“She’s still here, and she’s gloating. Give it up, Richard.” I sighed. “I guess I’m stuck with her forever.”

“No, we’re not giving up.” CiCi held some printed pages. “Flo, give your husband a drink, heal him, and then send him home. Time for plan B. Glory, are you game?”

I sighed. “What can it hurt? Right now I’m Alesa’s bitch. Couldn’t get much worse.” Or at least I hoped not.

Twenty-three

I jumped in the shower while Flo gave Richard some of her juice, then sent him protesting on his way. She and CiCi decided to start with a clean slate. CiCi changed the sheets while I was in the bathroom. I came out in my robe ready for whatever.

“Before we start, I want to be clear. Don’t risk yourself, CiCi. I won’t let you or Flo sacrifice—”

CiCi held up her hand. “Florence and I are perfectly safe.” She pulled out two beautiful jeweled rosaries with large crosses. “Blessed by a saint and two Holy Fathers. There’s also a small piece of the ankle bone of a sainted nun hidden in a compartment in the back of each cross.” She pressed on one to reveal a tiny opening in the gold. “See?”

“Wow. But still . . .”

“I’m not finished. Florence sleeps with Richard, who this demon hates, and I am from a long line of priests, popes and cardinals.” She stepped close to me and poked me in the chest. “Listen to me, demon. You dare to jump into me, and I’ll run straight to the Vatican. How would you like that?”

“Gaaa! Get this pious bitch away from me. She’s giving me the hives.”

I smiled. “Alesa got the message. We’re clear.”

“Fine. Now we use logic. We make the host intolerable to the demon. Glory, Alesa’s from hell. What would she absolutely hate?” CiCi had a notepad, hell’s secretary.

“Let me think.” I sat on the bed.

“Swell. When she’s done, she can write Exorcisms for Dummies .” Alesa was all snark.

I smiled at CiCi. Desperate times and all that. Maybe the very fact that Alesa was making fun meant she was afraid. “She’s from down below.” I nodded to CiCi. “So I say we go high. What do you say, Alesa?”

“Heights?” A few octaves higher than usual. “No problem for me. No, sirree.” We were definitely onto something.

I nodded at CiCi and mouthed “Write it down.”

“Hey, Your Hellness. You’re so crazy about heat. How do you feel about cold?”

“Oh, no, not the cold. Even Lucifer can’t get me to Siberia or the poles. Not even with insulated underwear and no matter how many souls I could snatch there. I’m not freezing my ass off.” Alesa poked me until I doubled over. “I mean it, vampire. You pull something with cold, and you’ll regret it. I swear that on Lucifer’s crown.”

“Oooo. I’m scared. Seems cold is freaking her out.” I hugged my pillow. “Well, CiCi, what do you think?”

“I think we go to the roof first.” CiCi grinned. “You able to get dressed?”

“Definitely.” I sucked it up and jumped into jeans and a T-shirt. How high could I fly? Would it be enough to make Alesa jump out? Where would she go? Did I care? Bottom line, could she if she tried? Oh, no, I had to believe . . . Anyway, Flo was all for going with me, and we shifted into birds.

We flew straight up until we hit clouds. Alesa screeched and singed my feathers. Flo finally made me head down when I started smoking. We landed on the tallest building in Austin.

“What do you think, Glory?” Flo was a pretty blue bird while my mockingbird had pitiful blackened wing tips.

“She’s still here so look out below!” We jumped off the ledge, dive-bombing the sidewalk. I heard some nasty language inside my head, but all that got me was a roaring headache and flop sweat before we pulled up at the last minute.

“Glory, that’s one stubborn demon you have there.” CiCi met us as we shifted back in the alley near Rafe’s club, which had closed for the night. “You look like hell. Can you keep going?”

“I have to. What’s next?” I leaned against the brick wall, my head pounding, my clothes soaked.

“You’ll see.” CiCi put her finger over her lips. “Rafe is letting us in. Here he is.”

“What’s going on, ladies?” Rafe frowned at me. “You’re wet.” He looked up at the cloudless night sky. “Get caught in a sprinkler system or a car wash? Or did you get run over by one of those street-cleaning trucks?” He took my arm and helped me inside. “Seriously, you look terrible, Glory.”

I was grateful for his support. “Alesa’s been busting my chops. We’re working on our own exorcism since Richard’s didn’t do the trick.” Rafe didn’t seem to mind that I was getting him wet as I sagged against him. “Opening seemed to go well.”

“It was great. Nadia’s pleased. We’re well on our way.” Rafe grinned. “So what’s this about my walk-in cooler? If this hadn’t been a restaurant once, we wouldn’t even have one.”

“The demon hates the cold, Rafael. We’re going to freeze her out, eh, Glory?” Flo tugged me toward the kitchen when Alesa balked and made my legs go limp.

I would have hit the floor if Rafe hadn’t grabbed me and picked me up.

“I hope this is worth it. In wet clothes?” I clung to Rafe as we got to the cooler door.

“You can change into my extra shirt.” Rafe winked at Flo. “Not very warm though. White satin.”

CiCi gasped. “You were the one! The dancer.”

“Don’t tell anyone, CiCi. I did it for Flo.” Rafe looked from CiCi to Flo. “What did you think, ladies? How’d I do?”

“Are you kidding?” CiCi bumped her hip against his. “You get lonely, you know where I live.”

“CiCi! Remember why we’re here? Demon on board.” I wanted to scratch her eyes out but knew I had no right to be jealous. Flo murmured something to Rafe in Italian, which he answered as he kissed her cheek. I noticed he avoided touching those crosses the ladies wore. My semidemon friend. I didn’t have time to waste worrying about Rafe just now, but I bet he’d had many issues to deal with in his long life.

“Alesa’s revving up again.” My wet clothes started to steam, and she kept stabbing me viciously.

“Damn straight. You go into that cooler, and I’ll give you hell with a side order of fried Glory.” She stabbed me again, right between the eyes, then turned up the heat. I gasped.

“Glory?” Rafe winced, obviously feeling my fire as he held me.

“Alesa really doesn’t want to go in there. Hurry inside. Now.” I couldn’t open my eyes against the pain. “And put me down before you get hurt.”

“I can deal. Let’s go.” Rafe carried me. Flo and CiCi followed, slamming the door shut.

The chill hit me hard, and my teeth started chattering. Ridiculous. Vampires usually handled temps better than this. Damned demon influence.

“Let’s sing church songs. She should hate that.” CiCi broke into a tune from the Moonlight Church. Rafe must know it from sitting outside waiting for me, but I didn’t hear him join in. The demon in him? I finally managed to slide to my feet but held on to his hand. His grip was tight. So this was hard for him too. My wet clothes crackled as I turned into an ice sculpture. No more inner heat. I guess the cold was getting to Alesa.

“This is crazy. Glory’s lips are turning blue.” Rafe pulled off his shirt and wrapped it around me. “Come on. Out of here.”

“J-j-just a l-l-little l-l-longer.” I shuddered and icicles broke off the ends of my wet hair.

“Glory’s gone from blue to purple. She’s had enough.” Rafe looked uncomfortable too and not just because I wore his shirt. Flo sang “Jesus Loves Me” at the top of her lungs.

“Y-y-yes, out. N-n-now.” I collapsed in a heap.

Rafe picked me up and carried me out. He pulled a tablecloth off a table and wrapped it around me, then held me tight. Flo and CiCi each grabbed their own tablecloth.

“Is she still in there?” Flo put her hand on my arm. “You feel cold. Isn’t that a good sign?”

“Give me a minute, and I’ll fry your friend’s hand if she touches you again.” Alesa sounded hoarse.

“She’s here and she’s mad.” I reluctantly let go of Rafe, warming up fast. “Too bad I can’t parachute over the North Pole singing the Lord’s Prayer.”

Flo and CiCi nodded solemnly.

“We could charter a plane,” Flo said.

CiCi patted my shoulder. “Good idea. My treat.”

I just shook my head and looked at Rafe. “Somehow I don’t think we can blast this thing out until she’s ready to go.” I handed Rafe back his shirt. “Congratulations on the opening. It was awesome.”

“Thanks. Sorry you’re stuck.” He glanced at my friends. “I’ll be home before dawn. Maybe we can talk.” He slid his hand down my arm in a comforting gesture.

“Now he can touch us anytime.” Alesa sounded stronger.

“Talk. Yes, I’d like that.” I wondered if Rafe had ever tried to obliterate his demon side. I didn’t dare mention it in front of Flo and CiCi.

Back at the apartment my friends had one more thing they wanted to try.

“This is called ‘Soul Walking.’” CiCi opened her tote bag. “Florence, did you bring what I asked you to?”

“Not exactly.” Flo looked sheepish. “I just couldn’t risk my best pair of shoes. What if they got stained? Have you seen the way Glory sweats? We’re talking vintage Chanel, CiCi.”

“What kind of friend are you?” CiCi pulled out a pair of lilac satin pumps so exquisite my eyes watered. They had to be several hundred years old with genuine diamond buckles on the toes. “This must be done right. What did you bring, cheapskate?”