She leaned protectively over her friend, who moaned softly. “Please, don’t hurt us.”

No one had ever looked at me with that much fear in their eyes, and it felt like someone had socked me in the gut. I moved back to give her some space. “No one is going to hurt you or your friend.”

She stared at my hands, and I rested them on my thighs. “I’m sorry about zapping you. It was an accident.”

“This one’s gone,” Jordan called, and I looked over my shoulder to where she was checking the mox demon for signs of life.

The vrell demon opened his eyes. “Nell?” he rasped, looking up at the blue-haired demon.

“Aiden!” She kissed his forehead. He tried to move, and she helped him into a sitting position until they were both facing me. She clung to his hand as if it was a lifeline.

“Who are you?” Aiden asked warily, covering his bleeding head with a hand.

“My name is Sara and this is my friend, Jordan. The werewolves over there are my friends, Roland and Peter. We heard screams and came to help. I’m sorry. We were too late to save your friend.”

“You killed them all?”

“My friends did.”

He stared at the vampire’s body. “You are Mohiri, aren’t you? Why would you help us?”

I fought to hold back the scowl that threatened. The Mohiri were supposed to be the good guys, but every demon we encountered acted like we were the boogeymen. I didn’t like having to defend myself over and over.

“The Mohiri kill vampires, but we don’t hurt innocent people. You’re safe with us.”

Aiden’s eyes grew round and he hugged Nell close, whispering to her in demon tongue.

I stood and walked a few feet away because it was obvious my closeness was distressing Nell. “We probably shouldn’t stay here much longer. Can you walk, or do you need help?”

“I am well enough to walk.” Aiden got to his feet with Nell’s help. He looked at Jordan and me. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” Jordan said. “Just stay away from alleys at night from now on.”

Aiden gave her a pained smile. “Sound advice.” He laid an arm over Nell’s shoulders and looked sadly at the dead mox demon. “Let’s go home. We have to call Moira’s family so they can collect her body.”

“I’m really sorry about your friend,” I said as they limped past us.

“Well, our work here is done,” Jordan declared, watching the two demons leave. She wiped her blade on the dead vampire’s clothes. “We should get out of here, too. We’re less than a block from Blue Nyx and this might attract some attention.”

We ran across the road, thankful there was no traffic, and the boys went into the loading dock to change back and dress. Roland had a scratch on his chin and Peter was sporting a bruised eye. I was the only one among us who wasn’t wounded or bloody. I chuckled at that as we got into the car, and Jordan asked what was funny.

“This is the first time I’ve encountered a vampire and didn’t need a shower or medical attention after. I think my luck is improving.”

She looked down at her ruined top and made a face. “I wish my clothes could say the same. Hanging with you is a blast, but it’s murder on my wardrobe.”

“Sorry. Next time, I’ll kill the vampire.”

She started the car. “Not on your life.”

The three of them immediately started going over the fight and arguing over who had made the best kill. All I could do was shake my head and wonder when this crazy night would be over.

I still couldn’t believe Chris had been at the club. There was no way it could have been a coincidence. And if Chris was in Los Angeles then Nikolas was here too. But why wasn’t Nikolas with him tonight? If they’d had any reason to suspect I’d be at the club, I couldn’t see Nikolas not being there. My heart fluttered at the thought of Nikolas being somewhere in this city right now, and a pang of longing twisted my stomach.

Roland let out a whoop. “All night diner. I could really go for a burger with the works.”

“Me too!” Peter chimed in.

“You want to eat now?” Jordan asked, already putting on her signal to get into the other lane.

I chuckled. “Werewolves are always hungry. You should know that after almost a week with these two.”

As soon as we pulled up in front of the diner, Roland and Peter started to get out and I stopped them. “You guys have blood on you. I’d better go in.”

“Oh, yeah.” Roland sat again, and he and Peter told me what they wanted. I looked at Jordan, who shrugged and said that since we were here, she might as well get something too.

It was after midnight so the diner was pretty quiet. It was one of those fifties-style diners with a checkered tile floor and red vinyl seats. The young waitress at the counter wore a pink poodle skirt and looked none too happy about it. I ordered three burgers with the works, and she disappeared into the kitchen after she rang them up.

I couldn’t think about eating after what I’d seen in that alley. My stomach rolled every time I remembered those vampires ripping into that poor mox demon. If we’d gotten there just a few minutes earlier we could have saved her. I sighed wearily. We had saved two lives and there were three fewer vampires stalking the streets of Los Angeles. I should be happy with that.

The waitress brought me a large paper bag. I thanked her and headed back to the car. A man opened the door for me when I reached it, and I mumbled a thank-you to him, still lost in my thoughts.