“Learn some fucking manners, Lionel, and maybe you’ll get served.” I give him a glare as I return to pour our shots.

“I love a direct woman,” Asmo says.

“It’s not going to happen. You can stop flirting with me,” I tell him, and his face scrunches up.

“What, and you want this old bastard?” he says, pointing at Dax.

I hand Dax and Asmo their shots and grin at Dax before shooting back the tequila. “Yes,” I say, leaning over the bar top closer to Dax.

Chapter 4

This is no ordinary witch. When she shoots back her tequila and gives me a beaming smile, I can sense her magic. It’s almost like mine is calling to her. It’s something I’ve never felt before.

It doesn’t hurt that she told Asmo to fuck off, or silenced the werewolf at the end of the bar. Doesn’t he need to get out of here, anyway? It’s almost a full moon. She’s direct, confident, and from what I can sense from her powers, extremely powerful. A combination any demon would look for in a woman.

“So, Dax,” she says my name like she’s tasting out the flavor on her tongue. I like that. She looks to be in her late twenties, but witches can be deceiving. She could be in her hundreds.

“Blair,” I say her name in return. It suits her. I can’t imagine someone named Blair who isn’t powerful. I place my hand on my cheek, my elbow on the table. I know women love my dimples, so I give her a flirtatious smile as she responds.

“You’re a detective?” she questions, and I know she didn’t believe Asmo when he said it to begin with.

“In a sense.”

She traces my finger tattoos that say Hate on one side and Love on the other. “I don’t know many detectives who have tattoos like these.” Her touch has me reeling, but I keep it in check. Asmo is staring at us, pouting as he watches.

“Does it matter what I am?” I ask.

“You have no idea how much it matters,” she says in a soft voice. The front door to the restaurant opens and Blair curses. “Excuse me for a moment. I forgot about the band playing tonight.”

She gives me one last glance, a warning for me not to go anywhere. As if I was planning on it. I watch as she swishes away in her short skirt and I can’t help but imagine sliding my fingers up it and teasing her until she begs for release.

Asmodeus clears his throat next to me. “Well, this is a fucking bust of a night.”

“What about the happy witch?” I ask him, giving him a smirk.

“No one is that happy, it’s unnatural,” he says, rolling his eyes. Waving his hand at the redhead to get her attention. “Love, can I get another whiskey, please?”

“Of course.” She perks up and starts pouring him another drink. I spin on my stool and watch as Blair helps the man and woman set up their stage. It takes longer than I would like. I want to talk to her more, see how long it takes until I can take her home with me.