“What kind of deal?” I asked suspiciously. Usually, demons interested in making a deal wanted their freedom. I don’t make those kinds of deals. If I’d imprisoned someone, there was a damn good reason, and those imprisoned in the same area as Desmond LaCroix were too dangerous to set free.
“He wants a transfer,” Rainer explained. “At first, he asked for his freedom, but I told him you weren’t going to give him that. I tossed his scrawny ass back into the detention area for a few hours. When I pulled him from there to talk again, he offered to trade information in exchange for a transfer. Apparently, things are rough for him there.”
“Is it safe to move him to another detention area?” I asked.
“I think he’d be fine one or two levels up,” Rainer replied. “He originally requested this detention area. His brother is here, so he probably thought he’d be safer.”
I laughed at the demon’s stupidity. “I don’t need to ask how that worked out for him.”
“They never learn,” Rainer mused before continuing. “The demon is scared and wants out. I told him you’d be willing to help him if he has useful information.”
“Let’s go see what he’s got for us,” I told him, prepared to beat the information out of the demon if he didn’t cooperate.
We made our way to the small detention cell where the demon was waiting. His skin was pulled tightly against his skeletal frame, and his eyes glowed yellow in their sunken sockets. This type of demon looked like a walking bag of bones. I hated dealing with them. Their appearance didn’t bother me so much as their voices. When they spoke, it sounded like the mating call of a banshee.
“You have to help me!” he wailed, trying to rise but forgetting his arms were shackled to the table. “I can’t stay there another day.”
In response, I gave a bored shrug and leaned against the wall. My arms were crossed in front of my chest, and my hair was falling down around my face when I spoke. “For your sake, I hope you have information valuable enough to justify a bargain.”
The demon’s mouth opened, and his breath hissed out between his lips. “Please, don’t leave me there. I don’t belong there.”
“Tell me what you know,” I prompted.
“The warlock you’re looking for is with a demon named Zareya,” he told me. “Most demons in the detention area are afraid of her.”
“Zareya?” Rainer asked, continuing when the demon nodded. He pulled out his phone to check the prisoner database. “That seems like an odd pairing,” he said as he studied her file.
“That name sounds familiar,” I mused. “She tried to take over a small section of Hell in a violent coupe, right?”
Rainer nodded. “She didn’t get very far in her plans. Based on what I’m reading, it seems unlikely she’d help someone like Desmond.”
“Why do you think her helping Desmond is so unlikely?” I asked.
“It says here, she has a reputation for seducing high-ranking demons and killing them for fun,” he began. “She claims that, as the daughter of Zeus, she should rule Hell—her words, not mine.”
That wasn’t an entirely uncommon claim among demons. “Zeus might very well be her father. The horny bastard has a reputation for fucking around. I’m still not sure why she’d think that gives her the right to take over the demon realm. Zeus has no authority here.”
“Being his daughter was probably enough to get others to follow her before, and it may be enough to add to her power while in prison,” Rainer added.
“She’s brutal,” the demon whispered.
“This explains how the warlock is able to hide from us. Zareya likely has help keeping him hidden,” I deduced. “You also said you have information on the recent problems.”
The demon swallowed hard and spoke in an even more annoyingly screechy voice. “It may not be related.”
“Tell us what you know,” Rainer coaxed.
“An angel visited Zareya,” he replied.
There was a beat of silence before Rainer spoke. “A fallen angel?”
“No,” the demon replied. “He was a regular angel.”
“Fucking Michael,” I growled, turning to put my fist through the wall. I was so angry, my power ignited and flames burst from the hole in the wall.
The demon screamed and tried to back away from the table. This time, he fell to the floor, taking the table with him. I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes as he continued to screech. “Don’t burn me! Please!”
“I’m not going to burn you as long as you continue to help us,” I assured the demon. I wouldn’t care that he was terrified if his screeching wasn’t enough to make my ears bleed. These demons were tortured less often than others because few could handle their screams. We had yet to find a way to silence them. “Did you hear Zareya’s conversation with the angel?”
“No,” he admitted before quickly adding, “I heard Zareya and her warlock talking after the angel left. She thinks the angel can help with her plans.”
“So, Zareya is behind the problems we’ve been having,” Rainer stated.
“It looks that way,” I agreed. “We shouldn’t stop investigating all possible leads until we have definitive proof. I don’t know how much we can trust this demon.”
“I’m not lying about the angel,” the demon wailed. “Please, don’t send me back.”
“We’re not sending you back,” I snapped. “You’ll stay here until we find a place for you.”
“Someplace less scary?” he asked hopefully.
“Yes,” Rainer assured him as he followed me out of the interrogation room.
I’d keep the demon in this room until I confirmed he hadn’t lied to me before arranging a transfer. If I found out he was lying to me, I’d toss him back in the detention area and make sure the other prisoners knew he was a snitch.
We both remained silent on our way back to my place. I needed to change if we were going to the prison in search of Zareya.
“So, we’re going there tonight?” Rainer asked.
“Of course,” I told him. “This needs to be handled right away.”
“And you have to keep Beatrice safe,” he added with a grin.
“Don’t make me send you back to guard that screeching demon,” I warned.
Chapter 24
Beatrice
While the portals made it much easier to travel long distances, the lines could be a pain in the ass. Before meeting Dev, I’d had no idea that fallen angels used different portals. I’d assumed, since they were all designed by demons, fallen angels also used them. It seemed they were smart enough to have special ones made for them. I’d been in line for nearly half an hour, yet I hadn’t moved an inch. That happened from time to time. Either there was a glitch in the spell used to create the portal, or someone was trying to use the portal without proper clearance. Those banned from portal use often created problems for other commuters by trying to talk the demons at the entrance into letting them pass. It must work sometimes or people wouldn’t continue to try.
My phone buzzed with a text, so I decided to check it. Why not? It didn’t seem I was going anywhere soon.
Dev: How is your day going?
He’d been on my mind all day. My night had been filled with dreams of all the things I wanted to do with him. I’d woken up horny, and even my vibrator hadn’t been able to fully satisfy me.
Beatrice: Not great. I’m stuck in line at a transport sight.
Dev: Where are you heading?
Beatrice: San Diego.
Dev: There’s a better portal near there. I can send you directions.
Beatrice: They aren’t going to let me pass without you in the car.
Dev: I can arrange it.
I looked behind me and sighed. Even if he could get me on the list for the portal, I’d never be able to back out of the line.
Beatrice: That’s sweet, but I’m stuck in the middle of the line. I wish I knew what was holding things up so I could tell my client.
Dev: It’s nothing on our end.<
br />
Beatrice: How do you know? Are you trying to say it couldn’t be the fault of anyone in the demon realm?
Dev: No, I checked on it when you told me you were stuck in line.
Beatrice: And you got an answer that quickly?
Dev: We have computers in Hell. Contrary to popular belief, we even have ice water.
Beatrice: Haha. You are too funny.
Dev: Yes, I’m the total package. Smart, sexy, and funny.
I laughed at his arrogance. It was all true, but I had no intention of telling him that. As I was about to text him again, the line started moving, so I typed in a quick message.
Beatrice: Line is moving. I’ll talk to you later.
It didn’t take me long to get to the transport tube. If I didn’t run into any more delays, I’d even be on time for my appointment.
Chapter 25
Beatrice
I like San Diego. The witches there weren’t any more accepting of shapeshifters than they were in the Bay Area, but I didn’t have to deal with their council. They also had several good restaurants I occasionally visited when I came down for my patient’s weekly appointment.
I knocked at my client’s house in the witch subdivision and waited. I never rang the doorbell. My patient hated the sound.
“I was wondering if you’d be late,” Garrick said as soon as he opened the door. “I heard there was a problem at the transport tube.”
I nodded and walked past him into the house. “It was a mess. I was about to message you to reschedule when the line finally started moving.”
“I’m glad you made it,” he told me before looking toward the stairs and sighing.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Theo won’t eat,” he breathed out.
I placed a hand on Garrick’s arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. I had little experience comforting warlocks, but I felt bad for Garrick. The day before his bonding ceremony with Theo’s witch, she had been killed. More than a year later, both Garrick and Theo were still devastated. Since Garrick hadn’t bonded with his witch yet, he couldn’t understand Theo. Few familiars survived the death of their witch. Theo wanted to die, but he felt it would be a betrayal to his witch to leave her warlock. It was a truly heartbreaking case, and I often wondered if I was helping.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to help more,” I told him.
“You’re great,” he assured me. “Theo looks forward to your sessions. At least, I think he looks forward to them. Most times, he perks up the day before you come over. It’s been a rough day for us both. Today is Jolene’s birthday.”
I nodded my understanding. “I’ll go talk to him.
Theo was where I’d expected to find him. The bearded dragon was lying on the floor where the sun from the window could warm him. Two crickets sat on his back, probably part of the meal he hadn’t eaten.
“Rough day?” I asked as I laid beside him on the floor.
“I miss her,” he began softly. “It was getting easier, but today I feel hopeless, like it will never really get better.”
“I understand,” I told him. “Some days will be rougher than others. What do you want to talk about today?”
“I want to talk about the day Jolene brought me home,” he said with a sad sigh. “It was her birthday.”
“How did you feel that day?” I asked.
“Frightened,” he admitted. “I knew what I was and knew I had a strong bond to Jolene, but I was afraid she wouldn’t like me.”
“But she loved you as soon as she saw you,” I finished for him. It was the natural reaction between a witch and her familiar. I’d felt the same bond with mine.
“Yes,” he agreed, moving close until his body pressed against my arm. Theo loved to cuddle into my side, but he took his time getting there. “She was so warm. I don’t mean her body temperature. That was nice, but she was also a very loving person. I didn’t know if a witch would like having a bearded dragon as her familiar. I’d heard from the other familiars that young witches like to cuddle their familiars. I’m not cuddly.”
“But you are a good companion,” I reminded him.
“We were the best of friends,” he continued in a wistful voice. “She always took me places and bought me the best crickets and mealworms. I loved her, and she loved me. When Garrick came along, I was jealous.”
“That makes sense,” I told him.
“But I love Garrick, too,” he added. “I hate that I’m hurting him. I’m not the sort of animal he can cuddle for comfort.”
“You don’t want to cuddle with Garrick?” I asked.
“I do,” he admitted softly.
“Then I think I know what we’ll work on today,” I announced as I stood.
An hour later, Garrick walked me to the door with Theo in his arms. Both seemed more at peace than when I’d arrived. This was a huge breakthrough. It’s what I’d hoped would happen, but I hadn’t wanted to push for this kind of intimacy until Theo was ready. I had a feeling Theo wouldn’t need me much longer, and that gave me a huge sense of accomplishment.
On days like this, I loved my job.
Chapter 26
Lucifer
“And tonight, there’s nothing going on in Hell,” I complained as I took a sip of my drink. Few people knew that the best whisky came from Hell.
I had my guards scouring the detention area to look for those involved with the riots. I’d even gone there to help for a short time before calling it a day. There hadn’t even been a fight among prisoners in the time I’d been there. I was tempted to go back to search, just to give me something to do.
It wasn’t often I felt this edgy. Usually, I enjoyed a relaxing day at home. The Hellhounds were curled up by the fire, snoring softly. They were exhausted after being given free-rein to terrorize the prisoners in the detention area earlier that day. The screams from the demon they’d devoured had been the most activity we’d seen all day. I might have stopped them had the demon not kicked one of the Hellhounds. As far as I was concerned, that demon had been too stupid to live.
“Dad!” Lucy called out just before she raced into the room. The door slammed against the wall, and my Hellhounds jumped to their feet, eyes glowing red as they snarled at Lucy. “Sit!” she ordered them.
They didn’t look happy about it, but they obeyed her.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I wanted to let you know that I’m heading out to meet up with some friends,” she announced.
“What friends?” I asked suspiciously.
“Beatrice and Persephone,” she replied. “Actually, Beatrice might be too busy. Persephone invited me for a late dinner, and she’s going to try to convince Beatrice to come.”
I smiled at my daughter’s excitement. She didn’t have many friends, and it was nice to see her going out. It was my fault she was so isolated. People were afraid of me, and by extension, they feared Lucy.
“Did you tell them who you are?” I asked.
“Of course,” she said with an eye roll. “I want people to like me for who I am.”
My daughter made a good point, one that had me frowning. I needed to tell Beatrice the truth soon. First, I had to tell Lucy the truth. The last thing I wanted was for my daughter to figure this out on her own while she was out with Beatrice.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” I began.
“Can it wait?” she asked, looking over her shoulder to the door.
“No,” I replied.
She blew out a frustrated breath and sat in the chair across from me. “Are you going to warn me about the dangers of hanging out with witches?”
“What dangers?” I asked with a shake of my head.
“I figured you’d tell me they were going to introduce me to depraved warlocks,” she explained. “You tend to worry whenever I leave the demon realm.”
I probably should warn her about depraved warlocks, but that could wait. I didn’t expect Beatrice or Persephone would get my daughter into any k
ind of trouble.
“No, that’s not what I want to talk to you about,” I assured her. “I know Beatrice.”
My Hellhounds jumped up and began chattering all at once.
“You do?”
“We like her.”
“Bring her here.”
“Ours!”
“Calm down,” I told the beasts.
“How do you know Beatrice?” my daughter asked suspiciously. “Did you track her down to interrogate her about our meeting? I will never forgive you if you scare off my friend.”
“I’m dating her,” I explained.
“Does she know?” she asked slowly.
“She knows we’re dating,” I assured her.
“Don’t play games with me, Dad,” she warned, her brown eyes glowing with a yellow flame. “Does she know who you are? It didn’t seem that way when I met her.”
“I’m going to tell her,” I assured Lucy.
“When?” she demanded. “This is the kind of thing you should have told her before you started dating.”
“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “I haven’t been able to find a date because of who I am. Beatrice likes me. She knows I’m a fallen angel.”
“But she doesn’t know your name?” Lucy asked.
“I told her my name is Dev,” I explained.
“How is this even possible?” Lucy asked. “It’s easy to find out what you look like. How can she not know who you really are?”
I shrugged. “I’m still amazed at my luck.”
“Luck? You call it luck that you’re able to lie to her?” Lucy asked.
“It’s the only way,” I insisted. “She stole my SUV.”
“When?” Lucy asked. “I was going to borrow it tonight.”
“Before she met me,” I replied. “If she’d known who I was, she would have shied away. I didn’t know she was the one who’d stolen it until she told me. Only, she thought she was confessing that to Dev.”
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