Kai shrugged and passed it over to him, then went back to looking.
Foregoing launchers of any kind, I loaded up with knives and magic grenades, a couple of pistols filled with silver bullets, extra ammunition, and a silver garrote.
“I have something special for you,” Michael said with a grin. He pulled a small crystal flask filled with ruby red liquid from a shelf and handed it to me. “Amplifies your, erm… natural talents. Just a drop on your tongue will let you cut through all kinds of counter measures.”
Could have used that back when Kai was being stubborn, I thought, suppressing a grin.
“Thanks.”
As if drawn by my thoughts, Kai appeared at my side, his eyes alight with excitement. “I’m ready,” he said.
I glanced over him and saw nothing new on his person. I raised a questioning brow. He grinned and began pulling hidden weapons out from all over—knives, steel claws, poison darts, garrotes of all kinds, throwing stars marked with different elemental colors, and—most surprising—twin samurai swords which he had hidden inside of his tunic.
“Well, shit.” I blinked at him, cocking my head. “Yeah. I guess you are ready.”
“So am I,” Kingston called over. He still had the launcher and carried two bags full of orbs. “Aerial attacks.”
“Awesome. Jayce?”
“I have the crossbow.” He shrugged, waving it. “Plus knives and bombs just in case. I didn’t see any other kind of healing stuff,” he added, turning to Michael.
The shaggy werewolf shook his head. “Healing’s more complicated than killing. Less important around here too. Vamps and some demons use blood, succubi use sex, werewolves heal on command. Sirens can heal others, but most of ’em won’t unless they’re using you for long-term food. Trust me, son. If you get hurt in there, you won’t have a chance to heal. They know torture and killing. They’re experts in it. Nobody shoots to wound.”
Jayce looked grim but determined. “Then we won’t get hurt,” he said. “You got armor?”
“Some.” Michael glanced around the room. “Not much.”
He showed us to the small supply of armor. Most of it was too heavy and bulky to do much good, but he did have a few charmed
vests. They felt like spandex, but I could sense the magic in them.
“They’ll stop a bullet or an energy bomb. Won’t do much against claws or knives though.”
“Any protection is better than none,” I said. “Thank you.”
We all went back upstairs and organized our things. Michael fed us dinner and gave us provisions for the trip, and offered us the living room to sleep in.
“You’ll have your privacy,” he said, raising his hair eyebrows in my direction. His voice was deadly serious. “Get all charged up. You’re gonna need it.”
Chapter Four
With those words, Michael turned and headed down a short hallway to what I presumed was his bedroom.
As soon as the door closed behind him, the atmosphere in the room changed, sparks seeming to dance in the very air around us. I turned to the three men who had accompanied me into the underworld, risking their own lives to help me and to save their friend.
They were all watching me, their gazes intent on my face, and although their expressions were different, one thing was the same in all of them.
Heat.
Desire.
Crossing the small space, I met them in the middle of the room, kicking off my boots and standing on the surprisingly soft rug in my bare feet. They all mimicked my action, getting rid of their boots before tugging their tunics over their heads.
I bit my lip, arousal flaring deep inside me as I took in the three of them. My succubus magic had turned me into a creature of sex and sensuality, but there was something above and beyond that in my attraction to the men. It was beyond the bond, beyond the fact that they were stunningly gorgeous.
It was them.
The connection we shared. The things we’d been through together. The faith I had that they would always have my back.