Flight from Hell by Yasmine Galenorn Page A

live.”
    Camille let out a laugh. “Great way to meet. We have friends who live in the Shrouded Grove Suites.” The complex was a vampire-only apartment building, heavily protected against the various hate groups in the area.
    â€œSo, tell us when Shimmer began to change. You said she’s been here for only a few weeks?” The thought that her true nature was just emerging after the shock of moving ran through my mind, but I could be wrong.
    â€œYeah, a few weeks. She got involved with Carter right away—said she had to do something to keep her mind off being here. I think she was just scared and clutching for straws, looking for anybody who would be her friend. But as I said, for all the dragon arrogance, she’s a pretty good girl, you know? She’s not naïve, she’s smart as a whip and dangerous as hell if you ire her, but as much as she didn’t want to be here, she told Bette she was going to give it a fair shake. The two get on like whiskey and soda.” Alex’s face grew a little misty. “I do miss a good drink now and then, you know?”
    Delilah snorted. “Yeah, because alcohol is the worst thing to lose in life.”
    Alex glared at her. “Pussycat, you lose your catnip and tell me how happy that makes you.”
    I stifled a laugh.
    His good nature flashing back, he winked. “It’s all in perspective, girls. All in perspective. Here’s the thing, though. About four . . . five days ago? I noticed a shift in Shimmer’s attitude. She’s never been tactful, but one evening—we work nights, of course—she came in grumpy as hell. She seemed uncomfortable, and every time I said a word, she bit my head off. I’m used to her chafing—the girl’s still trying to get used to being Earthside. She has no clue how to conform to the culture here, at least not yet. Shimmer grew surlier as the evening wore on.”
    â€œMaybe she told Bette what was bothering her?” Camille frowned and looked at me. I questioned her with my eyes and she gave a faint shake of the head, but I had the feeling she was playing a hunch.
    â€œPerhaps. You can ask her if you like. The next few nights she was in and out, and when I demanded an accounting for her time—I have that right, as her guardian here—she told me to fuck off. Those are her words, by the way. I never use that particular sentiment around a lady.”
    â€œYou have an interesting sense of honor, Alex.” The man was intriguing me more and more. I rather liked him, though I had the feeling he was somewhat of a loose cannon.
    â€œYes, well, I was brought up in a household run by strong women. Anyway, the Wing Liege made her accountable to me, and she was deliberately disobeying him.”
    I suddenly understood the dynamics. “You’re not just her employer. You’re her parole officer.”
    â€œRight. But when a dragon doesn’t want to do something, even with weakened powers, making them follow through is a hard row to hoe.”
    â€œWhat happened last night?” Camille leaned forward.
    Alex stood and began to pace. “I arrived at the office. Shimmer was here—she was in a right state. She seemed frenzied—almost frantic. I ordered her into my office. She was standing over there, where you are, Camille. I told her I had decided to contact the Wing Liege to ask him to intercede—she was like an angst-ridden teenager. I had barely gotten the words out when she pulled a stake out of her purse and came at me.”
    He leaned across the desk, his hands flat on the surface. His voice dropped. “I don’t suppose I have to tell you just how much I enjoyed that little surprise, now, do I?”
    A shiver ran down my spine. I, of all people, knew what that felt like. Aiming a stake at a vampire was akin to pointing a loaded gun at a human’s heart. Not good.
So
not good.
    â€œWhat did you do?” Delilah had