He watched her with amusement as she lifted her sword from the wall. She was going out with Kai Drachenburg. And he’d mentioned a surprise. Experience told her there was a good chance that someone or something would attack them before the night was over.

* * *

Kai drove them to Illusion, one of the posh restaurants along the Presidio shoreline. It was where the elite magic dynasties went to gossip—and to be seen. Oh, and there was food too.

Sera knew the food was actually good since Kai had taken her here before. She was less sure about the other customers, but he’d promised her she could pull out her sword if they were too rude to her. How could she refuse an offer like that?

Kai stepped into the restaurant like he owned the place. That wasn’t anything new. When Kai Drachenburg stepped into a room, he did own it. A man wearing a tuxedo—and a watch that cost more than Sera’s sword—glided over to them with polished grace.

“Mr. Drachenburg, as always it is an honor to have you with us.” He turned to Sera. If he’d noticed her sword, he didn’t mention it. That there was class. “And Ms. Dering, what a pleasure to see you again. Please allow me to show you to your table.”

As they followed behind Mr. Classy Tuxedo, she whispered to Kai, “He remembers me?” She’d only been to Illusion once, and that was a couple of months ago, back when she and Kai had first started working together.

“You made quite an impression.”

True. That night, they’d come into the restaurant in clothes that hadn’t just been dirty; they’d been torn and stained with blood. Sera had a feeling that didn’t happen often at Illusion. Here, diamonds and silk were the norm. Forget blood and dirt. Even Kai’s designer denim jeans were an endangered species. He and Sera were the only guests not dressed in either a suit or an evening gown. And unlike those other guests, neither of them was wearing enough diamonds to buy the restaurant outright.

“Everyone is staring,” Sera whispered as Kai pulled her chair out for her. She sank into the soft leather seat. It felt like bathing in whipped cream. She inhaled her rose’s sweet, thick aroma, then set it down on the table.

“So am I,” he said, sitting. The look he gave her made her impatient to ask for the check—and they hadn’t even ordered yet.

“Maybe they’re staring at you.” She reached her hand toward him, teasing the inside of his wrist with feather-soft circles. “I hear that Mages Illustrated issue with you on the cover is one of the magazine’s most popular.”

“I’m going to track down every copy of that silly magazine.” His voice rumbled, low and gravelly, like sandpaper on skin. “And then I’m going to burn them.” His hand darted out faster than she thought possible. His fingers curled around her arm, and then he did some teasing of his own.

She steadied her stuttered breaths and smirked at him. “Not every copy, I hope. I’d like to keep mine.”

“Do you look at it?”

“Well, you were away for that whole week, and then we haven’t seen much of each other since then. You can’t blame a girl for taking a teensy peek once or twice.” She winked at him.

His face went neutral. “You are teasing me.”

“Yes.” She snickered. “I gave my copy back to Naomi weeks ago. I much prefer the real thing.” She brushed her finger along the thin fabric of his shirt, across the sculpted curves of his chest, down the ridges of his stomach.

He caught her hand before it could dip lower. “Careful, sweetheart.” His voice was rough, husky. “You’re playing with fire.”

She leaned across the table, kissing his cheek. Her lips trailed his jawline to his ear, and she whispered, “I thought I was playing with the dragon.”

“Yes.” He turned his face so that his lips brushed against hers. “You look absolutely spectacular tonight, Sera. I can’t wait to be alone with you, to see that lace you’ve been tempting me with ever since I arrived at your house.”

She looked at him in surprise.

“Of course you know I can see it beneath that top.” His magic slid down her back, rippling against the skin-tight fabric of her shirt. “Isn’t that why you wore it? To tempt me? I’ve never been more impatient for a meal to be over.” He grabbed her hand, putting it onto his lap. Oh. It was a good thing Illusion put such long tablecloths on their tables.

“I guess…” Sera cleared her throat. “I guess we should order dinner then.” Then, feeling wicked, added, “Or just skip straight to dessert.”

“No.” Kai took a deep breath, his face a war of temptation and willpower. He released her hand. “I promised you a proper date, and you’re going to get one.”

“Ok.” She balanced her chin atop her hands, and shot him a smile of pure innocence.

At least she’d thought her smile was innocent. Maybe she’d mixed up good and evil. Again. Kai’s nostrils flared, and he inhaled her scent.

“You’re making this exceedingly difficult,” he told her, his jaw tight.

She chuckled.

“Maybe just a quick dinner then,” he said, raising his hand.

The waiter had only made it halfway to their table when the front window shattered, and vampires and broken glass poured into the restaurant.

CHAPTER TWO

Fairy Dust

THE TANGY SCENT of blood electrified the air, mixing with the sickly sweet stench of demon. That fantastic combination burned Sera’s nose—and the rising bile scorched her throat. Demonic vampires. Great. Powered by demons, they were the strongest and fastest of the three kinds of vampires. Their magic tasted like fallen civilizations and utter desolation, along with an aftertaste of apocalypse. And blood. Always blood. Sera was going to need a long shower and a whole bottle of strawberry body wash to get the magic stench off of her.