Brush of Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page A

followed him too, glowing with blatant admiration.
    “I don’t actually know who he is.” I exchanged my empty champagne glass for a full one. “He came into the Pit today. Seems a right arrogant shit, if you ask me.” My lips pursed, unwilling to reveal just
how
arrogant. “Although he’s certainly in the right place. Stick a ribbon on that ass and you could mount it on the wall. It’s damn near a work of art by itself.”
    We ogled said body part with a companionable sigh. We weren’t the only ones. Small pockets of silence fell around the gallery as the crowd parted for him. He ignored the hungry glances and smug murmurs, taking a few unhurried moments at each painting before gliding away.
    “Cheeky bugger.” I purposefully turned my back on him. “Whoever he is.”
    Melanie chuckled. “Brystion is eye candy of the highest caliber, my dear, not just some OtherFolk man whore.”
    “If you say so. I say if it walks like a duck—”
    “You
have
to have heard of him,” she said incredulously. “He’s only the hottest piece of ass this side of theCrossRoads.” She watched him slip into the crowd and then sighed. “That’s a new look for him though. Normally he’s blond.”
    I made a noncommittal sound. “That’s what he looked like earlier today. You said blond?” Something niggled at the back of my mind as I tried to picture him with blond hair. I couldn’t really say that I liked the effect, and yet there was something so familiar . . .
    “Ah, that’s right.” I snapped my fingers. “He was the lead singer for that Dark Path band. What was it? Lolly-Folly or something?”
    “Ion’s Folly,” Mel snorted. “You know, short for Bryst
ion
?”
    “Maybe I should drop by the Hallows more often,” I smirked.
    “Yeah, well, don’t get your hopes up. They broke up a few months ago. But you probably would have known who he was if you hadn’t been so busy trying to be Buffy the Vampire Layer the last time you were there.”
    I winced. “Cute. Cut the crap, Mel. What am I dealing with?”
    She took another sip of wine. “He’s an incubus, Abby.”
    A ripple of unease fluttered in my belly as certain things fell into place. “Seriously? Like sits on your chest and sucks out your soul and all that?”
    “I don’t know. I’ve never slept with him.” Her fingers reached up to twirl her hair, wrapping one fat curl around her thumb. “There are rumors, but from what I understand he’s pretty choosy.” She glanced over her shoulder and frowned, her tongue running over the edge of her teeth. “Strange to see him here though. He almost never hangs out on this side of the CrossRoads without a TouchStone.”
    “He didn’t seem to have one earlier today.” I slid my hand over my lips with a little twitch.
    “Yeah,” she agreed. “I don’t think he’s had one since theband broke up.”
    “Well, maybe he just wanted to rub elbows with
you
.”
    “I rub elbows with him nearly every night he’s at the Hallows. Believe me, I’m over it.” Her face became sly. “Why so interested? Hoping to do a little wall mounting of your own?”
    “I’m not. Not really,” I amended. “He was looking for Moira earlier. I was just curious where I could find him if I needed to.” My voice was as nonchalant as a cat licking cream from its whiskers and probably about as convincing.
    “I’ll bet,” she said dryly. “He’s playing a set with us tomorrow night. You should come.”
    “It’s not really my scene, you know. Not since Jett’s Contract.” A shudder ran through me at the memory of the vampire’s feral grin.
    “I know,” she interjected, a touch of sympathy tingeing her words. “And the bloodsucker still hangs around there, but honestly, Abby, he can’t hurt you if you don’t let him.”
    “I’ll think about it.” My mind dangled a little worm of remembrance across my consciousness. “Ah, crap, I may need to stop by anyway. Brandon sent me another one.”
    “Still looking for a