Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(95)

No lie there. She’d seen the way he fought. Still, she worried. There was nothing they could do now. She’d have to wait for Matthias and Rafe.

God, she hated waiting.





Chapter 36


It was brutal, but at least it was short-lived. Matthias brushed the frost and ice from his head and shoulders. He scanned the room they’d ended up in. A red jacquard divan sat in the far corner, with two matching pillows bedecked with gold tassels guarding each corner. Candles lined the alabaster walls, their flickering shadows dancing across the walls. The polished, black marble floor shined bright.

The High Council chamber. Where many demons had waited to speak to the oldest and powerful of the Paladins. Where he had waited, a mere five days earlier, to get his first mission.

Rafael took a deep breath. “I remember the last time I waited here.”

“When.”

“Right before I went to Earth and met Lucy. Amazing how views can change, based on our attitudes. It was dark and foreboding then. Now it’s light and peaceful.”

“It seems confining to me.”

“Nerves do that to people.”

“So how does this work?”

“Well, I’ve never actually witnessed a blessing. I’m not the best person to ask.”

“Thank you for trusting me, Rafael.”

“Rafe. All my friends call me Rafe. Despite our initial differences, I know you’re a good man, Matthias.”

“Matt.” He allowed Rafe his arm. With a smile, Rafe grasped his elbow. Matthias returned the favor. It was nice to finally belong, to have someone call him a friend and mean it.

Two giant, gilt doors swung open. Astra strode into the room, flicking her black, barbed wings. “The Council will see you now.” She spun on her heels and flapped her wings. Could she fly or was it all for show?

“I can fly. I just choose not to.” She flashed a wry smile. “Everyone asks me the same question. I was just saving time.”

Rafe leaned toward him. “I take it she didn’t greet you your last visit?”

Matthias shook his head. “Leonidas did.”

Imagine that, one of the bravest warriors of ancient times, a Fore-Demon. Even for a demon it was still surreal.

“Did he regale you with all his war stories?” Rafe took a right turn down the candlelit corridor.

Astra grinned. “They are fascinating stories, though.”

Indeed, they were.

Astra stopped in front of double, silver doors. Ornate carvings bedecked the surface, and angel wings framed each side. He hadn’t paid much attention before. Being summoned by the all-knowing and all-powerful Fore-Demon Council had a tendency to do that. He was as nervous as hell the first time he met them. He reached out and ran a finger across a delicately carved vine of ivy. It was beautiful.

“The silver is blessed. It’s the most effective way to keep the Infernati from attacking the council.” Astra snapped a finger and the doors swung open.

He took cautious steps inside, Rafe and Astra following behind him. Astra flicked her wings and took flight, zipping to the empty seat on the dais.

Leonidas sat next to her. Gerard Butler he wasn’t. He’d been near sixty years old when he fought his last battle. His hair and beard had long since grayed. He pulled at the garment swimming around him, as if he longed to wear something else. Still a fighter, even after almost twenty-five hundred years.

“Welcome back, Deleon and Ambrose. I hear you have an interesting request.”

Matthias bowed. “We need to have some silver blessed.”

“Don’t you have weapons there already?”

Matthias nodded. “Yes, we do, but there will be humans where we expect to meet the Infernati. We need a way to separate the innocents from the demons.” He reached down into the box at Rafe’s and his feet and pulled out a bottle. “These bottles have liquid with silver particles in them. We plan to serve food infused with it tomorrow.”

“Interesting,” Astra said, flicking her dark hair from her shoulder. “Isn’t that a remedy humans take on earth? How is this going to work?”

“If too much is taken, human skin can turn blue or gray over time. When a demon ingests it, the results are a little more immediate.”

“And you’ve tested it?”

“Kalli did, my lord.” Rafe said. “Her tongue turned blue.”

“We expect the results on Infernati to be much more severe, after it has been blessed.”

“I have to admit, this is probably the most interesting request we’ve had in a while. I assume you need this right away?”

Both Matthias and Rafe nodded.

“I will send a request to have an angel join us posthaste.” Leonidas closed his eyes and threw his arms up in the air. He slowly opened his eyes again. “Hopefully the angel on call isn’t inept. Things can get pretty messy when done in haste.”

Astra harrumphed. “Tell me about it. Thank goodness we got that situation under control.”

A soft mist formed, swirling and spiraling around them. The mist solidified into a giant, glowing ball, which shattered. Sparkles of light burst into a million brilliant pieces.

“Did someone order an angel?” He scanned the room, flicking the bright white plumage behind him. He continued to scan the room, then locked gazes with Rafe.