • • •
    We took my car.
    I’d been stuck without wheels since the Redemption Choir wrecked my old ride along with my apartment, but Jennifer’s buddy Winslow had hooked me up with the little passion project he’d been rebuilding behind his garage: a 1970 Barracuda with a widemouthed grill and a hemi under the hood, blacker than my heart and built for a knife fight. The car got a little more attention than I liked, making it hard to ghost my way through the city streets, but it had muscle when I needed it.
    “It’s a trap,” Caitlin said as she slipped into the passenger seat.
    “I was thinking the same thing. Naavarasi’s about to drop the boom on us, but I don’t see where it’s falling from. Would she risk a diplomatic incident?”
    She