“If Aurora agrees, he’s welcome to come here.”
“Eblis?” Azrael frowned. “He’s a warped bastard. We should find somewhere neutral.”
“We go way back,” Gabe said. “I trust him. But it’s up to Aurora.”
“I’ve no objections.” Aurora gave Gabe a faint smile. “He’d never betrayed you.”
She’d always got the impression from Eblis that he held archangels in contempt. Not that he’d ever ranted about them, unlike some members of the Watchers, but he’d never had anything positive to say about them on the few occasions the subject had come up. And he sure as hell had never mentioned his friendship with the Archangel Gabriel. But why would he?
She really didn’t know him at all.
“What about the baby?” Azrael said to Rowan, concern threading through the words.
“She’s fine. She’s sleeping. Do you want to leave?”
They had a baby?
Azrael threw a dark glare at them all. “It’s different when you’ve a family to consider.”
This was the archangel who had mercilessly slaughtered a thousand dhampirs in the past? She’d find it hard to believe, if Octavia hadn’t confirmed it. Without quite meaning to, she inched a little closer to Nate.
I hope no one noticed.
“I’ll take you wherever you want to go,” Nate said. Then he leveled his gaze at Gabe. “How do we know Eblis and Dagan aren’t working together?”
He’d asked her the same thing, and although in her heart she didn’t want to believe it, the seed of doubt he’d planted had been one reason why she hadn’t shared any more information with Eblis.
So much had happened in less than a week. Who would have thought she’d put the word of an archangel above that of the demon who had saved her sanity?
“We don’t,” Gabe said. “But I guarantee he won’t put any of us in danger.”
Azrael cursed in that beautiful, ancient language. Frustration radiated from him. “Nate, if things turn to shit, promise me you’ll get Rowan and the baby to safety.”
“You have my word.” As he spoke, his feathers caressed the small of her back. An unspoken promise; made between the two of them. Even though she didn’t need it. I’ll save you, too.
“Tell Eblis where we are,” Gabe said to her, and she relayed the message.
Within seconds, Eblis materialized by her side. He spared her only a fleeting glance before zeroing in on Gabe. “What the fuck happened to you?”
“I’ll tell you later,” Gabe said. “You’ll love it.”
“Spare me,” Eblis growled. “Hey, Aurora.” He turned to Azrael and distaste flickered over his features. “Fuck.” Without missing a beat his laser glare zapped to Nate. “Find what you were looking for?”
“Tell me about Dagan,” Nate shot back.
Confusion flashed in Eblis’ eyes. He recovered instantly, but it was enough. He wasn’t in league with the other demon, and relief rushed through her. Eblis might have kept secrets from her, but at least he hadn’t knowingly sent her on a potential death mission this week.
“Dagan tried to kill me,” she said. Which wasn’t exactly the truth. If he’d wanted her dead, she would be, but she wasn’t inclined to reveal that to Eblis right now. “And so did two of the Watchers.”
“What?” Finally, Eblis returned his attention to her. “Why didn’t you alert me of this earlier?”
“This is the first chance I’ve had.” Now wasn’t really the time to question Eblis’ motives, but she needed to know. “Why did you want me to reveal my powers to the Watchers?”
It only made any sense if he’d known Dagan was going to be there. Except what had Eblis hoped to achieve?
“It was the only way to ensure the Elite would allow you unfettered access to their confidential gatherings.” Eblis’ eyes turned flinty and he swung back to face Gabe. “Dagan’s threatened your life?”
“Turns out he was behind the pirates I tracked to Anzu who were working for the Guardians.”
“Demons from Anzu are working with the Guardians?” Nate sounded outraged, and his wing curved around her in blatant possession.
This was moving too fast. And it appeared she was the only one out of her depth. “Who are the Guardians?”
“Misbegotten creatures from the dawn of time.” Disgust dripped from each word. “They should’ve become extinct millennia ago.”
“The pirates were part of an underground cult,” Gabe said. “As far as I know, the pureblood demons weren’t involved. Eblis, are you in contact with Kala, the Primus of Anzu? She’s the only one who might have more information that Nate can use.”
Eblis gave Gabe an assessing look. “I didn’t know you were on speaking terms with Kala.”
“I didn’t know you mentored demon spawn on Earth,” Gabe shot back.
“Demon bloods,” Nate said, a dangerous edge to his voice. “Not spawn.”
Silence thundered around the room as though Nate had just tipped the known world off its axis. Probably because, in the current company, he just had.
“No one should be judged purely on their bloodline,” Rowan said. “Because in the end, blood isn’t everything.”
“Unless you’re a demon.” Eblis gave Bella a sardonic grin. “Kala’s agreed to meet. In the meantime, we need to talk in private. Your office.”
Chapter 25
Nate
Nate arrived in Isabella’s office, and drew in a harsh breath. The antique furniture had been destroyed and the walls slashed. The Watchers had been here, too. Beside him, Isabella shuddered, but didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. The stricken look on her face as she took in the malicious damage was more eloquent than any words.
He threaded his fingers through hers. To hell with whatever Eblis might think when he arrived. “We’ll fix it, okay? We’ll fix everything.”
Even if he had to search to the ends of the Earth, he’d find replacements for every last antique she’d lost.
She squeezed his fingers. A tiny gesture. Strange how it meant so much. Before she could answer, the fucking demon appeared.
Eblis’ lip curled in distaste when he caught sight of their entwined hands, but he appeared unmoved by the destruction. “I received word an immortal of renown was due at the Equinox ceremony. That’s why you needed to ascend into the Elite, so you were in a position to find out more. I didn’t anticipate Nate fucking things up.”
Rage flared through him. “You knew Dagan was going to be there, and you still sent Isabella in without backup?”
Eblis unfurled his wings. “I didn’t have a name. Could have been an archangel masquerading as a demon. Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“You received word? Who from?” Isabella demanded.
“I don’t share the names of my operatives.” He glanced around the wrecked room, as Isabella sucked in a sharp breath. Nate knew she’d never seen herself as a spy, but Eblis, the bastard, had just casually informed her that’s all she was to him. “I’m going to make an exception in this case.”
A male materialized beside Eblis.
“Zane?” Ice dripped from her voice, and the male’s jaw tightened as he transferred his steely glare from Isabella to him. “Who else do you have undercover in the Watchers, Eblis?”
Eblis ignored her question. “The only reason I called you here, Zane, is so you don’t attempt to eliminate Bella again. I’m assuming you and Nijah are responsible for the attack. As for who else I may or may not have in the Watchers, is none of your concern.”
Zane. Now he knew why the male seemed vaguely familiar. He’d been trapped under the grandmother clock in Isabella’s house.
Nate battened down his temper. Much as he wanted to smash his fist into Eblis’ smug face, they still needed the demon’s help. “Your ill-conceived machinations put Isabella’s life in danger.”
“Only because you gatecrashed the party, Archangel.”
“Dagan told Nijah that you’d betrayed us to an archangel,” Zane said to Isa
bella. “That you were the one who gave him safe passage into the temple. She won’t rest until she has your blood.”
“For the record, I didn’t betray the Watchers to Nate.”
“And I had no idea she was a member until I saw her there.” What a farce. Except it had been devastating for Isabella. “The real question is what the fuck are you doing, Eblis?”
“You hunt rogue demons. I hunt rogue archangels. What’s your problem?”
Rogue archangels? “What are you talking about?”
“Really?” Derision dripped from the word. “You’re that shocked by the notion? Typical.”
Irritation sizzled through him. Eblis was deliberately goading him but he wasn’t about to take the bait. Not when Isabella herself was half-demon.
Not all demons were the same.
“Even if I believe you,” which he didn’t, “infiltrating a cult of demon bloods is a bizarre place to search for rogue archangels.”
“I don’t give a shit what you believe,” Eblis said. “My reasons are my own.”
“Have you both finished?” There was a caustic edge in Isabella’s voice. “Is that the reason we’re here, so you can take swipes at each other?”
“I want to know why he thought it was okay to put you in danger.” He knew he sounded belligerent but couldn’t help it. She could have fucking died. “You weren’t even safe from members of the Watchers.”
“How the mighty are fallen,” Eblis said, apropos of nothing. Nate glared at him, and the demon responded with a mocking grin. “You forget—or don’t you know? Bella is a powerful demon blood. She doesn’t need the cursed benevolence of an archangel to survive.”
He did know that. It didn’t make any difference. I’m losing my fucking mind.
“What now?” There was a thread of hostility in Zane’s voice as he tossed Nate a glance of contempt. “Do I terminate Nijah?”
“Not yet. She could still prove useful. Just keep her away from Bella.”
It was a dismissal, and without another word, Zane vanished.
“Eblis,” Isabella said.
The demon raised a finger. “Much as I’d love to chat,” insincerity oozed from each word, “Kala is ready to see you. Do you know Eta Hyperium, Archangel?”
“I thought that hellhole had been swallowed up by its sun eons ago.”
“No. I have an establishment on the last remaining habitable sector of land. Kala doesn’t want to tarnish her reputation on her own planet by welcoming a random archangel into her domain.” Eblis flashed his teeth in a mirthless smile. “Do you need help with the coordinates?”
“No.”
Eblis shrugged and vanished.
“Eta Hyperium?” Isabella raised her eyebrows. “Another alien planet?”
“It’s in the Sextans Galaxy. The mortals are technologically advanced but morally bankrupt. Remind me to take you somewhere civilized in Andromeda when all this is over.” Inspiration struck. “I’ll introduce you to Inanna. It’s the least I can do.”
He wasn’t joking, either. But when all this was over, would they even see each other again?
“I’ll hold you to that.” She smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. Disquiet gnawed the edges of his mind. As though he should say something profound, something that mattered.
Something that could change everything.
They needed to leave. He didn’t know Kala personally, but she wouldn’t appreciate being kept waiting, especially when she was bestowing a favor by seeing him.
“Ready?” His voice was gruff with all the things he didn’t know how to say.
She hesitated. Despicable anticipation flared. Could she put into words what he couldn’t?
“As I’ll ever be,” she said. What else was there? He crushed the hollow ache deep in his chest and offered her a careless grin. How could an action he’d done a billion times in the past now be so damn hard?
“Hold tight.”
He teleported to the only habitable sector on Eta Hyperium. The air was clogged from centuries of pollution and an ominous red glow from the lowering sky spread across the withered landscape.
“Not as impressive as your dinosaur planet.” Isabella glanced around and shivered. “What kind of establishment would Eblis have here?”
He could take a good guess. Eta Hyperium had never been known for legitimate activities.
“Nothing good.” He scrutinized the few buildings scattered across the dying land. He had no idea which one belonged to Eblis. It was galling, but maybe he should’ve got more information from the demon before they’d left Earth.
“That one.” Isabella nodded to one of the buildings that was some distance from the closest sprawling spaceport. When he tossed her a frown she shrugged and gave him a half-smile. “I just asked him. Thought it would save some time searching.”
As they approached the deceptively dilapidated-looking building, their hands untangled. He wasn’t sure how. He flexed his fingers and ignored the loss that drilled through him. It was fucking crazy. He had to focus. Dagan had to be hunted down.
Eblis met them at the door and waved them through the sophisticated security system into a dark, incense-filled club. “Kala’s pissed that you’ve kept her waiting.” He sounded obnoxiously gleeful by the fact. “Way to impress, Archangel.”
Nate didn’t deign to answer as they reached a semi-secluded booth where a female demon lounged, her wings partially unfurled, hostility radiating from her.
“Primus Kala,” Eblis said. “The Archangel Nathanael and Isabella Beauchamp.”
“Primus,” he said, but she ignored him, her gaze fixed on Isabella. It was blatantly obvious she was scanning Isabella’s aura. A glimmer of grim satisfaction spiked through him at the knowledge the demon wouldn’t learn much, given Isabella’s shields.
“You’re from Earth?” Kala said, in one of the demon languages.
“Yes.” Isabella didn’t pause for a heartbeat, and her ability to understand Kala clearly impressed the demon.
“Don’t you find it horrendous?”
“What, living on Earth?” Isabella sounded unsure as to what the demon meant. He kept his mouth shut only by pure force of will. Kala was ignoring him deliberately, expecting him to object to the breach of protocol. But she wasn’t the only one who could play games.
“I meant living among humans.” Her feathers shimmered. “I’ve heard how primitive they are. When Eblis told me of his pet, I didn’t expect you to possess such power.”
What the fuck? He was done with keeping silent.
“Isabella is not Eblis’ pet.”
Finally, Kala acknowledged his presence. But the malicious gleam in her eyes told him that he’d just fallen right into her trap.
“No,” she said. “The human hybrid isn’t, is she?”
Her implication was clear. He managed not to unfurl his own wings in response. This wasn’t a fucking pissing contest. “Isabella,” he said, enunciating each syllable, “is no one’s pet.”
“The Archangel Gabriel said you might be able to assist us.” Isabella shot him a warning glance. If he weren’t so pissed by Kala’s comment, it would have been funny. A half-demon daring to silently reprove an archangel in public.
“What’s happened to Gabriel? He’s vanished off the radar.”
“I don’t know,” Isabella said. “And even if I did, that’s for him to share with you.”
Eblis sat, a satisfied expression on his face. Isabella sat next to him.
“Park your ass, Archangel,” Eblis said, daring him to refuse.
He’d much rather stand. Not least because he’d be smashed right up against Isabella and it would mess with his focus.
Curse the gods. If he didn’t need information, there was no way he’d take Eblis’ taunts in silence. He gritted his teeth and slid in beside her. The warmth of her body pressed against him, even though she shuffled along the seat to give him more room, and her scent was a tantalizing whisper in the air. He folded his arms and g
lowered at the demons. It appeared both Eblis and Kala were highly amused by the whole thing.
The sooner they got down to business, the faster he and Isabella could get out of here.
“I’m hunting a rogue demon. I’ve reason to believe he’s the one behind the pirate cult Gabe uncovered on Anzu. Do you have any more information on them?”
Kala’s knowing smile faded and her eyes flashed with annoyance. “I obliterated their cult on Anzu. And destroyed every last member throughout my entire Sector. Any pathetic remains are currently awaiting mortal justice, but that’s out of my jurisdiction.” She leaned across the table, her eyes never leaving his. “The pirates are filth, but I have some sympathy with their desire to see the rightful fall of archangels. However, no pureblood demon would support anything connected with the Guardians. You’re looking in the wrong place, Nathanael.”
The rightful fall of archangels. He clenched his fists. “I don’t agree. I knew Dagan long ago, and this is exactly the kind of shit he’d do.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Dagan?”
“Before your time. He’s an original.” Created by their mutual goddess. Kala, on the other hand, was demon born. If he had to hazard a guess, he’d say she was a pureblood second or third generation.
Kala shrugged. “You’ve given me no reason to assist you in your hunt. Where’s your proof that Dagan is behind this cult?”
“He’s been involved in a demon blood underground movement on Earth. When we confronted him, he admitted Gabe fucked up his most promising cell. Gabe and Dagan have never met since we left Ama-gi, which points to one thing. The cell he spoke of is the one Gabe uncovered on Anzu.”
“Really.” Derision dripped from the word. “You expect me to take your word on that?”
“It’s the truth.” He ground between his teeth. Why had he imagined that, because Gabe knew her, the demon would be reasonable? “I’ve no reason to lie.”
“You’re an archangel. Lying is embedded into your DNA.”
Why the fuck had Kala agreed to meet with him if she’d no intention of helping?
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