handful of blood-sucking women with big tits.”
Ansara cupped her face. “The handful will grow into dozens, then hundreds, then thousands and if he has the Thasian cross his status will advance and his power will increase.”
“If he wanted the cross, why didn’t he just come after me and take it?”
“The cross is powerful magic. He wanted to corrupt you and make you his supplicant. If you had gifted it to him, Vakkar would have been able to wear the cross and use its power for evil. He’d be capable of becoming an archdemon. If he takes it from you, the cross is nothing more than a trophy.”
A thought slammed through her brain. “That’s why he bought the painting.”
“What painting?”
“Roland painted a picture of me with my cross. Karr bought it. That’s when he became interested in Roland’s work.”
“Tell me about the painting.”
“Roland and I were at the beach. He was always sketching. When we got home, he asked me to pose for him. In the final painting, I was sitting on the sand, wearing nothing but my cross. Karr hadn’t shown much interest in Roland’s work before, but he bought the painting of me on the spot. It wasn’t about Roland. It was my cross.”
“Vakkar would recognize a Thasian cross and he’d do anything to get it.”
“If he wants the cross we can use it to lure him into a trap.”
“Even if he can’t access its power, possessing a Thasian cross is a major trophy. Vakkar knows I’m here and he’s desperate enough to kill you to get his hands on the cross.” Ansara caressed her cheek. “I’m not letting anything happen to you.”
“Can’t you use your magic mist to protect me?”
“The mist is a guardian defensive weapon. It works if I’m within it. How can I fight Vakkar with a protective barrier surrounding us? The only way to destroy him is to put my sword through his heart.”
“How will you get to him? If I were Vakkar I’d stay away from you. The only way to draw him out and to confront him on your terms is to use the cross as bait.”
“It’s too dangerous. If I’m fighting Vakkar, I can’t protect you.”
“If you hadn’t saved me last night, the cross would be in his hands. Is the fate of the Earth really at stake?”
“Yes.”
“Then we fight him on our terms and at the time of our choosing.”
Ansara cupped her head and drew her face close to his. “You have such courage. I find it sexy.”
He kissed her, lush and deep, a languorous meeting of lips and tongue that made her heart race.
When they came up for air, Kela looked him in the eye. “I’m not courageous, but you make me feel sexy. I could spend the rest of the day in bed.”
“I can’t imagine a more pleasant way to spend the day, but the angels wouldn’t approve. We need to get to work.”
“Then let’s go kick some demon ass.”
He kissed her on the tip of her nose. “Okay, but first I need to eat. I’m famished.”
“Do you like pizza?”
Chapter Four
Ansara liked pizza, consuming most of the large pie Kela had ordered. The patrons of the eating establishment were looking at him and he preferred keeping a low profile.
He pushed his empty plate away and looked at Kela. “I need new clothes. Everyone is staring.”
“It’s the crosses. They’re trying to decide if you’re a biker, a wrestler or a threat. If you hadn’t concealed the sword they’d be calling the police.”
He’d shrunk his sheathed sword. To the unaware, it looked like an ornament on his belt. This wasn’t Ansara’s first visit to Earth and no matter the time or place the local authorities paid attention to armed strangers. “I need clothing. Will you help me?”
“There’s a store down the street.”
The store was large and filled with racks of clothing. He chose jeans that covered the tops of his boots and a comfortable, long-sleeve blue shirt that hid his wristbands and weapon belt.
“Just one more thing,” Kela said. She gathered his long hair and tied it
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