The Witch's Desire by Elle James

down.”
    â€œHope for the best and plan for the worst?” Blaise smiled.
    A horrible thought occurred to Demi. “The Paranormal Council won’t postpone the hearing tomorrow, will they?”
    â€œThey never have as long as I’ve known.”
    â€œAnd if they do? What are we supposed to do with the witness?”
    * * *
    While Katya took the elevator to the lobby level, Cal took the stairs, all twenty-seven floors down, stopping briefly to check each floor. The hotel security staff had an office in the basement equipped with the latest security system.
    â€œInstalled it in the hotel upgrade last year.” The chief security officer on duty pointed to the array of screens depicting views of each floor, the elevator, including several views of the lobby, restaurant and front entrance.
    â€œIf you see anything that isn’t right, and I don’t care what it is or if it looks just slightly off, contact me immediately.” Cal gave him their room number and left, preferring to take the elevator back to the twenty-seventh floor. His ribs hurt and his knee was strained. He could use some sleep. But all he could think about was getting Demi alone.
    He exited the elevator and noted a bellboy wheeling a cart of luggage to the room on the opposite side of the hallway from their room. He waited for the bellboy to disappear into the room and close the door behind him, before he used the card key to open the door to the suite he and Demi would be sharing with the couple from the Fifth Precinct and the Paranormal Council’s star witness.
    So much for having Demi to himself by midnight. He’d hoped the handoff at the Fifth Precinct would be the end of his babysitting assignment. But after the attack, he knew he couldn’t abandon Ursula to Alexei’s threat.
    As he swung the door open, Blaise and Demi met him, crouched low, ready to kick his ass.
    He chuckled. “Good to know the team is on its toes.” He brushed his finger across Demi’s cheek. “You look tired.”
    â€œYou don’t look so great yourself.”
    A knock preceded Katya’s calling “Supper’s here.”
    Cal turned to open the door.
    Katya wheeled a dinner cart with five covered plates stacked on top, a pitcher of ice water, glasses and silverware.
    Cal and Demi’s stomachs rumbled.
    Ursula emerged from her bedroom, her long blond hair blown dry and straight. She wore a sequined dress with a low-cut neckline, displaying an ample portion of her chest. The hemline barely covered her bottom and her makeup was thick for a night on the town.
    â€œGoing somewhere?” Cal asked.
    â€œYou never know if you’ll have company. And if I die tonight, I want to leave a good-looking corpse.”
    Katya rolled her eyes. “Overkill.”
    Cal didn’t trust Ursula’s response. The woman was far too nicely put together for a night in a hotel room. For the moment, he pushed his misgivings aside as they attacked the food Katya had delivered.
    They had choices of salmon, blackened mahi-mahi, rib eye, roast chicken and a chef’s salad.
    Cal opted for the rib eye while Demi chose the blackened mahi-mahi. The room grew silent as they all consumed the food.
    Afterwards, full and now sleepy, Cal yawned. Demi followed with another yawn, raising her hand to cover her mouth.
    Katya nodded toward Blaise. “We’ll take the first shift if you two want to catch some sleep.”
    â€œThanks.” Demi set her empty plate on the cart, grabbed her suitcase and headed for the bathroom. “Give me five minutes, then you can have the shower.”
    She disappeared into the bedroom and closed the door halfway.
    â€œIf you two are sure you can handle things…” He glanced from Katya to Blaise, then sent a pointed look at Ursula.
    â€œWe have it covered.” Blaise’s lips twitched. “Get some sleep and whatever else relaxes you. Ms. Chattox is wound up