Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(42)

“Do you ever smile?”

I’ll smile when I vanquish Belial back to the fires of Hell. He gripped the hilt of his sword. Perhaps if they realized he was ready to fight they’d reconsider his assignment.

“They won’t change their minds.” Squeaky hunched down on his arms and swayed back and forth. “Nice piece though.” He reached out his bulbous hand. “May I?”

Rafael tightened his grip, the silver etching along the hilt digging into his palm. “Why?”

“I’m a connoisseur of fine swords. Especially seventeenth-century Ottoman sabers.” Squeaky smiled. “Funny, I always pegged you for a Frenchie.”

Rafael shrugged. “And I thought you were Aztec, not Italian.”

“Oh, a wise guy, are ya.” Lounging against the wall, Squeaky scratched his ape chin and chuckled. “There may be hope for you yet.” He gazed at the sword, his tongue wagging.

With a deep breath, Rafael unsheathed the weapon. The silver glinted in the glow of the tapers hanging on the wall. Even though the sword had been his for over four centuries, he never stopped marveling at its beauty. Carved dragons and their intricate breaths of fire wrapped around the hilt and vined their way down the blade. Sapphires along with rubies dotted their eyes and emeralds sprinkled along their spines. Nothing matched its exquisiteness. Save for that seductive swirl of emerald and amber that flashed in Lucy’s eyes.

Desire flooded his body. Rafael clenched his teeth. This obsession was unhealthy. He’d lost focus. He’d lost his edge. A loud grumble formed in his throat. He was going soft.

“Ahem!” Squeaky coughed out. “Earth to Rafe.” He scratched his hairy chin. “Oh yeah. We aren’t on Earth. Limbo to Rafe. Come in, Rafe.”

Shaking his head, Rafael leaned against the hall’s gilt wall. Too much gold for his taste.

With reluctance, he handed it to the imp. If it got the thing to shut up, he’d let it handle all his weapons.

“The sword was a gift from my Turkish trainer.” Right before Nic and he traveled to Roanoke. The first strike. Thanks to Lamia and her bloodlust for children, his first assignment had been a failure. Nic had since proven himself. Rafael, however—the strikes were constantly against him.

The watch in his left pocket burned a hole in his jacket and singed his skin. Not literally, but it might as well have. He stiffened. Don’t reflect on the second strike. Not now.

With a quick parry and thrust, Squeaky danced back and forth. Was that a flourish?

“En garde!” Squeaky lunged forward.

What the bloody hell? Rafael gazed down at his white shirt, now emblazoned with three slashes in the shape of a Z. Rafael grumbled. “My sister gave me this shirt.”

“Your sister would tell you to remove the stick from your ass, Rafe.”

Rafael jerked his head to lock gazes with Nic. Swiping a hand through his sandy blond hair, he shook his head.

“She’d do no such thing. We think alike.”

Nic snorted. “How well you know your sister.” His expression hardened. “I have news, by the way.”

“Tell. Me. Now.” From the sternness of his friend’s gaze, it wasn’t good. His stomach roiled and his head spun. The longer Nic waited, the more anxious he became.

Scratching his chin, Nic drew in a deep, calculated breath. He tugged on his ceremonial tunic, the red eagle emblazoned on his chest. “We know where they’re keeping Coby.” He clenched and unclenched his fists. “It doesn’t look good.”

“Why? Has she been thrown in the pit?” Rafael cringed at his question. If that were the case, all hope for his sister was lost. Icy shards raced through his blood.

Nic shook his head. “Quite the opposite, my friend.” He paced the expansive marble. “I know how you prefer to stand to receive your news, so I won’t beat around the bush.” He rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “Your sister appears to be a welcome guest in Belial’s palace.”

Welcome guest? Coby had given in to that evil monster? He couldn’t believe his ears. He gritted his teeth and his jaw locked. While he was strutting around Earth chasing a woman he couldn’t have, his sister had been tortured so much that she’d turned to the dark. Beautiful Coby, the one who kept him balanced? Not bloody likely. He wouldn’t give up hope. Not yet. Belial would pay.

***

After two haircuts and one capping, Lucy had time to relax. Taking a bite of her turkey club sandwich, she leaned back in her office chair and stretched her legs. The bland turkey and burnt bacon wasn’t much, but it would do. Her tastes had matured.

A hot plate of Rafe, anyone?

Lucy shook her head. She wasn’t sharing him with anyone.

Glancing at the computer clock, she sighed. Five after two. Where in the hell were Frankie and Kalli? They should’ve come back by now. Frankie’s appointment was due to arrive any moment.

The doorbell chimed. Like now?

Just what she needed. An irate customer on top of her uncontrollable succubus powers. And no Kalli to teach her how to reign them in. Hopefully, this protection shield she and Rafe had put up was strong enough. Otherwise, she’d be S-O-L.

Gazing down at her half-eaten sandwich, she sucked in a breath. She just wanted a few minutes to herself to think. Her world was changing. She was changing. Energy she never knew existed ripped through her body. For the first time in five years, she was scared. Was her life a lie? Was she good or evil? She had so many questions. But only one truly plagued her.