Green Flame Assassin (Demon Lord series, book 2) by Morgan Blayde Page A

of the bed.  The darkness filled out, becoming a black leopard with burning yellow eyes.  As the mattress compressed under her, Leona gave Osamu’s retreating back an irritated glower.  “How come I don’t get served coffee in bed?”
I rolled off the bed, onto my feet, and snatched up the clothes I’d laid out earlier.  I answered her as I dressed.  “Maybe it’s because you don’t have a bed or bedroom either.”
She turned her glower on me.  “Like that should make a difference.”
I shrugged.  “You could always go out and get your own combat butler.”
“Yeah, that’ll happen.”  She lashed her tail.  “By the way, you might want to hurry to your office.  There are cat people dancing on the bar, and they seem to be shedding clothing rather quickly.”
I lifted an eyebrow, sliding my gun harness on, following it with a light black jacket.  “Really?  That sounds promising.”
She grinned, flashing white fangs.  “You want the bad news now?”
I sighed.  “If it will make your day.”
“The girls are back from shopping.  They seem to have bought out a few stores.”
Horror flushed through me, icing over my heart.  I ran from the room, catching Vivian, Izumi, and Angie in the living room, their arms loaded with packages and shopping bags they dumped on the couch.  Smiling, Angie wiped sweat from her pretty brow.  “Man, shopping’s hard work.”
Izumi spotted me.  Her frost-pale face lit up with pleasure.  “Hey, Caine, we’re back!”
“Damn, Izumi, I said by a couple outfits, not entire wardrobes.”
Free of her bundles and bags, Vivian danced over to me, twirling to display the outfit she wore.  The Slayer armor was gone.  She sported midnight blue, low-rise skinny jeans, and a blood red blouse.  Once she stopped spinning, her short, black leather coat hid her gun harness.  Her ink-black spill of hair was pulled into a ponytail.  New earrings glittered, white gold from the smell of the metal.  Funny, since when have been able to tell metal by smell?   I studied her feet.  The close-toed heels were a perfect match for her crimson belt.
“What do you think?” A faint blush enlivened her pale face.
“Almost worth the suffering my credit card endured,” I said.
Izumi stalked over, handed me my credit card, and slugged me in the shoulder.  Leaning into me, she hissed, “Tell her how good she looks.”
I looked back at Vivian.  “You look so totally hot.  I just want to rip those clothes right off you.”
She leaped in and hugged me.
I allowed my hands to roam, just a little.
Izumi looked like she was about to belt me again.  Fortunately, the door to my office opened and music came blaring out.  Smiling, Achill stuck his head out.  “Hey, I thought I heard you guys.  Come on in and join the wake.”
“Wake?” Izumi said.  “Who died?”
I made a solemn mask of my face.  “Haziar bit the dust.  We had a rogue baby demon running loose earlier.  You missed all the fun.”
“Ye gods,” Angie said, “go shopping for one afternoon and hell comes calling.” 
I pulled away from Vivian, catching her hand.  “C’mon, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the gang.”  I tugged her into the office.  The lights were dim.  The big plasma screen TV above the bar displayed a Latin pop group, fronted by a female singer with a bare midriff.  She seemed like she really knew how to wiggle.  And, yes, the werekitties were dancing on the bar in their bare feet, their bare everything-else hanging out. 
William and Achill didn’t seem to mind.
The Old Man was explaining to one of the girls that she ought to leave something on so he could tuck in some of the dollar bills he clutched in a big blue fist.  “It’s how these things are done,” he said.
“Got a point there,” Achill slurred, cradling a big foamy mug of beer.
William held a mug of his own, thrusting it high overhead.  “Here’s to Haziar, a great warrior, for a fairy.”
Izumi pointed at him from