Don't Hex and Drive (Stay a Spell #2) - Juliette Cross Page 0,2
the street, his crisp white shirt glowing under the streetlight, stretching across his broad chest. “You can’t live far. Let me give you a ride home.”
“After witnessing your excellent driving skills? Um, no, thank you. And I don’t know you. Ever heard of stranger danger?”
Plus there was the whole issue of those college girls going missing. I wasn’t an idiot. Actually, I’d never seen him around this neighborhood before and suddenly eyed him with renewed suspicion. “Who are you anyway?”
His attention swiveled back to me, and then he frowned down at the ground at my foot as I wobbled.
“My name is Devraj Kumar.”
“I’ve never seen you around here.”
“I’ve just arrived in town. I’m a friend of Ruben Dubois. Surely, you know him if you’re a local witch.”
Ruben Dubois? The overlord of vampires in New Orleans? Uh, yeah, I knew him.
“You know Ruben?”
He pulled out his cell from his back pocket and dialed a number, holding the phone up to his ear. Within three seconds, he said, “Yeah, I had an incident.” His dark eyes fixed on me. “An accident, actually. My fault. I hit a witch on her bike.” He pivoted away so I couldn’t see his face. “Shut up, man. No, she’s fine. Well, except for her ankle. Will you tell her I won’t kidnap or kill her so she’ll let me take her home?”
He turned and passed me the phone with a seriously disgruntled look. I guess Ruben handed his ass to him. Good. A little smugly, I took the phone.
“Hey, Ruben. It’s Isadora.”
“Isadora,” repeated the vampire king in his always-steady-and-calm voice. But then he let out a little sigh. “Are you all right?”
“Fine. Just my ankle.”
“I’m glad you were cautious and didn’t get in the car with him.” Ruben had no idea how bad my car phobia was. There was no way I’d ever just get in a car with anyone. “But listen, Devraj is one of my oldest and best friends. You can trust him to give you a ride home. I’m sure Jules is already worrying since it’s late.”
True. She would be. Or my sisters, whoever was home right now. I eyed the vampire standing in front of me, looking somewhat innocent and remorseful, hands in his pockets.
Ruben knew our family well since he and Jules worked closely together as leaders in the supernatural world. He was a good friend to us, so if he said Devraj was trustworthy, then he was.
“If you say so, Ruben.”
“I do. Let him help you. I can promise you he’s already drowning in guilt. Let him get you home safely.”
“Okay. I will.”
“Can I speak to him again for a minute?”
“Sure.”
I passed the phone back. Devraj took it and listened to whatever Ruben was saying, his gaze sharpening on me as he exhaled the heaviest sigh I’d ever heard.
“I will,” he said to Ruben before ending the call and slipping it into his back pocket. “All ready to go then?”
I nodded, eyeing his intimidating looking car. One of those super-fast, fancy ones that made me cringe.
“All right.” Then he swept me up into his arms, one arm under my knees, the other cradling my back.
“Wait! What are you doing? Put me down!”
“I’m getting you in the car without you injuring yourself further.”
“I don’t like this,” I ground out, pressing my scratched palms to his white shirt, then jerked them back, realizing I’d likely stain it. Whatever he was wearing, it was expensive. “Please put me down.”
“I will. Inside the car, Isadora. Isadora what, by the way?”
“Savoie,” I muttered, gritting my teeth, my nerves fracturing on multiple levels.
“Your ankle is injured, and you can’t walk. You certainly can’t ride your bike.” He glanced toward where it had landed, the back wheel crooked, spokes popping out. His gaze swiveled to mine as he marched forward, looking a bit more contrite. “I’ll come back for your bike.” He strode around his sleek car, the engine still purring as he’d never turned it off. “I imagine you don’t live far.”
His voice rumbled against my side. I’d curled my hands against my chest, trying to avoid all contact. The vibration of his deep timbre against my ribcage reminded me how close we were. So did the scent of him. Some kind of fancy cologne. It smelled expensive and made me uncomfortable. I was ready to be rid of this vampire with his fancy car, clothes, and cologne.
“Not far,” I grumbled before adding emphatically, “I’m not leaving without my pansies.”