Shift of Time (A Rue Darrow Novel Book 1) by Audrey Claire

apartment. He said it kept those with evil intent out, but I didn’t know the words to create it myself, and I sometimes wondered if the spell worked only on nonhuman beings or on everyone. I had no way of clarifying with him.
    I left my apartment shortly after Georgia vacated and walked along the dark street. I had nothing to do with myself since tonight I was off work after a seven-night stretch. Almonester was truly a monster. Realizing I didn’t have friends had me considering calling Georgia, but I resisted this bit of insanity. Deciding I would use the time to purchase more wine, I visited a shop on Dauphine, which I had stopped into for the last bottle and found reasonable prices.
    “Try this one,” an employee offered and held out a tiny paper cup. I took it, and when she turned away, I dumped it into the trash. A couple of customers nearby exclaimed the wine delicious. That was good enough for me, and I grabbed a bottle from the table where they were set up.
    Turning, I let my gaze wander over the other patrons and paused when I spotted a particularly interesting man in a black business suit. In the store, at night, this guy wore sunglasses. As I took him in, he lowered his glasses, and I took in piercing eyes. He was handsome if you go for that GQ magazine type, which I did, thank you. However, there was also a hint of danger I couldn’t put my finger on. What woman doesn’t like a bit of danger.
    Mind you, I wasn’t looking to get involved, just looking , maybe chat. The night was young, and I was bored. I lingered over my purchase, and he moved closer but said nothing. Deciding it was up to me to make the first move, I received my change from the cashier and turned toward him. He was gone. I spun, searching the store. Just gone? Why hadn’t I detected his movements or sensed his retreat?
    Soon after, I left the store in a huff then made it a few blocks away from the store and strode along the street before I sensed someone following. The warm night air blew strands of my hair across my face and brought with it nothing unusual. A short way away, the strains of the ever-present music reached me along with the laughter of people enjoying their evening. Still nothing. Why had I thought someone—
    An arm swung across my chest from behind, but before the person could get purchase, I put space between him and me. Startled and off balance because I hadn’t even detected him, I bumped a parked car and winced at the dent I left there. Sorry, sir. There’s no way I can explain that.
    When I faced my opponent, I found the man from the store. He stood before me in calm refinement, not quite as still as I went sometimes when I fell into deep thought. What interested me were his eyes. Where they had been normal in the store, they burned red here. This was no little imp, and I had the feeling he wanted me to know it by the energy he gave off now that he had unveiled himself.
    “What are you?” I demanded.
    “You know what I am.” His smooth, deep voice might have appealed if he weren’t, well, a demon.
    I surveyed the area. We were alone. Apparently, tall, dark, and handsome thought he didn’t need backup. Maybe he didn’t. “You’re not like the others I’ve fought.”
    He chuckled and then sneered in disgust. “You mean the imps? Don’t put me on the same level as them.”
    “Well, I don’t care. You want Milo, go find him! Leave me out of it.”
    The demon shook his head and advanced a step toward me. “I don’t want anything from either of you. Well, I do want you to die.”
    I gaped. Before I could respond or even process what he said, he was on me, a hand at my throat. The grip was steel. I flailed, tugging at his hold. This was unlike the imps. I had popped them like so many bubbles. This man—this beast—was harder to deal with than I thought.
    Granted, my fear and confusion might have slowed me down and left me weakened, but my enemy was on another level as he had bragged. I dropped to the